Season three of “Euphoria” premiered this past Sunday, marking its return after a long hiatus.
The first season debuted in 2019, followed by season two in 2022, leaving fans waiting nearly four years for the next chapter of the well-received drama.
The HBO Max series follows the life of Rue (Zendaya), a troubled teen who struggles with addiction and the relationships that come after going through rehab. The show also introduces backstories for its cast of characters in a high school setting, offering an unrealistic view of teenage life but still entertaining nonetheless.
After Lexi’s (Maude Apatow) self-written play reveals secrets about Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi), a brawl ensues between Cassie and Maddy (Alexa Demie). They argue about Nate and how he treats people in relationships, which is only just beginning when Maddy cuts him off for good and Cassie comes in.
Fez’s (Angus Cloud) house is raided by the police, where a shootout happens between his adopted brother, Ashtray (Javon Walton), Fez and the police. Ashtray is wounded and Fez gets shot. The ending is ominous, as viewers don’t really know what happened to the siblings.
Nate confronts his dad, Cal (Eric Dane), and proceeds to tip off the police about the explicit videos he has in his possession. Though audiences know Nate isn’t free from guilt, as he has his dad’s same tendencies for manipulation.
Jules (Hunter Schafer) tells Rue how much she loves and misses her after leaving on a train earlier in the season. Rue kisses her forehead and walks away, marking a definitive end to their romantic relationship and focus on sobriety — something she does for the rest of high school.
For season three, audiences are past this arc — years, actually, and each character is shown in a new life after graduation.
Rue deals drugs. Lexi works as a creative on TV sets. Cassie is a bride-to-be, Nate is the groom-to-be and has taken over his dad’s business. Maddy works in management for TV stars, and Jules is a sugar baby.
In 2023, Angus Cloud passed away. The tragic incident left “Euphoria” viewers wondering whether the show's writers would continue Fez’s character. However, Fez is mentioned in this episode as being in jail for 30 years.
