Spoilers for Euphoria season 1
The first season of gritty and acclaimed HBO teen drama Euphoria came to an explosive end in its finale, which ended on a rather abstract note.
Following her decision to not leave town with her beloved Jules (Hunter Schafer), we see lead character Rue (Zendaya) flash back to when her father died following a period of illness and she starts wearing his red hoodie - the one we have seen her wear all season-long - and argues viciously with her mother as her sister watches.
We then see Rue take drugs and gets so high that she experiences hallucinations, which includes a musical sequence where Rue sings a remixed version of Labrinth's All For Us, with the song and dance sequence ending in her climbing into a pile of dancers wearing the same hoodie in the street.
Does this finale mean that Rue is dead too?
The answer is a resounding no.
Creator Sam Levinson revealed to The Hollywood Reporter: "I love what people's interpretations are of it. Rue's not dead, if that's the question."
He went on to add: "I thought it was interesting when I read a piece [about that theory] and loved the piece but I think Rue has a big journey ahead of her, and a tough one.
"It's not something I want to cut short because of who Rue means to me as someone who has battled with addiction and come out the other side, and because I think that there's a lot more to delve into and unpack in terms of the effects of addiction on Rue and on her family and those around her. The possibilities are endless in many ways."
However, there is real significance in the musical sequence of the final scene.
Levinson said: "I was writing as we were shooting, and I knew where Rue was headed and I knew what was going to happen, but it felt like in some ways seeing her relapse felt dark to me in a way that doesn't fully encapsulate the cycle and the madness of addiction — how you're thrown back into it and thrown out of it and it's dizzying and at times beautiful but also really fucking terrifying.
"It just felt like that was the right decision emotionally for the piece, so I had written it in there and it came down to the planning and coordination of it.
"A lot of credit is due to Ryan Heffington for his choreography, which is just absolutely magnificent and beautiful."
"I think the idea is in the back and forth of Rue getting shoved towards this mountain of bodies and the metaphor of that, and what it means to be an addict and also the people that we've lost to addiction and being pulled up that mountain. It came together in a way that was more emotional than I ever anticipated."
We couldn't agree more!
But when will answers come as to what has happened to Rue?
According to actress Storm Reid, who plays Rue's sister Gia, the answers will come in early season 2.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Reid said: "I feel like again, it's for your own interpretation, and the questions that you may have specifically about the eighth episode will be answered in the first couple of episodes of season 2."
We need it now!
Euphoria returns for season 2 in 2020.
What did you think of the end of Euphoria? Let us know in the comments below.
