Euphoria Season 3: Who died in Episode 7 ‘Rain or Shine’ and is Rue next? What can fans expect in HBO’s darkest finale yet

Euphoria Season 3: Nate Jacobs is dead, Rue is spiraling, and the ‘Euphoria’ finale may be setting up an even bigger tragedy. Fans searching who died in Euphoria season 3 finally got their answer in Episode 7, and it was one of the series’ most controversial characters. HBO’s hit teen drama delivered one of its bleakest episodes yet as Nate Jacobs met a gruesome end, while Rue Bennett moved even deeper into danger ahead of the highly anticipated Euphoria finale.

The penultimate episode, titled “Rain or Shine,” pushed nearly every major character toward emotional collapse. But while viewers expected betrayal, violence and chaos, few predicted the shocking fate awaiting Nate.
Now, online reactions are exploding as audiences debate one question even bigger than did Nate die: Is Rue heading toward the same fate in the final episode?

Nate Jacobs’ shocking death changes everything

For years, Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, served as the emotional and psychological threat hanging over Euphoria. Violent, manipulative and unpredictable, Nate often felt untouchable.

Season 3 changed that dramatically.

Instead of the powerful athlete fans once feared, viewers saw a broken man drowning in debt, pressure and failed ambitions. By Episode 7, Nate had become trapped in a terrifying situation involving dangerous loan sharks demanding $1 million.

The situation escalated when Nate was buried alive in a shallow grave while his wife Cassie desperately tried to save him. But before help could arrive, a rattlesnake crawled through an air vent and fatally bit him.
The episode later confirmed the death in horrifying fashion as Cassie cried over Nate’s swollen, decaying body.
For fans wondering did Nate die or nate euphoria death, HBO left little ambiguity. Nate Jacobs is officially gone.

Why Nate’s death feels symbolic for Euphoria

Nate’s downfall was brutal, but many viewers believe it reflected the show’s larger themes about power, masculinity and self-destruction. In earlier seasons, Nate represented fear. He controlled relationships through intimidation and emotional manipulation. But Season 3 slowly stripped away that control.

Financial ruin, emotional instability and criminal threats transformed him into a desperate figure trying to outrun consequences he could no longer manage.

The irony of his death was impossible to miss. A character who terrorized others for years ultimately died trapped underground, powerless and alone. Online fan discussions exploded immediately after the episode aired, with many calling it the most shocking death in the series so far.

Rue’s future now worries fans even more

While Nate’s death dominated headlines, longtime viewers are increasingly nervous about Rue Bennett’s storyline. Played by Zendaya, Rue spent most of Season 3 balancing addiction recovery, spiritual visions and dangerous cartel activity.

Episode 7 intensified those fears dramatically

Rue attempted to deceive rival criminal groups while secretly plotting a robbery with Faye. But the plan unraveled after Faye discovered there was no money inside the safe they were targeting.

The episode ended with Faye screaming for help as cartel members slept nearby, leaving Rue’s survival uncertain heading into the Euphoria finale.

Fans quickly noticed several ominous moments throughout the episode:

1. Ali warning Rue that Moses never reached the Promised Land
2. Rue apologetically leaving Ali behind with a “Forgive me” note
3. Repeated references to addiction ending in death
4. Rue becoming increasingly reckless and convinced she has divine protection
5. Those clues sparked growing fears online that Rue may not survive the season.

Cassie’s storyline takes another dramatic turn

Meanwhile, Cassie’s chaotic arc became even darker following Nate’s death. Played by Sydney Sweeney, Cassie spent much of the season trying to rebuild her career after losing acting opportunities and online income streams.
But Nate’s kidnapping and eventual death pushed her into emotional freefall. Ironically, Cassie’s manipulative social media scheme temporarily revived her public image just as her personal life collapsed completely. By episode’s end, she had transformed from struggling newlywed into grieving widow within days.

The emotional fallout from Nate’s death is expected to become a major focus of the Euphoria finale.

Will there be a season 4 of Euphoria?

As viewers process Episode 7, another major question is gaining traction: Will there be a season 4 of Euphoria? HBO has not officially confirmed a fourth season yet. However, the series remains one of the network’s biggest cultural hits, making continuation highly possible despite rumors about cast schedules and production delays.
Still, Season 3 increasingly feels like a potential endpoint for several major characters.

If Rue’s story ends tragically in the finale, the show could look radically different moving forward. At the same time, HBO may choose to reinvent the series around surviving characters like Cassie, Lexi or Maddy.
For now, fans are waiting anxiously to see whether the finale delivers redemption, devastation, or both.

Why the Euphoria finale could become HBO’s most talked-about episode of the year
Few teen dramas generate the same level of online obsession as Euphoria. The show’s mixture of visual spectacle, emotional trauma and shocking twists has turned each finale into a major event.

But this time feels different.Nate’s death removed one of the series’ central figures, while Rue’s fate remains dangerously uncertain. Combined with escalating cartel violence and fractured relationships, the finale now carries unusually high emotional stakes.

Whether Rue survives or not, Episode 7 proved HBO is willing to take massive risks with its most recognizable characters.

FAQs

Who died in Euphoria Season 3?

Nate Jacobs dies in Episode 7 after being bitten by a rattlesnake while trapped underground by loan sharks.

Did Nate die in Euphoria?

Yes. HBO confirmed Nate’s death during the episode when Cassie was shown mourning over his body.