Ashtray died in Euphoria because he was involved in a shootout, where he shot at the SWAT-team during a sting operation.
There are many reasons why Euphoria has garnered such a loyal following, including the storylines and the other elements of the show.
However, one of the events of the second season’s finale that fans did not like was Ashtray’s death scene, where he died during an attack in a sting operation.
Why is Euphoria so popular?
The Euphoria series, created by Sam Levinson for HBO, has become one of the most talked-about teen dramas in popular culture. In fact, over 13 million people tuned in to watch the very first episode of the second season of the show.
Experts have weighed in on the various reasons why this show has garnered so many loyal viewers, but the reason for the show’s popularity likely comes down to a combination of many different reasons.
From the reviews and the buzz that Euphoria has generated online, it is clear that the characters and storylines are at least somewhat relatable to a young Gen-Z audience and that the fashions, make-up, and trademark filming style of the show is part of what draws viewers in.
Euphoria: Why did Ashtray die?
Euphoria is known for creating unexpected twists and turns in its plotlines that keep fans guessing, but the second season finale, which aired on 27 February 2022, seemingly created even more questions and gave fans almost no answers.
This final episode featured the brawl between Maddie and Cassie, which fans have been waiting for all season, the end of Lexie’s play, and a reunion between Rue and Jules, but the scenes that really caught the attention of the show’s fans is Ashtray’s shootout with SWAT.
When the drug-dealing duo, Ashtray and his adoptive big-brother Fezco, are caught in the middle of a sting operation, Fezco is too late to warn Ashtray to stop stabbing Custer.
Even though Fez pleads with Ashtray to let him take the fall for the entire situation, Ashtray gathers all of his guns and barricades himself in the bathroom.
When the SWAT team finally enters the house, a shootout ensues between them and Ashtray, Fez gets caught in the crossfire and, finally, viewers hear a shot and a body hitting the floor off-screen, as SWAT finally kills Ashtray as a result of his attack on their forces.
The news of Ashtray’s death had fans reeling and shocked on social media after the episode aired. The fact that Ashtray did not have a single line in this episode did not help to clear up his motives for attacking the SWAT-team.
As a result of this, the actor who plays Ashtray, Javon Walton was quick to point out that Ashtray had been getting progressively more violent as the second season played out and with his unstable upbringing; it is no wonder that he would resort to violence when he was threatened.
Is Ashtray really dead?
Even though it looks like a done deal that Ashtray has been fatally shot after his stand-off with the SWAT-team where the last thing that viewers see is Ashtray with a red target dot on his body and then a shot and a body falling to the ground, it has not officially been confirmed that Ashtray is dead.
Javon Walton is certainly holding out to see his character returning miraculously in the third season of the show, but since there is also no sign that he receives medical assistance after the shot, this seems unlikely, and he is most probably really dead.
Was Ashtray always supposed to die?
Many Euphoria fans have complained about the show killing off such a beloved character in what seems like quite a sudden and unplanned way.
However, fans of the show may be more shocked to find out that the original storyline for this episode ended in Fezco being killed, instead of Ashtray.
The plans for the episode were changed to include Ashtray’s death just a few days before filming of the scenes began, which means that the creators of the show definitely have some sort of intention behind killing off his character, even though he was such a fan-favourite.
What can you expect for season three of Euphoria?
Since there were so many unanswered questions at the end of the second season of Euphoria, the plotlines in the third season will most likely be focused on tying up some of the loose ends, like what will happen with Lexie after the fallout from her play?
What will happen now that Cas has been arrested? What will Laurie do to Rue? Will Fezco and Lexie have a relationship after his arrest? And more.