The Euphoria Season 3 premiere on HBO ends with Ruby “Rue” Bennett (Zendaya) putting her faith in God and Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
**Spoilers for Euphoria Season 3 Episode 1, now streaming on HBO Max**
We learn quickly in the new season of the HBO hit that in the five years since high school, Rue has been strong-armed into becoming a drug mule and errand girl for the creepy drug lord Laurie (Martha Kelly). One night, she is dispatched to drop off drugs at the lavish mansion of a strip club impresario Alamo. Rue asks to use the bathroom and soon finds herself partying with many of the strippers assembled at Alamo’s house for a good time.
Rue initially charms Alamo, but the crime lord soon sours on our protagonist when a stripper named Tish (Emma Kotos) dies from fentanyl that was unwittingly laced into the drugs that he bought from Laurie.
“She’s cost him, you know? He feels she’s been responsible for the death of one of his girls, who was one of his biggest earners,” Euphoria star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje told DECIDER earlier this week. “He should dispense with her.”
However, Alamo does not immediately execute Rue. Instead, he is struck by her comment that she believes God has brought them together.
“Alamo represents almost a rude awakening of sorts to these young, naive, post-high schoolers who are trying to make their way into life. If you say you believe in God, let’s see if he believes in you. He’s that guy,” Akinnuoye-Agbaje said. “If you’re going to want to walk on the dark side, he is going to test you at every turn.”
Alamo contrives of a William Tell-esque trial where Rue has to balance a green apple on her head. If Alamo shoots the apple, then Rue not only gets to live, but join his crew. If Alamo misses, well, God has turned his back on Rue Bennett.
“As you’ll see throughout the series, Alamo has this trait where he enjoys the torture and the drama,” Akinnuoye-Agbaje said. “He enjoys the drama of the battle because I think that stimulates him, you know what I mean?”
“It’s a test of faith, you know? And I think that’s really one of the themes of the show.”
Ultimately, Rue passes the trial.
According to Akinnuoye-Agbaje, filming this tense sequence came with its own environmental challenges. It was “freezing cold” on the Palmdale set.
“I think it was like midnight and it was 35 mile an hour winds,” he said. “And I’m standing in white Speedos and I was I was very, very cold.”
The actor also said, “It was wonderful working with Zendaya. She was so up for it and generous and just giving as a scene partner, you know? She’s very supportive in the scenes.”
The end of Euphoria Season 3 Episode 1 spares Rue’s life, but it also entangles her with a charismatic and powerful new character who might not be the savior she’s hoping for. Sure, Alamo provides Rue with an escape from her awful life working for Laurie, but there are insidious hints that Rue’s new boss might be even worse than her last.
“He has this operatic, dramatic, theatrical side to him. So nothing is going to be simple with Alamo,” Akinnuoye-Agbaje said. “If it’s going to be a death, it’s going to be a show.” And are we not entertained?
New episodes of Euphoria Season 3 will premiere Sundays at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max.