The ending of ‘Euphoria’ has been the subject of many debates, and a lot of the discussion has been about what happened to Rue Bennett. Zendaya’s character was the emotional core of HBO’s hit drama for three seasons, but in the series finale, she was left with a tragic ending after accidentally overdosing on pills laced with fentanyl.
The split was instant, and many viewers wondered why Rue didn’t get a better ending after years of battling addiction. Now, series creator Sam Levinson has responded to the criticism. And he believes the finale was always supposed to be a realistic look at addiction and not a traditional wrap-up.
Sam Levinson Says Rue’s Tragic Fate Was Always The Point
In HBO’s post-finale featurette, Levinson said that Rue’s death stemmed from an “honest portrayal of addiction.” The story was never meant to ensure survival or redemption, according to the creator. Rather, he wanted to see the terrible effects that addiction can have, even for a person who is trying to change their life.
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“It felt like an honest ending. The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it. I think in the end, I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction,” he continued. “I also wanted to tell a story about grief and the emotional turmoil that it can create,” he explained.
In the end, Rue unwittingly takes some pills containing fentanyl given to her by Alamo. The heart-wrenching turn is that she falls prey to the very threats she fought for years to overcome. The finale was a surprise for a lot of people.
Rue had become one of television’s most popular and enigmatic characters, and her demise was particularly hard to swallow. However, Levinson thinks it was supposed to be uncomfortable, and the end serves as a reminder of loss and the capriciousness of addiction.
The Emotional Tribute Behind The Finale
A particularly moving moment in the episode was when Rue meets up with Fezco in a dreamlike scene. The moment was all the more impactful as it involved the late Angus Cloud, a fan favourite for his role as Fez, who sadly passed away in 2023.
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Levinson said the reunion was partly a tribute to Cloud and others who didn’t get a second chance. Some fans have applauded the emotional nature of the finale, while others are still upset about the season.
No matter where they fall on the spectrum, there’s no doubt: ‘Euphoria’ concluded in the same way it lived, provocative, emotionally charged, and impossible to ignore. In years to come, fans will probably still be debating whether Rue’s final chapter was a brave storytelling decision or a heartbreaking mistake.
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