2 days ago
In different world, HBO‘s Euphoria might’ve had a happy ending. But then, that wouldn’t person been very truthful, says creator Sam Levinson.
“The honorable ending is group for illustration Rue don’t make it,” he said successful a behind-the-scenes video aft nan now-series finale.
In Sunday night’s finale, Zendaya‘s Rue Bennett dies of a fentanyl overdose aft relapsing connected laced Percocet fixed to her by Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). That is really erstwhile Euphoria star Angus Cloud, who played Rue’s friend Fezco O’Neill, died successful 2023 — and it’s besides a destiny Levinson believes he narrowly escaped himself.
“People relapse. They f*ck up. They’re not fresh to get clean, and they weren’t dying for illustration they are now pinch nan influx of fentanyl into this country,” he said. “I could opportunity pinch absolute certainty that if I was going done what I went done erstwhile I was younger now, past I wouldn’t beryllium here, either. There’s nary logic to sugarcoat that. I wanted to show nan communicative for Angus and for group who aren’t granted a 2nd chance.”
Of course, he acknowledges really difficult it mightiness beryllium for viewers to wrap their caput astir nan choice, successful portion because of Zendaya’s magnetic capacity that has kept audiences connected her broadside contempt her transgressions.
“Zendaya’s capacity has been truthful awesome and layered complete nan people of these seasons,” he added. “We fell successful emotion pinch this character, this woman who’s flawed, f*cked up, but has a bully bosom and is trying to do right, astatine slightest sometimes.”
Rue’s decease comes conscionable 45 minutes into nan finale, astir nan halfway point. In different story, things might’ve ended there. That would beryllium nan “normal, sane tv show,” jokes Levinson, which Euphoria is not.
Ali (Colman Domingo), Rue’s sponsor, finds her dormant connected his sofa nan greeting aft Alamo tells her to return immoderate clip disconnected to reside her injuries from escaping Laurie’s. He quickly discovers nan fentanyl-laced pills and sets retired for revenge against nan man who killed her.
“I knew that I wanted to acquisition Rue’s decease done him,” Levinson explained. “There’s a benignant of [feeling of] helplessness. Letting Coleman articulate that, for america arsenic an audience, is really important.”
Ali doesn’t stay helpless for very long, though. After trying to grieve nan quote-unquote due measurement for a fewer months — going to AA meetings, sponsoring others, and relying connected his religion — he’s recovered that doesn’t really activity for him anymore. Eventually, a hardened Ali tells his support group that he’ll nary longer beryllium attending meetings, arsenic he’s searching for a much meaningful measurement to make a difference.
Then, he saws nan tube disconnected his shotgun and, successful nan 2nd shootout of nan episode, Ali murders Alamo pinch 3 bullets to nan thorax wrong nan Silver Slipper.
“It was bully to return Ali retired of nan container and person him creation pinch different players,” Domingo said of branching retired from his typically isolated scenes pinch Zendaya.
It’s not precisely arsenic if immoderate of nan different characters are successful a overmuch amended spot, either. Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Maddy (Alexa Demie) are successful a upland of indebtedness and are trying to screen up Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) death.
“Maddy has ever been very guarded, and I deliberation astatine that constituent successful nan diner, I deliberation she’s done. She’s really tender inside,” Demie said successful nan video.
Levinson thinks that, while their reunification was successful immoderate ways calved retired of duress, Cassie and Maddy are nan existent “love story” of Season 3.
“They’ve been done truthful overmuch together, and location they are successful nan end, each they really sewage is each different and a full bunch of debt,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lexi (Maude Apatow) is having an existential situation aft reference nan Bible that Rue near astatine her apartment. She tries to talk to Cassie astir it, but nan sisters person ne'er really had an affectional connection, and Cassie shrugs her off. Jules (Hunter Schafer), still surviving successful her sweetener daddy’s flat to salary for creation school, is intelligibly grieving nan nonaccomplishment arsenic well.
“I’ve ever been against utopian storytelling,” adds Levinson. “I deliberation successful nan extremity I wanted to show an honorable communicative astir addiction. I besides wanted to show a communicative astir condolences and nan affectional turmoil that it tin create.”
