The series “Euphoria”, an acclaimed HBO production, came to an end with the airing of the final episode of the third season on Sunday. The plot concluded tragically, with the death of a central character, confirming the definitive closure of the acclaimed television attraction.
Creator and screenwriter Sam Levinson detailed the decision in an exclusive interview with Popcast, The New York Times’s pop culture program, putting an end to speculation about the future of the production. Ele explained that the story’s trajectory about addiction and its consequences naturally led to this inevitable outcome.
Tragic Desfecho and the reality of addiction
The story of “Euphoria” has always dealt with addiction in a raw way, and the third season finale reflects the harsh reality faced by many. The fatal overdose of Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya since 2019, due to fentanyl pills, marked the final point of the narrative. Levinson described the end as a true tragedy, inherent to drug use today. Ele highlighted the inevitability of such an outcome for a story focused on the consequences of addiction.
“In terms of the story we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, to me, this feels like the end,” said the series creator during the interview. Segundo him, the conclusion of the series reinforces a crucial message. “If you are experimenting or using drugs these days, it is very possible that it will kill you,” Levinson pointed out, underlining the gravity of the central theme.
Homenagem to Angus Cloud and impact of fentanyl
The final episode of “Euphoria” also served as a moving tribute to actor Angus Cloud, who passed away in 2023 from a fentanyl-related overdose. Cloud, who struggled with addiction, played drug dealer Fezco in the first two seasons of the series. The actor’s death during the production of the last season directly influenced the script.
Levinson revealed that Rue Bennett’s overdose was, in part, a way of paying tribute to his colleague. “It was a way to honor Angus and say a prayer for the future,” he declared. The prevalence of fentanyl, a topic of constant concern for Levinson, has been addressed in his previous works, including his first film, “Another Happy Day” (2011).
Trajetória of the series and rise of the cast
The third season of “Euphoria” arrived seven years after the series began, marking the end of a journey that was at once emotional, provocative and tumultuous. Throughout its run, the production boosted or accelerated the careers of several young talents who became important in the 2020s. The cast included names such as:
- Zendaya (winner of two Emmys for her performance as Rue)
- Sydney Sweeney
- Jacob Elordi
- Hunter Schafer
- Colman Domingo (as Ali, Rue’s godfather and father figure)
The series, which began with a brilliant stylization of American youth, with high school montages and settings, has evolved significantly. Season three swapped school hallways and house parties for the vastness of Velho Oeste, exploring an underworld of Nazi drug dealers, strip club sexual exploiters, and individuals seeking notoriety at any cost.
Críticas and the creator’s vision
The first reviews of the third season were mostly negative, reigniting debates about the representations of nudity, violence, drug use and racial issues, which many considered exaggerated. The consistency in character development was also questioned. Apesar’s reactions, Sam Levinson, a former addict himself, defended his vision for the series.
In his wide-ranging conversation with Popcast, Levinson addressed how he stayed true to his artistic goals. Ele discussed his approach to filming sensitive subjects and explored the limits of empathy in his storytelling. The writers’ strike in 2023 influenced the initial trajectory of the character Rue, leading to a rewriting of the outcome that, in the end, aligned with the tribute to Angus Cloud and the message about the consequences of addiction.