This article contains spoilers for Euphoria.

The collective gasp you just heard across the internet was millions of Euphoria fans processing the devastating, long-feared final chapter of the hit HBO series. 

It's official. Rue Bennett is dead.

While social media is currently in a state of absolute meltdown — some mourning the end of an era, others hating on Levinson's choices as a showrunner — the tragic climax shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Much like the discourse surrounding Nate Jacobs' exit, the signs were always there. 

For years, fans have spun complex theories about Rue's ultimate fate, but creator Sam Levinson's final decision is a brutal, heartbreaking reflection of reality — one deeply altered by the real-life passing of actor Angus Cloud.

Watch: The trailer for Euphoria Season 3. Article continues after video.

For those who have been longtime fans of Euphoria, Rue's tragic end was coded into the show's DNA from day one. Euphoria is based on a 2012 Israeli series of the same name, where the main character's equivalent meets a similarly fatal end. 

Furthermore, Levinson has never hidden the fact that Rue was a mirror for his own past. He based the character on his personal battle with addiction, which is why she was always treated with a level of care, nuance, and respect that, in my opinion, some other female characters rarely received. But as any addict in recovery knows, the tightrope is incredibly thin.

In HBO's post-show featurette, Levinson defended the controversial decision to kill off his central protagonist, stating that it felt like an honest end to the story.

"It felt like an honest ending," he said. "The honest ending is people like Rue don't make it."

He explained that he wanted to tell a real story about addiction, grief, and the devastating effects of it. 

"I think in the end, I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction," he explained. "I also wanted to tell a story about grief and the emotional turmoil that it can create."

And we should have seen it coming. I mean, even the cast knew a Hollywood happy ending was never on the table, with Alexa Demie warning fans on the red carpet months ago. 

"It's Euphoria. It's not a happy ending, but it's close," she told The Hollywood Reporter. 

While Levinson always toyed with tragedy, Rue's narrative arc wasn't always this bleak. In an interview with The New York Times, Levinson revealed that he had originally written a completely different trajectory for the character. 

"I had originally written a different trajectory for the character of Rue," he told The New York Times .

Everything changed in 2023 following the tragic, accidental overdose of Angus Cloud, who played the beloved, soft-hearted drug dealer Fezco, at just 25 years old. For Levinson, continuing the show without acknowledging the real-world monster that took his friend and actor felt impossible. 

"I thought, you can't tell a story about addiction today without the very real consequences. Most people don't get a second chance. Fentanyl can just take you out in an instant," he explained.

"I wanted to tell the story for Angus and for people who weren't granted a second chance." 

As much as I dislike Sam Levinson as a writer and creator, and question his intentions when it comes to telling young women's stories, I can't deny how personal the choice to kill off Rue feels. 

I may have a million critiques of this show. I may have even hated this season of Euphoria. But ultimately, I don't think Rue's death was just for shock value.

For Levinson, it became a solemn tribute to the people the addiction crisis has claimed. You can see why this finale was re-written to honour those who never got the opportunity to recover. It feels like an ending for Angus and for everyone who wasn't granted a second chance. 

Feature Image: HBO Max.