Sam Levinson delivers a shocking penultimate Euphoria episode full of deaths and double-crosses

• Nate Jacobs dies from a rattlesnake bite after Naz buries him at a construction site
• Production used a boa constrictor with a fake rattle; a real rattlesnake appeared in close-ups
• Alamo kills Naz and learns of Rue's DEA involvement after Maddy inadvertently tips him off

Sam Levinson has raised the stakes considerably with the penultimate episode of Euphoria Season 3, bringing multiple storylines crashing together in an hour that delivers a major character death, a devastating double-cross, and a cliffhanger that sets the stage for next Sunday's finale.

Nate Jacobs is dead

The episode's most seismic development arrives when Naz (Jack Topalian) turns up at Cassie's (Sydney Sweeney) door to collect the money she owes him.

He gives her 72 hours to raise $1 million — or Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), whom he has buried alive beneath his construction site, will die of thirst. As it turns out, a rattlesnake gets to Nate first.

Elordi reflected on his character's end in a behind-the-scenes video released after the episode: "That's a cool way to go. Nate is someone who's made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices. It's cool to see it all come to what it's come to."

Editor Julio Perez also offered insight into the creative choices behind the burial scene: "You want to highlight the claustrophobia. You want to engage in an editorial pattern that puts the audience in that confined space with the character."

Elordi recalled the physical reality of filming inside the coffin, with his shoulders pressed against the sides and his arms unable to move, though he insisted it was "quite peaceful in there" — until the snake arrived.

The behind-the-scenes footage reveals that production used a boa constrictor fitted with a fake rattle for the coffin scene, whilst the shots of the reptile approaching the drain featured a real rattlesnake, reportedly named little b*tch. Elordi was characteristically relaxed about the experience:

"He was super cute. He was like real cuddly. He kind of just sat up next to me. No, it was nice, but he was real sleepy, sleepy snake. I had to kind of nudge him to get him to come up."

On the broader significance of Nate's death, Elordi added: "It's a bit of sweet thing. This show is a massive part of not just my career, but my life. It's been amazing, and I'm so proud being a part of this."

Cassie, Maddy, and Alamo

After discovering Nate's body, Cassie turns to Maddy (Alexa Demie) for help. Maddy approaches Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) for cash — but he has other ideas and kills Naz on the spot, rendering Cassie and Maddy's efforts futile.

Worse still, during the conversation in the hot tub, Maddy inadvertently mentions a row between Rue (Zendaya) and Lexie (Maude Apatow), which alerts Alamo to Rue's involvement with the DEA.

Rue, Ali, and the double-agent plot

Meanwhile, Rue has sought out Ali (Colman Domingo) for guidance after Lexie proves both unhelpful and sceptical when Rue confesses the truth about her work for Laurie, her ties to Alamo, and her role in assisting the federal agents.

She has been attempting to come clean since her spiritual awakening at the joshua tree at the close of Episode 6.

The episode opens with a flashback to Ali's own history with drug addiction before his recovery, lending the scene additional emotional weight.

Domingo explained the significance of the flashback: "I thought that was good to sort of like reveal a little of Ali's backstory. You see where he went down some dark horrors, because he talks a lot about what he did do.

"Now we could see it…We know that he's changed, and now he's on a new mission to help a guide Rue and help her become a healthy young woman."

The flashback features Natasha Lyonne as another addict and sex worker whom Ali seeks out whilst high. Domingo was clearly delighted by the pairing:

"We get to have this wild scene together, which I can only do with Natasha."

In the present, Ali urges Rue to abandon her plan — which requires her to return to both Alamo and Laurie as a double agent, intending to lead them directly to the DEA. With both sides now apparently aware of her true position, the plan appears to be unravelling fast.

Faye's change of heart — and betrayal

The episode ends on a sharp cliffhanger. After Wayne (Toby Wallace) threatens to kill Rue, Faye (Chloe Cherry) appears to waver in her loyalties and offers to help Rue steal the contents of Wayne's safe and make their escape before the morning's deal goes ahead.

When they prise the safe open, however, they find not money but dozens of identity documents belonging to young women Rue does not recognise.

Faye urges her to put them back and say nothing — but when Rue refuses, Faye screams to wake Wayne, leaving audiences bracing for whatever threat awaits in the finale.