The third season of Euphoria recently finished its run on HBO. Throughout the season, viewers noticed that Fezco , the character played by late actor Angus Cloud , was still alive in the show’s world. Cloud passed away in July 2023 at age 25 from an accidental overdose. Series creator Sam Levinson made a deliberate choice not to write off the character. Instead, Fez remained a presence even without appearing on screen. Levinson recently opened up about the emotional reasons behind this decision.
Why Sam Levinson Refused to Kill Off Fezco
Levinson had a very personal reason for keeping Fez alive. He explained that since he could not save Angus in real life, he wanted to keep his character alive in the fictional world of Euphoria.
“I couldn’t keep him alive in real life but I could keep his character alive in the show. I kept him alive and the character has got a great arc. I think he’d be very proud of it.”
— Sam Levinson to The Hollywood Reporter
The creator fought hard to help Cloud during his struggles with addiction. Levinson even brought a sober coach to the set. He told The New York Times that he used to invite Cloud over to talk about the character’s future in season three. “I’d say, ‘Look, he’s been in prison for a few years, so you’ve got to get that yoked prison body,’” Levinson recalled. He wanted Cloud to have a goal and a reason to take care of himself.
Levinson admitted that Fez was originally supposed to die at the end of season one. He also thought about killing the character in season two. “I just couldn’t do it,” he said.
How Fezco Stayed Alive in the Story
The third season of Euphoria picked up with Fez serving a 30-year prison sentence. The police raid on his house at the end of season two led to his arrest. Throughout the first seven episodes, the audience heard about Fez but did not see him. Rue (Zendaya) spoke to him on the phone. Lexi (Maude Apatow) also mentioned him in conversations. This kept the character present in everyone’s minds.
The plan for Cloud was much bigger before his passing. Levinson told the New York Times that he had a large portion of season three written before the 2023 writers’ strike. “Angus was the backbone of that season,” Levinson said.
The Finale Tribute in the Season 3 Finale
The Euphoria season 3 finale delivered a proper goodbye to both the character and the actor. In the episode, Rue overdoses on fentanyl-laced pills. As she is dying, she has a dream. In the dream, she sees a news report saying Fez escaped from prison. Rue drives to his old convenience store, which is now abandoned and boarded up. A flashback then plays showing Rue and Fez standing together in a field, smiling.
Levinson revealed that this footage was actually test footage shot years earlier. It was never meant to be seen by the public. Using it allowed the team to create a meaningful tribute for the late actor.
Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis
The finale also connected Cloud’s real death to the show’s message. During a behind-the-scenes segment after the finale, Levinson spoke directly about the issue.
“This is a real show about a real problem that we have in this country, and that’s addiction. People relapse. They mess up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying like they are now with the influx of fentanyl into this country.”
— Sam Levinson
Cloud died with fentanyl in his system. In the finale, Rue nearly dies from the same drug. Levinson said he could say with certainty that if he had gone through his younger struggles today, “I wouldn’t be here either.” He wanted to tell the story for Cloud and “for people who weren’t granted a second chance.”
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Confirmation That Season 3 Is the End
Following the finale, HBO confirmed that season three of Euphoria is the final season of the series. Levinson also confirmed this on a New York Times podcast. The show ended with Rue’s death. Levinson explained that Euphoria was always a show about addiction. With the main character gone, the story reached its natural end.
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