How 'Euphoria' Season 3 Pays Tribute to Late Star Angus Cloud

Euphoria's third season honors late star Angus Cloud by keeping the character of Fezco alive within the show's universe, though it seems unlikely he will ever appear (or be heard) on screen. This post contains minor spoilers for Euphoria season three.

Fans Presumed Fezco Died In Season 2's Finale

In the explosive season two finale, Fezco's house was raided by police who killed his brother Ashtray after a shootout left Fezco injured and a police officer dead. Though many fans presumed Fezco's stomach injury, coupled with Cloud's untimely 2023 death due to a fentanyl overdose, would mean the character wouldn't live to see season three. But the character is present throughout the first several episodes of the new season, a decision that creator and writer-director Sam Levinson intended as a tribute to Cloud.

But He's Still an Unseen (and Unheard) Presence

Early on in the third season's first episode, Rue (Zendaya) pays a visit to her longtime pal Lexi (Maude Apatow). Lexi and Fezco had a serious flirtation in the second season, but she admits to Rue that she hasn't spoken to him since he went to jail. Rue tells her that it's never too late to reach out, as Fezco "isn't going anywhere for 30 years." Later in the same episode, Rue accepts a call from Fezco as she drives to make a drop for Laurie (Martha Kelly). While we don't hear Fezco's side of the conversation, Rue is excited to hear from him, and they make plans to talk again soon.

Sam Levinson Explained the Decision to Keep Fezco Alive

Levinson recently opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about the tough decision to keep Fezco alive, and how he hopes it will honor Cloud's legacy. “I couldn’t keep him alive in real life, but I could keep his character alive in the show,” Levinson explained. “I kept him alive, and the character has got a great arc. I think he’d be very proud of it.”

Levinson likewise told The New York Times he "really loved [Cloud] a lot" and "fought really hard to keep him clean." Prior to the actor's death, Levinson had constructed the third season around Cloud with the hopes of keeping him off drugs and giving him "something to look forward to."

"I had a good portion of [season three] done before the strike [began in May 2023]. Angus was the backbone of that season," Levinson said. "I used to even talk to him about it because I wanted him to stay clean. So I would invite him over, and I’d tell him what the plans were for the character. I’d say, look, he’s been in prison for a few years, so you’ve got to get that yoked prison body. Because I wanted him to start working out and taking care of himself. You know, season one, he was supposed to die at the end, and I couldn’t do it."

Levinson concluded: "The reason I’m here today is because someone in my life gave me a second chance. I wanted to do that same thing for him and for anyone who was struggling with addiction stuff."