Overview
- The penultimate episode, which aired Sunday, May 24, delivered a shocking on‑screen exit for one of the series’ central characters and set up the May 31 season finale.
- Creator Sam Levinson told Esquire he planned the scene to give viewers a sense of ‘justice’ while forcing them to question their desire for punishment.
- Jacob Elordi discussed his exit in an HBO post‑show segment and described filming the confined sequence as claustrophobic but controlled and emotionally bittersweet.
- Production and the stunt team said they used live snakes in some shots but substituted a non‑venomous boa in the enclosed coffin scenes and monitored the actor’s air and safety closely.
- The episode produced intense social media reaction, with many fans expressing relief and others saying the imagery was traumatic, highlighting the season’s move into grimmer, adult stakes.