The HBO series Euphoria has officially concluded with a shocking finale that saw the death of its main character, Rue, played by Zendaya. The episode, titled "In God We Trust," aired on Sunday night, and shortly after, HBO confirmed that the show was ending. Creator Sam Levinson also announced the news on the New York Times' "Popcast" podcast.
The end of the series was not entirely unexpected, as Zendaya had previously hinted in interviews that she believed Season 3 would be the last. However, the manner of Rue's death was a poignant twist. Unlike the brutal killing of Jacob Elordi's character Nate in the previous episode, Rue's demise was less violent, allowing for a reunion of sorts with Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) and her mother Leslie (Nika King).
In the finale, Ali (Colman Domingo) avenges Rue's death by killing Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who had laced the pills Rue took with fentanyl. The decision to kill off Rue was deliberate, as Levinson explained in a behind-the-scenes segment. "It just felt like the honest ending," he said. "The honest ending is that people like Rue don't make it." He added that relapses and the influx of fentanyl in the country contributed to the storyline, and he wanted to honor Angus Cloud and others who did not get a second chance.
Zendaya, who won two Emmys for her role, shared an emotional goodbye with the crew. "I just want to say, thank you," she said on set. "I'm incredibly grateful for every single one of you; many of you have been here since the beginning and watched me grow up. It's been such a pleasure and an honor."
The finale also left storylines open for other characters. Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) grieved Nate before Cassie appeared to set up a future in the OnlyFans world. Levinson praised Sweeney for her fearless performance, noting that she embraced the racy storyline. "I think she's a totally fearless actor," he said. Sweeney's final scene showed her washing sex toys while her sister Lexi (Maude Apatow) mourned Rue.
Before the episode, Sweeney shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram, captioned "It's called… acting." Levinson revealed that he initially considered shooting scenes without nudity, but Sweeney insisted on authenticity, saying, "I'm playing an OnlyFans model."
