HBO has ended Euphoria after three seasons, months after fans of the series called for its cancellation.
HBO writer, creator and director Sam Levinson announced the ending of the 26-episode series on Popcast while speaking to Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli.
“In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me. You know, looking back on the last 8 years, it was kind of a fulfilling journey in terms of the cast and crew and what we were about to accomplish. There are 1,000 things that happened right in order to make something right,” he stated.
“I’m immensely impressed by the work we did and the story we told, and it’s a tragic one in the end, but it’s the truth. If you are experimenting with drugs today, it is very possible it will kill you,” he added.
The series followed a group of high school students as they navigated friendship, love, social media, sex, drugs, identity and trauma. In its final season, Euphoria, they struggle with the possibility of redemption, virtue of faith and the problem of evil.
The cast included Zendaya, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Martha Kelly, Jacob Elordi, Colman Domingo and Toby Wallace.
Levinson served as the executive producer of the show alongside Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Tmira Yardeni, Daphna Levin, Ron Leshem, Mirit Toovi, Gary Lennon, Yoram Mokady and Adel Nur.
Why did fans call for Euphoria’s cancellation?
When Euphoria season 3 premiered, fans called for its cancellation as the first two episodes left viewers amazed, describing them as disturbing and shocking content.
The fans criticised Sydney Sweeney’s storyline, who plays Cassie Howard for two consecutive weeks that focused on her desires to open an OnlyFans account to pay for an expensive wedding she planned to have with her fiancé Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.
“Sydney Sweeney in season 3 is literally just humiliating her. I don’t get how they don’t see that it’s not the way to go; her role boils down to basically humiliating her. She’s not going to win any awards like that. “They dress her up like a baby, pretending to be a baby with a pacifier for what?” a user stated on X formerly Twitter.
“This one doesn’t bother me so much, because it’s literally a porn show. The “sexy baby” thing feels like it should be a crime. Levinson should never be allowed another show after that, and Sweeney shouldn’t either for agreeing to do it,” another user wrote.
How did fans react to HBO ending Euphoria?
Many fans argued that the final season lacked the emotional depth and atmosphere that made earlier seasons popular.
“And I just finished watching the finale less than an hour ago. They really wanted this to be over as soon as possible,” a user said on Reddit.
Others said the finale appeared rushed, suggesting the creators were eager to wrap up the series as quickly as possible.
“This season seems like it was basically Sam Levinson just burning everything to the ground on his way out, so not really a shock,” a user wrote.