Social media has been swept by an unprecedented wave of “mourning.” Fans of the hit HBO series “Euphoria” are organizing both real-life and virtual gatherings to honor the memory of one of the show’s most toxic, controversial and yet undeniably memorable characters.
Spoilers ahead. If you haven’t watched the penultimate episode of Season 3, stop reading now.
While much of the international internet celebrated with slogans such as “Evil has been defeated,” Russian-speaking users embraced the event with the enthusiasm of a traditional wake.
@taki7391 FINALLY!!! #fyp #euphoria #natejacobs #foryou #viral ♬ No One Mourns the Wicked – Wicked Movie Cast & Ariana Grande
Posts about organizing gatherings in Astana, Almaty, Oskemen and other cities across Kazakhstan quickly went viral.
Fans have been sharing photos of their preparations, including printed black-and-white portraits of Nate. In the comments, other users have suggested bringing pilaf and other traditional dishes.
Those staying home are holding memorial dinners in front of their laptop screens. Photos circulating online show tables set with dumplings, soup, berries and other foods placed before portraits of the character.
Nate Jacobs’ shocking fate
In the penultimate episode of the blockbuster teen drama, the creators delivered one of the series’ boldest twists yet: Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, dies.
The storyline finally brings the antihero to a brutal reckoning. The collapse of his family’s business leaves him deeply in debt, owing $1 million. A group of criminals led by the secondary antagonist Naz demands repayment.
Nate is kidnapped, taken to a construction site and buried alive in a shallow grave, with only a narrow ventilation tube extending above ground. Naz gives Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, who has also been taken hostage, a chance to save him: find the missing $1 million within 72 hours before he dies of thirst.
Before Nate can be rescued, a rattlesnake crawls through the makeshift air shaft and delivers a fatal bite. By the time Cassie finds him, it is too late.
Elordi reacts to the ending
Elordi reacted to his character’s tragic end with a hint of amusement. The actor recalled lying in the coffin with his shoulders pressed against the walls and unable to move his arms, though he said the experience was surprisingly peaceful — at least until the snake was introduced.
The snake used during filming was real, though it was not a rattlesnake. Behind-the-scenes footage shows that the production team used a sleepy boa constrictor fitted with a rattle to ensure the actor’s safety. However, the exterior shots of the reptile approaching the ventilation pipe were filmed using a real rattlesnake.
The highly anticipated Season 3 finale aired Sunday on HBO Max.
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