Euphoria’s Sam Levinson Reveals Inspiration Behind “Horrific” Season 3 Death
These euphoric delights have truly violent ends.
Euphoria, the Sam Levinson series starring Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie and Jacob Elordi, concluded its third season May 31. And during it, Rue (Zendaya) finally meets her maker.
If you have been locked in all season, you’ll know the finale picked up just after Rue and Faye (Chloe Cherry) broke into the safe at Laurie’s (Martha Kelly). After Faye rats out Rue to her boyfriend Wayne (Toby Wallace), it seems like time might finally be up for Euphoria’s leading lady—having been lasso’ed by one of Wayne’s accomplices—before a well-timed gunshot from G allows her to escape.
She does, however, take a proffered Percocet from Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), following the ordeal, as well as a bottle of the drugs from the strip club owner.
Meanwhile, Rue’s ongoing deal with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) comes to a head when the DEA raid Laurie’s compound, Wayne and Faye escaping just minutes before the feds move in. Rather than let herself get taken to prison, Laurie hangs herself from the roof of one of the buildings.
The next morning, Rue learns that Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) escapes from prison and embarks on a mission to rescue him. During the mission, she crosses police lines and flees—during which she sees visions of Jules (Hunter Schafer) and Fezco—before she into her childhood home and reunites with her mother Leslie (Nika King).
The whole sequence, however, is a dream. In reality, Ali (Colman Domingo) wakes up to find Rue dead on his couch: She took one of Alamo’s Percocets, which Ali tests and discovers was laced with Fentanyl. The loss sends him into a pit of despair and anger—more on that to come.
Eddy Chen/HBO
Meanwhile, Jules (Hunter Schafer) continues to make limited appearances: In her one scene in the finale, Rue’s first love channels her grief for her former schoolmate into a moving painting.
As for where Cassie (Sweeney) and Maddy (Alexa Demie) stand after Nate’s (Elordi) death in the penultimate episode? The pair decide to turn Cassie and Nate’s home into a NSFW content house, rooming creators onsite—and they want Lexi (Maude Apatow) to direct (an offer the moral compass of East Highland High School declines).
Now, back to Ali. Fueled by rage that the people he tries to help continuously succumb to lethally-dosed drugs, he goes to Alamo’s strip club with the intention of killing the drug dealer responsible for Rue’s death. And in a showdown worthy of an old Western drama, Ali accomplishes his task after Bishop (Darrell Britt-Gibson) secretly empties Alamo’s gun of bullets.
Eddy Chen/HBO
After the violent affair, Ali seeks refuge with the family Rue previously sheltered with, finding peace.
The season three finale, which is also rumored to be the show’s last, set the stage for a perfect ending to the long-running drama series—which also starred the late Eric Dane, Storm Reid as well as Barbie Ferreira over the years—after fans waited a long four years for its return.
And that was exactly what Levinson intended—as previously explained he was excited to break free of the high school mold from the first two seasons.
Eddy Chen/HBO
“They’re in the real world, and the consequences are real,” Levinson told Esquire earlier this month. “There’s no safety net. I like this Wild West, frontier aspect to it where you can make something of yourself, but you’re going to have to live with the consequences.”
As their character became acquainted with the real world, the corresponding actors had already reached new levels of stardom. After all, Euphoria acted as a launching pad for its main characters. Earlier this year, Elordi scored an Oscar nomination for Frankenstein on the coat tails of playing Nate, while Zendaya nabbed two Emmys for playing Rue, and Sweeney scored an Emmy nomination as well as acclaim as a producer of box office hits since the show’s premiere.
“It’s been such a journey,” Sweeney told Variety in October of her time on the show. “It’s been my entire 20s. They’ve been my family and friends for so long. I’ve been forever grateful for all of them.”
Zendaya—who got her start on Disney—also emphasized ahead of the show’s final season that she owes “so much” of her success to it.
“Euphoria, it cracked my heart open,” she explained during an April appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. “Rue taught me so much about empathy and about redemption. She taught me a lot, and I’m very grateful for all of it.”
While Euphoria is over, there are plenty more TV show premieres to look forward to. Read on for your next binge watch…
Prime Video
Spider-Noir (Prime Video) – May 27
Spider-Noir is a live-action series based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir. “Spider-Noir” tells the story of Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), an aging and down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros. Discovery
Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch (Discovery Channel) – May 27
Fueled by clues in a cryptic Mormon journal, an all-new team of treasure hunters, Josh Feldman and his father Ron, take over the search for the Aztec lost gold on Blind Frog Ranch and uncover a series of hidden chambers they believe contain the fortune they have been searching for.
Netflix
The Four Seasons (Netflix) – May 28
From co-creators Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, season two of the heartfelt comedy series consists of eight all new episodes, which once again follow six friends on four different vacations over the course of a year.
Paramount+
Criminal Minds: Evolution (Paramount+) – May 28
Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution returns to Paramount+ with a thrilling new season that pushes our elite profilers to their limits. As the BAU investigates a string of chilling new cases, Elias Voit embarks on a path to atone for his past. His newfound infamy inadvertently awakens their most formidable nemesis yet, The Fan. Precise, calculating, and relentlessly dangerous, this UnSub pushes the BAU to the brink and back under the shadow of Elias Voit. But how far will The Fan go to prove his superiority over his idol?
Disney
Deli Boys (Hulu) – May 28
Turns out inheriting a criminal empire was the easy part… and more money really does mean more problems. This season on Deli Boys, the Dars are drowning in dirty cash and Philly’s sketchiest crooks are circling. Enter Max Sugar: casino king, money launderer, and Lucky’s new crush who turns laundering into a chaotic situationship. Raj plots revenge on Ahmad, Mir tries to expand DarCo without blowing it up, and Philly D.A. Andrew Chadwater hopes one big bust will make him mayor.
Michael Yarish/Paramount+
Criminal Minds: Evolution (Paramount+) – May 28
The long-running crime procedural debuts its 19th season this spring.
Apple TV
Star City (Apple TV) – May 29
Set in the world of For All Mankind, Star City is a propulsive paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race – when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers, and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.
Netflix
Calabasas Confidential (Netflix) – May 29
After graduating college, a group of lifelong friends, foes, and exes return to Calabasas for a summer they’ll never forget. Back home and living in their parents’ hillside mansions, they’ll be faced with the daunting reality of confronting unresolved drama while trying to define what’s next for their lives and relationships. Four years may have put distance between them, but new flames, old feuds, and unexpected secrets don’t stay hidden forever behind the gates of L.A.’s most envied zip code.
TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery
90 Day: The Last Resort (TLC) – June 1
This season, 90 Day Fiance couples Jenny and Sumit, Shekinah and Sarper, Kara and Guillermo, Paola and Russ, Thais and Patrick, and Rebecca and Zied have all reached relationship breaking points. To resurrect their love, the six well-known pairs will spend three weeks immersed in the rolling hills and storybook charm of the English countryside just outside Bristol, England at the historic Thornbury Castle, a centuries old estate once owned by King Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn. Set against this regal and romantic backdrop, the couples will attempt to rebuild trust,communication, and revive the passion in their broken relationships.
Ben Symons/Peacock
Love Island USA (Peacock) – June 2
Season eight, once again hosted by Ariana Madix, will introduce fans to new Bombshells looking for love in Fiji.
Disney
Not Suitable for Work (Hulu) – June 2
From comedy hitmaker Mindy Kaling, the new comedy centers around five work-obsessed twenty-somethings striving for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhood, Murray Hill.
Netflix
Michael Jackson: The Verdict (Netflix) – June 3
Told by key players who were inside the courtroom, this three-part comprehensive docuseries dissects the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy.
VERSANT
Everything on the Menu With Braun Strowman (USA Network) – June 5
USA Network is dishing out a second helping of culinary adventures as WWE icon Braun Strowman hits the road to devour 12 new cities, serving up a fresh round of can’t-miss restaurant stops and sharing the table with special guest stars.
Disney
Hannah Berner: None of My Business (Hulu) – June 5
Hannah Berner delivers her most vulnerable material yet – questioning her future, exposing her unorthodox career path, dishing dating secrets and admitting she’s “part-time hot” in this sensational sophomore special.
Apple TV
Cape Fear (Apple TV) – June 5
Inspired by the 1991 remake directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Steven Spielberg, a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna (Amy Adams) and Tom Bowden (Patrick Wilson) when Max Cady (Javier Bardem), the notorious killer they are responsible for putting behind bars, is let out of prison—and he wants vengeance.
National Geographic/Disney
Best of the World With Antoni Porowski (National Geographic) – June 7
Inspired by National Geographic’s acclaimed Best of the World franchise, the series follows Emmy winner Antoni Porowski, known for his food and culture storytelling, as he sets out to uncover what truly makes a destination unforgettable. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, he explores Mexico City, Paris, London and his hometown of New York City, seeking out the people, flavors and experiences that extend beyond the guidebook.
Bravo/NBCUniversal
Below Deck Mediterranean (Bravo) – June 8
Set against the dazzling backdrop of Dubrovnik, Croatia along the Adriatic Sea, Capt. Sandy Yawn reunites with Chief Stew Aesha Scott, Bosun Nathan Gallagher and Deckhand Joe Bradley for their third and most unforgettable season together. Aboard the sleek new M/Y Akira One, Aesha has her hands full as she trains her youngest and most competitive stew team yet – Gen Lillie, Kayley Smith and Kat Johnston, all while planning her own wedding to her fiancé, Scott, after the charter season. New chef Joy Lefaucheur attempts to keep up seven-star cuisine for demanding guests with fiery French flair, even while getting stuck in the middle of a love triangle. Nathan, being a new father, must strike a balance between work and home life as his partner, Gael Cameron, and baby Kayden live nearby so he can be with them on nights off after long charters while training new deckhands Cooper Dawson and Luke Brumer. A growing rift with Joe comes to a shocking conclusion as Nathan struggles to maintain his composure under pressure, and the two deckies’ competition threatens to tear apart the entire Med team. A crew member’s unexpected departure sparks a surprise return, which sets off a chain reaction no one could see coming.
Roku Channel
Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story (Roku Channel) – June 8
Soccer champion and women’s sports advocate Ashlyn Harris is telling her full story for the first time ever, in the new Roku Original documentary. Sharing her triumphs and defeats both on and off the soccer field, Ashlyn bares all, leaving viewers heartbroken at times and inspired at others.
Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios
Every Year After (Prime Video) – June 10
Told over the course of six years and one week in Barry’s Bay – the quintessential lake town – Every Year After is a romantic, nostalgic story of first loves and the people and choices that mark us forever.
The series is based on the best-selling novel by Carley Fortune Every Summer After.
Investigation Discovery/Warner Bros. Discovery
Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise (Investigation Discovery) – June 10
The new ID docuseries examines the dark reality and allegations behind the viral “Pearadise” community, an online and real-life plus size community encouraging body positivity run by founder Stefan Wilhelmy out of his Las Vegas, NV residence.
Drawing on accounts from women connected to Pearadise as well as founder Stefan Wilhelmy, Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise examines allegations of misconduct, including claims of manipulation, coercion, and exploitative dynamics. Featuring interviews with several women connected to Pearadise, extensive archival material, footage from within Pearadise, and insight from experts familiar with Pearadise’s rise and impact in the social media ecosystem, the docuseries provides context around how a highly visible, body positive collective became the subject of growing scrutiny and spiraled into a complicated web of dark allegations.
NBCUniversal
Surviving Earth (NBC) – June 11
Surviving Earth is a landmark series showcasing how life not only survived but thrived through Earth’s most catastrophic environmental crises. Using cutting-edge CGI, viewers are transported back to a world of never-before-seen creatures and their remarkable survival stories. From the giant sea scorpions of 450 million years ago to the mighty mammoths and sabertooths of 450,000 years ago, Earth’s epic story is vividly brought to life. Traverse landscapes shaped by meteoric strikes, volcanic eruptions, plunging sea levels and scorching heat storms.
Starz
Power Book III: Raising Kana (Starz) – June 12
Kanan Stark’s (Mekai Curtis) journey over the last four seasons of Raising Kanan has been fraught with ambition, betrayal and relentless attempts to escape his mother’s shadow. He once looked up to Raq, eager to join her empire, but he soon learned the truth about who she really was and the secrets she was hiding from him. Forced to confront this web of lies, Kanan faced an existential crisis of self-discovery and emerged stronger and more resolute than ever. Although he embraced his true self, and broke free from his mother’s influence, he still couldn’t let her crimes go unanswered.
STARZ
The Listeners (STARZ) – June 12
In The Listeners, Claire hears a sound that neither her husband nor her daughter can hear. This seemingly innocuous hum triggers migraines, nosebleeds and insomnia, with no obvious source or medical explanation. After weeks of suffering, the strain starts to fracture her relationships with family, friends and colleagues. When she discovers that a student of hers can also hear the hum, the two strike up an unlikely and intimate friendship that gradually transforms into something more extreme, with devastating consequences.
DC/Warner Bros. Discovery
My Adventures With Superman (Adult Swim) – June 13
Clark has truly become Superman and made peace with his Kryptonian origins – he’s ready to settle down! But Lois, who has finally become the Planet’s star reporter, is NOT. Jimmy has evolved from freelance photographer to celebrity journalist—but he’s still intimidated by the romantic attentions of the newly arrived Kara Zor-El, who’s trying to find her place on Earth.
In our latest action, comedy, and romance-packed season, this found family will have to confront powerful new enemies that challenge Superman, threaten their future, and test the bonds holding them together. Can our heroes save their tomorrow–before it destroys today?
Bravo/NBCUniversal
The McBee Dynasty (Bravo) – June 15
The McBee family returns and their future has never been in greater danger. With the family patriarch facing prison time following a massive FBI investigation and banks calling in loans as a result, the McBee family must scramble to protect their legacy amid new romances, unexpected pregnancies, emotional goodbyes and devastating losses across the family businesses. Is this the start of a new chapter…or the end of a dynasty?
TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery
Little Singles (TLC) – June 15
Living in an average-sized world comes with daily challenges, from accessibility and social stigma to dating and self-confidence. In this house, everyone is on equal footing, creating a space where they can fully be themselves.
What begins as a carefree getaway among friends quickly evolves into a chosen family experience. With a mix of personalities, relationship histories and different forms of dwarfism, the group explores what love, honesty and truly belonging really mean.
Sophy Holland/Bravo
2026 Las Culturistas Culture Awards (Bravo & Peacock) – June 17
Hosted by comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang of the popular Las Culturistas podcast, the fifth annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards is a comedy variety special that celebrates culture’s most iconic and consequential moments. With more than 100 unique award categories, live musical performances, and unexpected celebrity encounters, this show truly brings the culture’s most crucial moments to life.
Disney/YouTube
Million Dollar Nannies (Freeform) – June 17
A young group of elite nannies heads to Ibiza to launch a new kind of agency, built by nannies, for nannies. They’re promised VIP families, life-changing money, and a shot at something bigger than any of them could build alone. But fierce competition, personal drama, and a scandal from the past threaten to derail the dream before the summer sets.
Peacock
The Capture (Peacock) – June 18
It’s been twelve months since Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) broadcast a live deepfake of a government minister to the nation, exposing the UK intelligence service’s clandestine video manipulation program known as Correction.
Amidst an inquiry into the unlawful use of deepfakes, Carey has become acting head of SO15, determined to regain the public’s trust in surveillance technology through the new Operation Veritas camera system. And then it happens: a brutal and exceptionally well-coordinated act of terror aimed right at the heart of the British establishment that leaves behind just one witness.
The more Carey investigates, the deeper she is drawn into an unfolding geopolitical crisis that infects the British political establishment, the security services, and the media. The conspiracy reaches deep into the State, but just who is pulling the strings? Caught in an increasingly violent situation, and with few allies left to trust, what sacrifices will Carey be willing to make?
Netflix
I Will Find You (Netflix) – June 18
An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive—and must break out of prison to find out the truth.
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