One of the last two episodes of Euphoria's third season showcased the brutal death of one of the main characters. Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, was buried alive after his wedding night went horribly wrong, with his finger and toe cut off. Nate's fate was sealed when he was bitten by a venomous rattlesnake that slithered into the grave where he was buried. This incident arose as a result of Nate's business deal with Naz (Jack Topalian), leaving him in debt. Naz gave Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) a 72-hour ultimatum to pay off Nate's debt. Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) killed Naz to help Cassie and Maddie (Alexa Demie) rescue Nate, but when the coffin was opened, Nate's lifeless body was revealed.

Euphoria's creator, Sam Levinson, explained the background of this shocking death scene in an interview with Esquire magazine. Levinson acknowledged that he knew viewers were expecting justice or karma and reflected on how he could meet that expectation. "I want to give the audience what they want, but I want to make it so terrifying and anxiety-inducing that when it happens, they aren't sure if that's really what they wanted," he said.

Levinson also added that he knew from the beginning that Nate would meet his end this season. Struggling with grief, trauma, and violence in the first two seasons, Nate showed some aspects of his humanity in the third season. However, Levinson deepened the character's moral complexity, prompting viewers to question how they would approach this ending. This situation once again highlighted the profound impact Euphoria has on its audience and the character development.