Euphoria Season 3 Finale: Who Won’t Make It Out Alive? The Most Compelling Theories
Euphoria is barreling toward its third — and possibly last — finale, with several characters in the crosshairs for an onscreen death. Adapted from an Israeli series, the drama began with Zendaya’s Rue fighting to stay sober after rehab and has only grown darker since.
Euphoria is barreling toward its season 3 finale, and it really looks like the show wants to leave a mark on the way out. One big name is already out of play. And the way it happened? Not exactly the exit I had on my bingo card.
Where we are and how we got here
In case you need a quick reset: Euphoria, based on the Israeli series of the same name, started in 2019 as Rue's story — a high schooler (Zendaya ) trying to stay sober after rehab — and spiraled out to cover mental illness, toxic relationships, sexuality, and a whole lot of bad decisions. The ensemble (Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Colman Domingo ) blew up basically overnight. Season 3 added a few new faces too, including Anna Van Patten and Toby Wallace.
Nate is gone — courtesy of a rattlesnake
Ahead of the May 31 finale, Jacob Elordi's Nate was killed off in the May 24 episode by a rattlesnake bite. Yes, really. In the after-episode segment that aired the same night, Elordi called it a fitting end for a character who stacked up plenty of dark choices. He also talked about shooting the coffin scene — his shoulders pinned, arms unable to move, the lid drilled shut until it went pitch black — and said it was surprisingly... peaceful.
"It is a bittersweet thing. This show is a massive part of — not just my career — but my life. It’s been amazing and I’m so proud of being a part of this."
So who else might not make it to credits?
If season 3 really is the last stop, expect the finale to lock some doors behind it. Here are the characters most at risk and why:
- Rue (Zendaya): Three seasons of chaos have to come due sometime, and ending with Rue would close the book in a way that makes it hard to walk the show back for more.
- Cassie (Sydney Sweeney): Nate was first, but given Cassie's trajectory, she could be next in the blast radius.
- Maddy (Alexa Demie): Her deal with Alamo has a big neon 'danger' sign on it. If it is not Cassie, Maddy's the one taking the risk here.
- Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) or Laurie (Martha Kelly): These two are on a collision course. In a showdown, one — or both — feels unlikely to walk away.
- Faye (Chloe Cherry) or Wayne (Toby Wallace): After Faye exposed Rue, either she pays for it, or Wayne does. And since Wayne has openly identified as a Nazi, you can guess which way the audience is leaning, even if Sam Levinson keeps that card close.
- Kitty (Anna Van Patten): The Mexico trip for a BBL? That storyline is waving red flags so hard it is basically a semaphore class. It does not scream 'safe outcome.'
The vibe heading into the finale
Nate's snakebite exit sets the tone: surprising, a little absurd, and very final. With the May 31 episode positioned as the capper to what many assume is the show's last season, do not be shocked if Euphoria goes all-in and leaves several characters behind. It is been that kind of season.