Euphoria fans left reeling after favorite character is killed off in shock season two finale as two more characters get arrested and Lexi's play leads to chaos on stage

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East Highland High School reacts to Lexi Howard's controversial play in the Season 2 finale of HBO's Euphoria.

Last week's penultimate episode - The Theater and Its Double - ended with Lexi's play featuring a homo-erotic weight room scene that seems to poke fun at Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), who storms out of the theater with Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) following.

He is so mad that Cassie's sister wrote that about him that he breaks it off with her, as a spurned Cassie heads back to the theater, with a cryptic 'To Be Continued...' card leading up to Sunday night's finale, with the preview teasing something terrible happening to Fezco (Angus Cloud). 

The episode sadly marks the end of the road for two characters, with the arrest of two more in quite surprising fashion as the second season comes to a close with a bang. 

Lexi: East Highland High School reacts to Lexi Howard's controversial play in the Season 2 finale of HBO's Euphoria

Terrible: He is so mad that Cassie's sister wrote that about him that he breaks it off with her, as a spurned Cassie heads back to the theater, with a cryptic 'To Be Continued...' card leading up to Sunday night's finale, with the preview teasing something terrible happening to Fezco (Angus Cloud)

The episode begins with Fezco texting Lexi that he's on his way, while Custer (Tyler Chase) says he has to talk about everything, telling that the cops found Mouse's body.

Faye (Chloe Cherry) drops a glass and goes to pick it up, telling Fezco to 'shhh' while she's on the ground, indicating Custer is recording the conversation.

Faye tells Custer that he told her that Laurie (Martha Kelly) killed Mouse, but Custer says he never said that and tells Faye to 'shut the f**k up.'

Heading out: Fezco gets ready to go to Lexi's play.... though he would never make it

Talk: The episode begins with Fezco texting Lexi that he's on his way, while Custer (Tyler Chase) says he has to talk about everything, telling that the cops found Mouse's body

Faye: Faye (Chloe Cherry) drops a glass and goes to pick it up, telling Fezco to 'shhh' while she's on the ground, indicating Custer is recording the conversation

Custer says they have to figure out what they're going to say... when Ashtray (Javon Walton) stabs Custer in the neck.

Fezco covers his mouth and signals Faye and Ashtray to be quiet, when Custer dies. Ashtray hands him Custer's phone and drops it in a cup of water.

The episode cuts to sometime earlier where Fezco and Lexi are talking on the phone, where Fezco reveals he wants to be a farmer, 'like some Little House on the Prairie type s**t.'

Stabs: Custer says they have to figure out what they're going to say... when Ashtray (Javon Walton) stabs Custer in the neck

Shh: Fezco covers his mouth and signals Faye and Ashtray to be quiet, when Custer dies. Ashtray hands him Custer's phone and drops it in a cup of water

Lexi reveals her very specific plan about having three kids in her 30s, and when they're grown up she can be serious about her writing.

Lexi starts watching Little House on the Prairie when she asks if Fezco is on Instagram or Twitter, but he says he's not, and he thinks people reveal too much on there.

'I want to peel back the layers,' Fezco says, adding he likes her a lot because they don't have a lot in common.

Kids: Lexi reveals her very specific plan about having three kids in her 30s, and when they're grown up she can be serious about her writing

Too much: Lexi starts watching Little House on the Prairie when she asks if Fezco is on Instagram or Twitter, but he says he's not, and he thinks people reveal too much on there

Lexi thinks they have a lot in common but Fezco says those aren't 'interests,' but character traits, as they both reveal they're glad they became friends.

Back in the present day, Fezco is having a bit of a breakdown over killing Custer, while back at the theater, Lexi checks her texts and gets sad.

Cassie is back where we left her, staring t the play from outside, as Rue spots her and makes a weird face before Cassie walks back into the theater, with her mother Suze (Alanna Ubach) spotting her, saying, 'Oh god.'

Face: Cassie is back where we left her, staring t the play from outside, as Rue spots her and makes a weird face before Cassie walks back into the theater, with her mother Suze (Alanna Ubach) spotting her, saying, 'Oh god'

Cassie keeps walking down the aisle as everyone starts looking at her as she steps on the playbill for Our Life as the title card is revealed. 

Cassie goes right up on stage and starts complaining about the play, as she drags Lexi on stage.

Cassie starts screaming at Maddy for making a play to humiliate her, when Suze comes up on stage while Cassie says she'll kill Lexi.

Cassie: Cassie goes right up on stage and starts complaining about the play, as she drags Lexi on stage

Complain: Cassie goes right up on stage and starts complaining about the play, as she drags Lexi on stage

On stage: Cassie starts screaming at Maddy for making a play to humiliate her, when Suze comes up on stage while Cassie says she'll kill Lexi

'I'm the one who takes risks. I'm the one who falls in love, not you Lexi. You never even f***ing lived. That's why you're able to stand up here and judge all of us,' Cassie screams.

'OK, well if that makes me a villain, so f***ing be it. I can play the villain,' Cassie says.

Cassie asks if this is the part of the play where her character steals Maddy's character's boyfriend, but Lexi insists that's not in the play.

Risks: 'I'm the one who takes risks. I'm the one who falls in love, not you Lexi. You never even f***ing lived. That's why you're able to stand up here and judge all of us,' Cassie screams

Villain: 'OK, well if that makes me a villain, so f***ing be it. I can play the villain,' Cassie says

Insists: Cassie asks if this is the part of the play where her character steals Maddy's character's boyfriend, but Lexi insists that's not in the play

Maddy yells from the seats that it is now as chaos ensues before the play continues... briefly.

Cassie attacks  one of the actresses on stage when Maddy rushes up on stage as Kat (Barbie Ferreira) chases after her.

Maddy slaps Cassie on stage and starts running after her while people in the crowd start recording.

Maddy: Maddy yells from the seats that it is now as chaos ensues before the play continues... briefly

Maddy: Maddy slaps Cassie on stage and starts running after her while people in the crowd start recording

Maddy slams Cassie against a wall backstage while Suze insists that a stagehand closes the curtains as the audience waits.

Rue reveals in voice over that, a few days earlier, she stopped by Elliot's (Dominic Fike).

She tells him he was walking around the neighborhood and she wanted to tell him to go f**k yourself for being a snitch.

Elliot: Rue reveals in voice over that, a few days earlier, she stopped by Elliot's (Dominic Fike)

Snitch: She tells him he was walking around the neighborhood and she wanted to tell him to go f**k yourself for being a snitch.

Still, she reveals that he might have accidentally saved her life.

'However it got to be whatever it is, thank god it did, because I wouldn't be here to tell you that I forgive you,' Rue says.

She adds that feels 'really really' nice because she has a lot of 'sorry's' to give out but not a lot of 'I forgive you's.'

Saved: Still, she reveals that he might have accidentally saved her life

 Nice: She adds that feels 'really really' nice because she has a lot of 'sorry's' to give out but not a lot of 'I forgive you's'

He asks if she's on anything and she says she's not as he asks if she talked to Jules, but she hasn't. 

'Yeah, that one's gonna take me a little bit longer,' she says, as Elliot starts to sing a song for her as he plays along on his guitar.

Rue is clearly moved by the song as he finishes and says he's still working on it.

Elliot: He asks if she's on anything and she says she's not as he asks if she talked to Jules, but she hasn't

Song: 'Yeah, that one's gonna take me a little bit longer,' she says, as Elliot starts to sing a song for her as he plays along on his guitar

Moved: Rue is clearly moved by the song as he finishes and says he's still working on it

He asks her if they can still be friends as Rue reminds him saying that he doesn't think they are good for each other.

Back at the theater, Rue gives Elliot a nod, while Lexi's stage manager Bobbi (Veronica Taylor) says she's telling people that was all part of the show.

Lexi says it's the only thing she has created and it's a disaster and the stage manager says it could be worse, it could be boring. 

Friends: He asks her if they can still be friends as Rue reminds him saying that he doesn't think they are good for each other

Stage manager: Back at the theater, Rue gives Elliot a nod, while Lexi's stage manager Bobbi (Veronica Taylor) says she's telling people that was all part of the show

Created: Lexi says it's the only thing she has created and it's a disaster and the stage manager says it could be worse, it could be boring

She says how many plays in the history of East Highland have started a riot, as they agree the show must go on.

She goes out to face her cast, who are all waiting eagerly, as Rue starts cheering for Lexi, as the whole theater starts cheering for her, as the cast listens from backstage.

'Let's f***ing do this,' Lexi says to her cast as the curtains open, as Lexi tells the crowd they are experiencing some 'technical difficulties.'

Cast: She goes out to face her cast, who are all waiting eagerly, as Rue starts cheering for Lexi, as the whole theater starts cheering for her, as the cast listens from backstage

Lexi: 'Let's f***ing do this,' Lexi says to her cast as the curtains open, as Lexi tells the crowd they are experiencing some 'technical difficulties'

She thanks everyone for being there and says they will need a few minutes, as she tells them what Fezco said about her play - that sometimes people need their feelings hurt.

Back at their place, Fezco slaps Ashtray, saying the cops are gonna come in any minute, telling Ashtray that he'll take the fall for killing Custer.

He tells Ashtray to wipe the blood off of him as he goes to the laundry room and grabs a gun and  bullets.

Cops: Back at their place, Fezco slaps Ashtray, saying the cops are gonna come in any minute, telling Ashtray that he'll take the fall for killing Custer

Ash: He tells Ashtray to wipe the blood off of him as he goes to the laundry room and grabs a gun and bullets

Faye (Chloe Cherry) goes to the security monitor while Ashtray grabs a ton of guns, revealing he wants to make his stand, which Fezco tells him to stop.

'Give me the gun bro. Ash, I'm not gonna let nothing happen to you now give me the gun bro,' Fezco tells him.

Tears run down Ashtray's cheek as Chloe sees something.

Stop: 'Give me the gun bro. Ash, I'm not gonna let nothing happen to you now give me the gun bro,' Fezco tells him

Ashtray: Tears run down Ashtray's cheek as Chloe sees something.

Nate is seen driving and loading his gun while drinking a beer, while Ashtray hits Fez in the head and locks the bathroom door.

Nate parks his truck and gets out with the gun, walking up to his father's housing lot, finding Cal (Eric Dane) with a couple of guys and girls.

Nate goes to give him a hug as they ask if that's really his son, as Cal says he gave him the best parts of him, as Nate makes a drink.

Loading: Nate is seen driving and loading his gun while drinking a beer, while Ashtray hits Fez in the head and locks the bathroom door

Housing: Nate parks his truck and gets out with the gun, walking up to his father's housing lot, finding Cal (Eric Dane) with a couple of guys and girls

Nate says that they have one thing in common, saying they both get off hurting people.

Cal wants to talk about it upstairs but Nate doesn't want to, asking Cal if he's happy, as Cal adds he's figuring it out.

He asks if he's happier now than when he was with his family, and Cal says, 'Yes, in some ways.'

One thing: Nate says that they have one thing in common, saying they both get off hurting people

Cal: Cal wants to talk about it upstairs but Nate doesn't want to, asking Cal if he's happy, as Cal adds he's figuring it out

'You don't get to ruin our lives and get to move on and be happier,' Nate tells him, as Cal admits he made a lot of mistakes.'

'I was 11 years old, I found these videos of my dad fucking these hookers in motel rooms,' Nate says.

He adds he had this recurring nightmare that he was f***ing him the way that he f***ed them.

Ruin: 'You don't get to ruin our lives and get to move on and be happier,' Nate tells him, as Cal admits he made a lot of mistakes'

11: 'I was 11 years old, I found these videos of my dad fucking these hookers in motel rooms,' Nate says.

Cal thinks everyone should go so he can talk to his son as everyone takes off, leaving Nate and Cal alone.

'I spent my whole life trying to protect you,' Nate tells him, as Cal admits that he knows he hurt him and he tried to keep that part of his life separate and failed.

'I f***ed up Nate, but I love you. And I should have protected you, I should've kept you safe, and I didn't. And there's nothing I regret more,' Cal says, as Jacob tries to process everything.

Protect: 'I spent my whole life trying to protect you,' Nate tells him, as Cal admits that he knows he hurt him and he tried to keep that part of his life separate and failed

'I don't want your apology,' Nate says, pulling out his gun. 'I just want revenge.'

He pulls out a thumb drive, as Cal asks what that is, and Nate says it's 'Everything,' as a car is heard pulling up.

Cal asks Nate not to do this, 'I'm begging you. Don't do this,' Cal says, as Nate says, 'You are who you are. I don't think you're ever gonna change,' before walking away.

'Revenge: 'I don't want your apology,' Nate says, pulling out his gun. 'I just want revenge'

Begging: Cal asks Nate not to do this, 'I'm begging you. Don't do this,' Cal says, as Nate says, 'You are who you are. I don't think you're ever gonna change,' before walking away

Nate opens the door for a number of cops, who thank Nate for what he did, as the cops approach Cal and arrest him.

Nate watches them put the cuffs on his old man before leaving.

Back at Fezco's house, SWAT throws tear gas cannisters in and breach the apartment.

Door: Nate opens the door for a number of cops, who thank Nate for what he did, as the cops approach Cal and arrest him

They approach the dead Custer, not knowing he's dead, telling him to put his hands up before they find Fezco, who is yelling at them not to shoot, and there is a kid in there, screaming for Ash to come out.

Ash starts firing from his bathtub, hitting Fezco in the gut as he drops to the ground and keeps yelling for Ash.

'Don't shoot! Ash! Come on! Get out of there. Please! Ash! Come on,' Fezco says as Ash keeps firing through the bathroom door.

Screaming: They approach the dead Custer, not knowing he's dead, telling him to put his hands up before they find Fezco, who is yelling at them not to shoot, and there is a kid in there, screaming for Ash to come out

Kid: They approach the dead Custer, not knowing he's dead, telling him to put his hands up before they find Fezco, who is yelling at them not to shoot, and there is a kid in there, screaming for Ash to come out

Firing: 'Don't shoot! Ash! Come on! Get out of there. Please! Ash! Come on,' Fezco says as Ash keeps firing through the bathroom door

Shot: Ash starts firing from his bathtub, hitting Fezco in the gut as he drops to the ground and keeps yelling for Ash

Fezco keeps screaming as the cops return fire, shredding the apartment as Fez takes cover on the ground.

Fezco keeps screaming for Ash but no one will answer as the cops start to approach the bathroom slowly.  

They open the door and find Ashtray down, as the cop says 'He's down,' before Ash pops up and shoots the cop in the neck.

Ash sees the red dot of the rifle move up from his chest to his face as a shot is fired, and while we don't see the shot, it most likely killed Ashtray.

Scream: Fezco keeps screaming for Ash but no one will answer as the cops start to approach the bathroom slowly.

Up: They open the door and find Ashtray down, as the cop says 'He's down,' before Ash pops up and shoots the cop in the neck

Killed: Ash sees the red dot of the rifle move up from his chest to his face as a shot is fired, and while we don't see the shot, it most likely killed Ashtray

The show cuts back to a younger Lexi at Rue's father's funeral, as Rue reads her tearful eulogy, saying her dad's death 'didn't feel real.'

'It felt like a movie, and this is the part where the character never recovers. The part where life takes them down,' as Rue watches the scene unfold on stage.

'This is the scene that scars her forever,' Rue says, as we cut to Lexi and Suze and Cassie in the hospital, as Cassie and Lexi hug.

Not real: The show cuts back to a younger Lexi at Rue's father's funeral, as Rue reads her tearful eulogy, saying her dad's death 'didn't feel real'

Never recovers: 'It felt like a movie, and this is the part where the character never recovers. The part where life takes them down,' as Rue watches the scene unfold on stage

She visits Rue's mother Leslie (Nika King) as Lexi is seen hugging both Leslie and Cassie, as Suze tells Lexi that her whole life she's been forced to take care of everyone.'

Back in the theater, Rue continues her eulogy as the family watches in the theater.

Back at Fezco's, Fezco is arrested  as the cops step on his play ticket before taking him away.

Rue says she remembered a few days before he passed away, that he told her if they ever wanted to be together, she just has to close her eyes and they would be together.

Jules (Hunter Schafer) watches the scene unfold in the theater and looks towards Rue, who fights back tears herself.

Arrested: Back at Fezco's, Fezco is arrested as the cops step on his play ticket before taking him away

Tears: Jules (Hunter Schafer) watches the scene unfold in the theater and looks towards Rue, who fights back tears herself

Rue is seen in her room as she gives Lexi a call, saying she thought her play was really beautiful.'

Lexi jokes that she might be the only person who thought that, as Rue asks what she's doing today and asks if she can come over.

They hang up and Lexi smiles, as we cut back to younger Rue at her dad's funeral and that same scene unfolding on stage.

Call: Rue is seen in her room as she gives Lexi a call, saying she thought her play was really 'beautiful'

Smile: They hang up and Lexi smiles, as we cut back to younger Rue at her dad's funeral and that same scene unfolding on stage

Rue walks outside and finds her friends, as they ask how she's feeling and she says she's OK, as Rue watches from the crowd.

Rue is at Lexi's house and she says her play is the first time she's able to look at her life and not hate herself.

'I've been through a lot and I don't know what to do with it,' Rue tells Lexi, and she doesn't know how to get to where she is.

Friends: Rue walks outside and finds her friends, as they ask how she's feeling and she says she's OK, as Rue watches from the crowd

Lexi: Rue is at Lexi's house and she says her play is the first time she's able to look at her life and not hate herself

'I just wanted you to know that seeing it meant the world to me,' Rue tells Lexi, who smiles at her old friend.

Lexi asks if she thinks about her dad often, and Rue nods and Lexi says she does too. Rue says she had so much to learn from him and she's angry about it.

Rue asks if Lexi is angry too, and she says it's more complicated, saying she was worried that if he came over something bad would happen. 

Meant the world: 'I just wanted you to know that seeing it meant the world to me,' Rue tells Lexi, who smiles at her old friend

Angry: Lexi asks if she thinks about her dad often, and Rue nods and Lexi says she does too. Rue says she had so much to learn from him and she's angry about it

Complicated: Rue asks if Lexi is angry too, and she says it's more complicated, saying she was worried that if he came over something bad would happen

Rue says Lexi figured it out, as Rue says people told her that when her dad died that he died for a reason and that pissed her off.

'I think what they're trying to say is you've gotta give it a reason. You've gotta give everything a reason,' Rue says.

She adds she 'can't hold onto it forever,' and it 'doesn't feel good,' as Lexi wipes tears away.

Reason: Rue says Lexi figured it out, as Rue says people told her that when her dad died that he died for a reason and that pissed her off

Lexi: She adds she 'can't hold onto it forever,' and it 'doesn't feel good,' as Lexi wipes tears away

'It's too much for me,' Rue says before apologizing. 'Lexi, I promise you it's not always his fault. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure he wakes up every day and says I'm gonna be better for her. I'm gonna be there for her.'

She adds that's part of the problem though, because he's only trying to be better for her.'

Lexi thanks Rue as she moves over and hugs her old friend... as we see the same moment play out on stage as the play comes to an end.

The crowd erupts with applause as the curtain parts and the cast takes a bow.

Better: She adds that's part of the problem though, because he's only trying to be better for her'

Hug: Lexi thanks Rue as she moves over and hugs her old friend... as we see the same moment play out on stage as the play comes to an end

Cast: The crow erupts with applause as the curtain parts and the cast takes a bow

Meanwhile, Cassie is hanging out in the bathroom with Kat and Maddy, as Maddy puts a cold can of soda to her foot.

Cassie says that Nate broke up with her before she ever went on that stage, as Maddy tells her, 'Don't worry. This is just the beginning.' 

Maddy gets up and walks out of the bathroom as people are filing out of the theater though Rue stays in her seat, still processing everything, as Jules stays too, going up to Rue and sitting next to her.

Maddy: Meanwhile, Cassie is hanging out in the bathroom with Kat and Maddy, as Maddy puts a cold can of soda to her foot

Sitting: Maddy gets up and walks out of the bathroom as people are filing out of the theater though Rue stays in her seat, still processing everything, as Jules stays too, going up to Rue and sitting next to her

Beginning: Cassie says that Nate broke up with her before she ever went on that stage, as Maddy tells her, 'Don't worry. This is just the beginning'

'I know you're probably still really angry at me but I just wanted to tell you that I love you and I miss you so much,' Jules says.

While Rue won't look at her at first, she turns to Jules and kisses her on her forehead before walking out of the theater, leaving Jules sitting by herself.

Rue walks into a dark hallway, saying in voice over that Jules was her 'first love' but he's not sure because she was high for most of it, and she hopes she forgives her.

Angry: 'I know you're probably still really angry at me but I just wanted to tell you that I love you and I miss you so much,' Jules says

Kiss: While Rue won't look at her at first, she turns to Jules and kisses her on her forehead before walking out of the theater, leaving Jules sitting by herself

She reveals she stayed clean for the rest of the school year, as she keeps walking through the school, saying, 'I don't know if this feeling will last forever, but I'm trying.'

She walks out of the school, saying maybe there's something to Ali saying the thought of becoming a good person is enough to make him want to be a good person.'

'Maybe there's something to that,' Rue says as she walks away from the school as the episode and the second season of Euphoria comes to an end. 

Clean: She reveals she stayed clean for the rest of the school year, as she keeps walking through the school, saying, 'I don't know if this feeling will last forever, but I'm trying'

Reunited: Both Rue and Jules reunited briefly at the end of the second special episode, which were both set over Christmas, with this season premiere described as, 'Rue and Jules cross paths for the first time since Christmas as East Highland rings in the new year'

Relapse: Rue had relapsed after Jules left her at the train station in the Season 1 finale, with Rue revealing to her addict friend Ali (Colman Domingo) during a Christmas Eve dinner that she didn't know if she wanted to be clean... and that she didn't even know if she wanted to be alive anymore

Rue: The latest trailer for the second season, though, showed that Rue does eventually dedicate herself to getting clean, seen walking into a meeting Ali is attending

Elliot: New characters aside from Dominic Fike's Elliot, Minka Kelly is playing a 'drugged out suburban housewife) while Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. plays a new love interest for Maddy

Regulars: The show also brings back returning regulars Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs), Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs), Algee Smith (Chris McKay), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie Howard), Alexa Demie (Maddy Perez), Barbie Ferreira (Kat Hernandez), Maude Apatow (Lexi Howard), Storm Reid (Gia Bennett), Austin Abrams (Ethan) and Javon Walton (Ashtray)