'Euphoria' Series Finale Review: Strong Addiction Portrayal Undermined by Out-of-Place Fantasy Ending
By
Ben Travers
Master baker tier. Every paragraph earns its place on the tray.
Summary
The review analyzes the "Euphoria" series finale, "In God We Trust" (Season 3, Episode 8), focusing on Rue's emotional reunion with her mother after years apart. The critic praises the show's honest portrayal of addiction and the powerful performances, particularly Zendaya's. However, the review strongly criticizes the finale's closing moments as a "TV fantasy" that feels out of place and insulting, undermining the grounded, raw storytelling that preceded it. The piece examines Sam Levinson's directorial choices, the cinematography by Marcell Rev, and the thematic tension between realism and dramatic closure.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledNear the midway point of 'Euphoria's' series finale, when Rue sees her mother for the first time in years, a look flashes across her face so happy it's heartbreaking.
Sam Levinson's 'Euphoria' finale tries to paint an honest portrait of addiction, before closing with a TV fantasy so out of place it's insulting.
Director of photography Marcell Rev's soft lighting accents her teary-eyed smile, drawing out her hope to return to a place she feared was forever out of reach.
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