Rue Dies in ‘Euphoria’: Season 3 Finale Explained

Euphoria‘s third season has come to an end, and so has the story of one of the HBO hit’s key characters, as the episode delivered yet another major death following Nate Jacobs’ (Jacob Elordi) demise.

In the episode, Rue managed to get through the drug mule operation that set up Laurie (Martha Kelly) and crew, along with Alamo’s (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), with the DEA. Seemingly escaping a doomed fate, everything shifted when she saw a news report that Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) had escaped from prison.

Driving in search of her friend, Rue was drawn back to the home she grew up in and found her mother Leslie (Nika King) sitting at the table, but the scene shifted, and it became clear this expedition was merely in Rue’s fading mind. It turned out that Rue had actually overdosed to death, hugging a figure that appeared to be her dead father before Ali (Colman Domingo) uncovered her body on his couch after he allowed her to stay with him.

Ali was forced to call Leslie and inform her of the news, as he tested the drugs Rue had consumed to find out what it was. It turned out that the Percocet pills Alamo had given her were actually laced with fentanyl. Angered, Ali brought his frustrations to his group meeting, opening up about the loss, and admitted he drank after the loss of Rue.

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Her loss tested his faith in religion, and he admitted to the group that he was tired of losing people, tired of spending his life in rooms, diners, and at his house trying to help kids, only to see them not get a second chance.

Meanwhile, Alamo enjoyed the spoils of his riches secured after the drug run that left Laurie’s crew in tatters, as he forgot about Rue after having intentionally poisoned her. He met with Maddy (Alexa Demie) to exchange funds she’d collected for him, and he admitted to having had an epiphany and noted that he’d lost his path.

He suggested that Maddy be his wife and she could complete his American dream, but he couldn’t have it because Ali had arrived at the Silver Slipper and bolted hte door, as he asked for the manager. His intentions were quite clear as he bolted the door with a bike lock, and once the first shot was fired (seemingly killing Marshawn Lynch‘s G), Ali called for Alamo to show himself, which led to a life-or-death shootout.

Ultimately, Ali survived; with Alamo’s gun having jammed, he shot the drug lord to death, as he delivered the bloody fate on behalf of Rue. A moment later, Bishop (Darrell Britt-Gibson) dropped a handful of bullets, as it was implied he purposely set up Alamo to fail. He bid Ali adieu by telling the man, “May God have mercy,” before he drove Maddy and Kitty (Anna Van Patten) home.

In addition to Rue, Alamo, and G, the episode turned out to be deadly for Laurie, who hung herself and met her demise in an attempt to escape the authorities who surrounded her home earlier in the installment.

The finale concluded with Ali as he paid a visit to the homestead Rue began her journey in on Season 3; he claimed Rue as his daughter, and sat for a meal with the religious family as he told them she was in a better place and had painted their house as a peaceful place. The installment ended with Ali having experienced a bit of that peace for himself as he said grace and envisioned Rue at the other end of the table. But is this the end of Euphoria? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and relive every heart-stopping moment from Season 3 anytime on HBO Max.

Euphoria, Seasons 1-3, Streaming now, HBO Max