The much-derided third season of HBO's Euphoria ended with a stunning twist: the deaths of Rue Bennett and Nate Jacobs, and a new narrative focus on former best friends Cassie Howard and Maddy Perez. according to the source report, the finale—titled "In God We Trust"—finds the two women trauma-bonding over discovering Nate's mutilated corpse and then joining forces to launch a hype house for OnlyFans creators in Cassie's former marital home. The season 3 received a dismal 37% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with widespread criticism of its treatment of female characters, and now the question is whether a Cassie-and-Maddy-centered fourth season can redeem the series—but only if it fully breaks from creator Sam Levinson.

The 37% Rotten Tomatoes Score That Forced a Reckoning

Season 3 of Euphoria took four tumultuous years to arrive, and when it did, it was deemed a miserable failure. the 37% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the gratuitous violence and sexual exploitation of female characters, particularly Cassie's graphic scenes, which seemed designed to provoke rather than illuminate. As the source notes, many fans and critics pointed to creator Sam Levinson as the primary reason for the show's decline, accusing him of prioritizing shock value over meaningful storytelling. The consensus was that the season squandered the potential earned in earlier, critically acclaimed seasons.

Why Cassie and Maddy's Trauma-Bond Over Nate's Corpse Is the Finale's Core

The finale's emotional pivot rests on a single grisly scene: Cassie and Maddy discovering Nate Jacobs' mutilated corpse. The source report describes how they recconnected earlier in the season when Cassie sought Maddy's management help for her OnlyFans career , and this truama bonds them further. Cassie, financially successful but lonely, is grieving Nate in secret while Maddy finally frees herself from the debt that haunted her all season . Their partnership—launching a hype house in Cassie's former marital home—offers a compelling new direction, one that centers their complex friendship and entrepreneurial ambitions rather than the male-driven violence of earlier epiisodes.

Chloe Cherry's Unheard Voice: The Missing Consultant

A key criticism of season 3 is that it depicted a world where most main characters were involved in sex work, yet no actual sex workers were consulted. The source report highlights that actress Chloe Cherry, who herself was a former adult film star, confirmed she was never consulted during production. This lack of authentic representation led to significant backlash from OnlyFans creators and the broader sex work community. As the source article points out, recent projects like Apple TV+'s Margo Got Money Troubles and Sean Baker's Oscar-winning Anora have hired sex worker consultants to ensure respectful and accurate portrayals. Euphoria season 4 could learn from these examples by bringing in voices like writer and advocate Andrea Werhun, who served as a consultant on Anora.

Lessons from Anora and Margo Got Money Troubles: How to Hire Sex Worker Consultants

Both Anora and Margo Got Money Troubles succeeded in part because they brought real expertise into the writing room.. According to the source report, hiring sex workers as consultants—or even as writers and producers—would not only silence criticism but also produce a more compelling and honest story. The suorce quotes that there is a wealth of talent within the sex work community, directly addressing the gap that Euphoria created. The open question remains whether HBO and the show's production team will take that step, especially after Sam Levinson hinted to the New York Times Popcast that he might not return, saying he looked forward to spending time with his family after the grueling filming schedule.

Even if Levinson does step away, skepticism is warranted. The source report does not reveal any concrete plans for season 4—no writer's room hires, no commitment to consultants. What remains unknown is whether the network will genuinely embrace the kind of authentic storytelling required, or whether the finale's setup will be squandered by the same old dynamics. For now, the path forward is clear: hire sex workers, trust their stories, and let Cassie and Maddy lead the way.