Warning: Spoilers ahead. Do not proceed if you have not watched ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Episode 8.
“Euphoria” star Angus Cloud was honored in the Season 3 finale with never-before-seen footage of the late actor from seven years ago.
The show’s creator, Sam Levinson, included a reel of test footage featuring Cloud and Zendaya that was filmed during the first season of the HBO series in 2019.
“This is footage that never appeared on the show. I thought, ‘Wow, it would be great to use that footage to see him again, and it would be great to see them both,'” he told Esquire, noting the close friendship between characters Fezco “Fez” O’Neal and Lou Bennett.
In order for Cloud’s character to live on in season 3, Levinson chose to put Fezco in prison and still be talked about among the other characters.
“Despite the fact that he’s in prison and we don’t get to see him, his arc this season is really great,” Levinson said.
In the finale, Zendaya’s character takes a pill laced with fentanyl given to her by Alamo Brown, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, in the middle of an episode titled “In God We Trust.”
Cloud’s character, Fezco, appeared in the episode during Lou’s death scene. The video itself shows Zendaya and Cloud standing together in a grassy field, each holding a cracked beer and looking out at the horizon with smiles on their faces.
This tribute is even more powerful because Cloud passed away on July 31, 2023 at the age of 25 from an accidental fentanyl overdose.
“This season we really wanted to tackle this issue and tackle fentanyl and the effects of it and how it robs young people of second chances,” Levinson said. “When I was growing up and doing drugs, it was certainly possible to OD on something, but it wasn’t like now where one wrong move could kill you.”
Levinson also revealed that he made the decision to honor Cloud in this way just five days before the final episode premiered on Sunday.
“It’s a relief to be able to put it all together and turn it into something that I’m really proud of,” he said. “But it always comes with an adrenaline rush. That’s why I get a little sad towards the end.”
Producers also gave further insight into Lou’s hallucinations and what their ending means for her beloved character.
“Lou is kind of looking back on her life. So this is actually the moment when she pulls up to the old convenience store where Fezco used to work. She looks up at the sign and has a flashback to when she and Angus were together.”
Ru’s death comes on the heels of the tragic death of Zendaya’s co-star Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, in last week’s episode.
When asked about the Season 4 rumors, Levinson couldn’t quite close the door.
“I mean, I don’t know. I went into every season like it was the last season. If they say, ‘That’s it, Sam, pack your bags. We don’t need another season.’
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