Euphoria came out with a bang after the season 3 finale killed off a key character mid-episode.
The Sunday, May 31, episode of HBO's hit series, The Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbajekilled Rue (Zendaya) after finding out that he was working undercover to bring her down. He gave her painkillers laced with fentanyl – and she ended up overdosing halfway through the episode.
Ali (Colman Domingo) he found Rue dead on his couch and the rest of the episode followed his mission to get revenge on the Alamo. The last episode of the show was Ali at the farm that Rue spent time at in the season 3 premiere where she said a favor at the dinner table in her honor.
While Rue's death may come as a shock to some, some fans were prepared for Zendaya's arc to be wrapped up in an imaginary finale. The actor was previously asked by Drew Barrymore in April if the show was over after season 3.
“I think so, yes,” he said on Barrymore's eponymous talk show. “That closure is coming.”
Creator Sam Levinsonon the other hand, it was unclear.
“[I write] every season like it's the last season,” he told Variety in April.[I have] there are no plans [for season 4].”
He continued: “I want to end this with my strength, I am cutting.” [episodes] 7 and 8 still. I put the finishing touches. I just want to deliver an af***ing slam dunk season.”
Rue wasn't the only major casualty of the show's third season. Jacob ElordiNate's character, Nate, also had a rough time when he was killed in the basement due to a rattlesnake bite.
“That was a cool way to go. Nate was someone who made a lot of mistakes and made a lot of dark decisions,” Elordi explained in a segment that aired after the May 24 episode. “It's nice to see it all come to that.”
Elordi recalled having to film the coffin, adding, “My shoulders were touching the side and I couldn't move my arms. Then they punched the lid on it and it went black. It was really beautiful, actually. It was really peaceful there.”
The stunt crew, on the other hand, emphasized how important it is to make sure the actor has oxygen. They praised Elordi for agreeing to spend “a little time in the box.” Levinson, for his part, said he “wanted to shoot it with a real snake” so a rattlesnake and a boa constrictor were both shown on screen.
“The snakes were biting, which was very scary when you were locked in a box,” commented Elordi. “They had a boa constrictor that they put a fake rattler on the end of.”
He continued: “He was so beautiful. He was really lovely. So he just laid next to me and it was nice. But he was really sleepy. He was a sleepy snake. I had to move him to wake up. That's how it was.”
At the end of the segment, Elordi reflected on his time playing Nate.
“It's a bittersweet thing,” he said. “This show is a big part of – not just my career – but my life. It was amazing and I'm proud to be a part of it.”
Euphoria airs on HBO Max.
If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, contact the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
