"And Salt the Earth Behind You" is the eighth and final episode of the first season of Euphoria, and the eighth episode of the series overall. It was released on August 4, 2019 on HBO.[1]
- For the episode's transcript, see here.
Premise[]
In the season finale, it's the winter formal at East Highland. Rue attempts to repair her relationship with Jules and stands up to Nate. Cassie and Maddy reevaluate their relationships.
Plot[]
This episode begins right at the heart of the drama, following Rue as she tackles her kidney infection. She refuses to take Vicodin and blissfully revels in the lack of responsibilities she has in the hospital while recovering. Life is good. Of course, this is fleeting at best, as Rue is sucked back into her teen angst as Jules tells her about her time away and they both curse Nate together.
It's the night of the winter formal at school and most of the teens prepare excitedly for the big night. We see each of them getting dressed up at home, including Fez, who dons a hooded jacket and eyes himself in the mirror before leaving with a loaded gun. Beautifully poetic narration from Leslie colors this portion of the episode too, discussing symmetry and balance, as we cut (presumably) forward in time.
At the winter formal, Nate and Maddy are seen to be angered at each other, again, and begin to dance with other people to spite one another. It is revealed that a few nights before the formal, Nate and Maddy began to have sex, but Nate could not get an erection. This awkward situation escalates into an argument, with Maddy bringing up the photos of penises on Nate's phone and his confusion about his own sexuality. Nate rebuffs her and storms off. She later finds a DVD hidden between a book, steals it, and watches it. We don't see what is actually on the DVD, (most likely Cal's sex tapes), but it has Maddy shocked and speechless. Later, Nate asks Maddy to dance, and they hold each other lovingly while Maddy ironically tells Nate that they are not destined for each other and that they should break up. Nate only responds with "I know."
Kat finally comes clean to Ethan about how she feels. They decide to leave together after Cassie and Lexi wish them the best.
Rue catches up with Nate soon after and threatens to mess up his life, but Nate bites back, telling her she doesn't know everything about Jules. Nate knows exactly how to hit Rue where it hurts, digging into her own insecurities around her best friend/lover. This inevitably prompts Rue and Jules to talk, and Rue asks Jules if she's in love before they decide to leave town together.
As the episode reaches its crescendo, we cut between various characters as they hit their breaking points. Nate has an intense argument with Cal, ending with him violently slamming his head against the floor in a gut-wrenching breakdown. Cassie makes the decision to get an abortion, Rue and Jules tell each other how they really feel, and Fez robs Phillip Redmond, a high-ranking official. As he stacks wads of cash into a bag, Phillip's son watches on from the hallway, unknown to Fez. After a distraction prompts Fez to look away, Phillip pulls out a gun and a fight ensues, and as his son looks on in terror, Fezco beats Phillip senselessly.
Before Jules and Rue leave town, Rue has second thoughts, deciding this isn't the life for her. She says her goodbyes and watches as the train leaves the station – both metaphorically and physically. After her stint with drugs, everything appears to be coming into perspective for Rue. In one final montage, she begins to understand the damage her drug addiction has had on her family. However, this happens to be a double bluff as the final scene of the episode sees Rue return to a life of drugs, beginning her slippery slope all over again.
Credits[]
Cast[]
Crew[]
|
Directed By Written By
Created By
Executive Producers
Produced By Co-Producers Director of Photography Production Designer Edited By |
Music Composed By Casting By Choreography By Unit Production Managers
First Assistant Directors Second Assistant Directors Costume Designer Supervising Editor
Associate Producer Music Supervisor Consultants |
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- This episode possibly takes place between December 3 and 14 or 15, 2018.
- In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hunter Schafer confirmed that Rue did relapse in this episode.
- The grand musical finale was filmed in Disney's infamous Golden Oak Ranch cul-de-sac.
- This is the only season one episode in which Algee Smith did not appear as McKay.
- This is the last episode to credit Austin Abrams and Javon Walton as guest stars. From the next episode onwards, they become series regulars.
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist | Album | Scene |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Song for You | Donny Hathaway | Donny Hathaway | Montage of Rue and family after Jules leaves. Rue's dad dies, family fights, Rue puts on her dad's hoodie. |
| Stay Flo | Solange Knowles | When I Get Home | Jules dressing up Rue for formal. |
| Queen Of This Shit | Quay Dash | Queen Of This Shit | When Rue & Jules leave the bathroom after the awkward kiss proposal to go dance! |
| Loner | Kali Uchis | Por Vida | Maddy and Nate slow dancing and maddy suggesting they break up |
| Euphoria | Jungkook (BTS) | Love Yourself: Answer | Kat and Ethan talking |
| Blow the Whistle | Too Short | Blow the Whistle | Rue and Jules dancing. |
| Dangerous (Oliver Remix) | Big Data | Song playing at winter formal. | |
| Mi Gente | J Balvin, Willy William | Mi Gente (Moska Remix) | Song playing at winter formal. |
| My Body Is a Cage | Arcade Fire | Neon Bible | When Cassie is getting an abortion, ice skating scene, Fez is robbing that guy. |
| All For Us (from the HBO Original Series Euphoria) | Labrinth, Zendaya | All For Us (from the HBO Original Series Euphoria) - Single | Rue lies on her bed after relapsing. Musical dance. |
Gallery[]
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