Euphoria Series Finale Receives Mixed Reactions from Fans
Euphoria fans are buzzing with opinions about what turned out to be HBO’s final episode of the series.
On Sunday, May 31, creator Sam Levinson and HBO confirmed that the beloved show would not be returning after its nearly two-hour-long season 3 finale.
The episode left several plot points unresolved and culminated in the death of main character Rue (Zendaya) due to fentanyl-laced pills, following her revelation to Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) about her work with the DEA. Rue’s mentor and father figure, Ali (Coleman Domingo), confronted Alamo, ultimately leading to his demise.
In a behind-the-scenes interview that aired post-episode, Levinson, 41, shared, “The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it. People relapse and they f*** up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they’re facing unprecedented risks due to the influx of fentanyl in this country.”
He continued, “I can say with complete certainty that if I were going through what I went through in my younger years now, I wouldn’t be here.”
Not all viewers agreed with his take on the narrative.
“After today, I never want Sam Levinson to handle a story about addiction again; in fact, he shouldn’t write or direct anything ever again,” one user on X tweeted on Sunday.
Levinson stood firm about Rue’s death, stating in the HBO behind-the-scenes featurette that her ending was “honest.”
“Ultimately, I aimed to tell a truthful story about addiction,” he explained. “I also wanted to explore grief and the emotional chaos it brings.”
Some social media users echoed this sentiment.
“Incredible episode of television. A wild ride from start to finish,” one user expressed on X. “Amazing performances from three cast members. Sam Levinson should never write again.”
A second user remarked, “While everyone is upset with Sam Levinson for killing off Rue in what could be the final season of ‘Euphoria,’ I’m grateful he had the courage to do it. Not everyone gets a happy ending; that’s how life is.”
Positive feedback for Sunday’s finale was quite rare on social media. While some lamented Rue’s death, others were perplexed by the tone of the final episode.
“Sam Levinson was so eager to make a western action movie that he just used Euphoria as the backdrop for it,” another user wrote on X. “What is all this?”
Perhaps the most distressing aspect for viewers was how Rue and Jules’ (Hunter Schafer) storyline concluded. Their final scene featured a confrontation where Jules slapped Rue and told her to “get the f*** out” of her apartment.
“I will never understand why Sam Levinson sidelined Jules as a character after season 1,” one user on X commented. “Such a vibrant and unique character, expertly played, just thrown aside. It’s such a shame.”
All episodes of Euphoria are now available for streaming on HBO Max.
