The series finale of 'Euphoria', titled 'In God We Trust', has left viewers stunned as Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, dies from a fentanyl overdose. The episode, now streaming on HBO Max, focuses primarily on Rue's losing battle with drug addiction, sidelining other characters whose storylines remain unresolved.
Throughout its third and final season, the show struggled to maintain its earlier coherence. Creator Sam Levinson's signature showmanship, which once effectively captured teenage emotion, gave way to a fractured narrative. Rue became a drug mule and strip club manager, while other characters like Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) turned to OnlyFans and Jules (Hunter Schafer) was isolated with a sugar daddy.
The latter half of the season attempted to weave these threads together, introducing themes of Christianity and redemption. Rue, recruited as a DEA informant, grappled with questions of good and evil, even experiencing a vision of a burning bush. However, the tonal shift felt jarring against the show's previously irreverent treatment of topics like sex work.
Rue's death occurs quietly on her sponsor Ali's couch, following a relapse. The episode's extended runtime tries to balance a somber warning about the opioid epidemic with operatic revenge and underdeveloped religious themes, ultimately leaving many viewers dissatisfied with the conclusion.
