‘Euphoria’ Season 2: Zendaya Promises ‘Redemption’ for Rue Bennett in Episode 8
Euphoria fans are worried about many characters in the season 2 finale, including Fezco (Angus Cloud). But according to Zendaya, Rue Bennett is going to redeem herself. Here’s what the actor revealed about her character’s fate in Euphoria Season 2, Episode 8.
Rue Bennett takes a back seat in the second half of ‘Euphoria’ Season 2
Throughout the first season of Euphoria, the story focused on Rue and her addiction. While that’s still a significant storyline in the HBO drama’s second season, Rue’s narrative has been outshined by those stories regarding Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney), Maddy (Alexa Demie), Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), and Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow). Many Euphoria fans are upset about the lack of Kat (Barbie Ferreira) in season 2, but that’s another story.
Still, even though Rue isn’t at the center of Euphoria’s sophomore season, that doesn’t mean she’s any less of a main character. Mid-season, fans saw Rue go through a dark relapse. Her actions became the catalyst to the other character’s stories in season 2, including Cassie and Maddy’s broken friendship and the story told in Lexi’s play.
Fans will get a ‘sense of redemption’ for Rue in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2, Episode 8
Many Euphoria fans thought Rue looked “clean and sober” sitting in the audience of Lexi’s play (via Reddit). As Zendaya told The Cut, it’s all part of Rue’s redemptive arc.
“Episode 8 is where we’ll get that sense of redemption,” Zendaya told the outlet. “That you aren’t the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life. I think Rue deserves it, and I think anyone who suffers with the same thing she does deserve it.”
‘Euphoria’ Season 2 finale almost went a ‘very different’ direction for Rue
During her interview with The Cut, the Emmy-winning actor admitted season 2 originally had a darker conclusion. “The ending of the season was going to be very different,” Zendaya explained.
She continued: “Then halfway through, [Euphoria creator] Sam [Levinson] and I were like, ‘We just can’t leave Rue here. We gotta put some f***ing hope in this show.'” By episode 6, Rue starts stitching her life back together, setting fans up for what’s to come in the season 2 finale.
Filming season 2 of the HBO series was physically demanding of Zendaya
In the season 2 episode “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird,” Rue goes on a rampage after learning her mother (Nika King) flushed a suitcase of drugs down the toilet. For Zendaya, shooting that episode was a “very tough day.”
“I mean, I beat myself up,” she told Variety. “I still have some scars on my legs and got quite a few bruises.”
The scene in episode 5 was just as emotionally taxing for the actor. Fans are demanding another Emmy for Zendaya after seeing her performance in the episode.
She elaborated: “It was so intense and scary to tackle. I care about Rue and I hate when she’s in pain. And I think this whole episode, there’s so much pain and it’s bubbling to the surface, and it’s also crossed with her withdrawing, which is extremely physically painful.”
See how Rue’s story plays out. The Euphoria Season 2 finale airs Sunday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max.
