This story contains spoilers for the series finale of “Euphoria.”
It’s the end of an era for “Euphoria” fans.
Creator Sam Levinson and HBO have confirmed that Season 3 of the acclaimed drama will be its last, bringing the series to a close after a seven-year run.
“I’m incredibly grateful for every one of you,” Zendaya said through tears on set while reflecting on her time working on “Euphoria.” “It’s been such a pleasure and an honor.”
Throughout the four-year gap between Seasons 2 and 3, fans speculated that Zendaya would not return as Rue Bennett amid rumors of creative differences between the actress and series creator Sam Levinson. Those rumors were ultimately put to rest when Zendaya returned for the show’s final season.
“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s a wrap,” Levinson said as cast members cheered, embraced and celebrated the end of production.
Levinson praised Zendaya, who earned two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Rue Bennett, a complex and deeply troubled teenager struggling with addiction.
When asked at the Season 3 premiere whether the show would continue, Levinson remained uncertain.
“I write every season like it’s the last season,” he said. “I go, ‘If they never let me do this again, am I happy with it?’ That’s how I approach it. I don’t know. I have no idea. I just finished editing Episodes 7 and 8. We’ll see what HBO wants and what I feel I can do.”
Following the finale, Levinson confirmed on The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast that “Euphoria” would not return for a fourth season. HBO later confirmed the news to Variety.
Season 3 proved divisive among fans because of its shift from previous seasons. Fans debated the show’s darker tone, controversial storylines, changes to the soundtrack and the reduced focus on some longtime characters.
Others embraced the changes, arguing that the season presented a more realistic depiction of adulthood and the consequences of the characters’ choices. Supporters praised the show’s move away from the romanticized view of drugs and teenage life that defined its previous seasons.
The series concluded with the death of Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, after she took fentanyl-laced pills connected to Alamo Brown, portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Brown, a powerful strip-club owner, had become the season’s antagonist and the target of Rue’s work as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informant throughout the season.
Rue’s death followed another shocking one in Episode 7, when Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, died after being buried alive in a coffin and suffering a fatal rattlesnake bite, having accumulated a massive debt.
Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Howard remained one of the season’s most controversial characters due to her involvement with adult-content creation, provocative online content and her complicated relationship with Nate. However, the season also focused heavily on repairing her fractured friendship with Alexa Demie’s Maddy Perez.
By the finale, Cassie and Maddy had broken free from Alamo after Ali Muhammed, played by Colman Domingo, killed him upon learning of Rue’s death and the role he played in the events leading up to it. The pair were left attempting to move forward with their lives, looking toward an uncertain future shaped by social media and online content creation.
Meanwhile, Lexi Howard, played by Maude Apatow, and Jules Vaughn, played by Hunter Schafer, were given quieter storylines with little involvement in the season’s main events, much like spectators to what their friends were going through, unlike in previous seasons. Some fans noted online that their reduced presence reflected how friendships evolve after high school, and how people who were once inseparable can gradually drift apart while remaining connected in smaller ways throughout adulthood.
The finale’s most emotional moments served as a tribute to Angus Cloud, who died in 2023. Cloud’s character, Fezco, had been serving a 30-year prison sentence during the events of Season 3. The episode featured previously unseen footage of Cloud and Zendaya together, offering fans a final farewell to one of the series’ most beloved characters.
“I want to tell the story for Angus and for people who weren’t granted a second chance,” Levinson said.
With Rue dead, Nate gone and many of the surviving characters left searching for purpose and direction, “Euphoria” ended on a tragic yet reflective note. The finale closed the book on one of television’s most talked-about teen dramas, concluding a seven-year run that inspired debate, critical acclaim and a devoted fan base.
