Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Rue Bennett returns from rehabilitation and immediately seeks drugs from Fezco, hiding her use from her mother Leslie and sister Gia. Meeting Jules Vaughn gives her a new attachment, but affection soon becomes another source of anxiety. Jules exchanges messages with someone called Tyler, unaware that Nate Jacobs is behind the account. Rue turns to Ali after Fez refuses to sell her more drugs, exposing how fragile her claims of sobriety are.
Nate attacks Maddy at the carnival, then manipulates other people to escape the consequences. He pressures Tyler into accepting blame and blackmails Jules into supporting the false account. Rue notices Jules becoming distant as the pressure builds. Kat turns unwanted online attention into paid webcam work, changing how she presents herself at school. Cassie's relationship with McKay leaves her struggling with shame, his reluctance to acknowledge her publicly and an unexpected pregnancy.
At the winter formal, Kat reconciles with Ethan, while Nate and Maddy decide to separate after another attempt to make each other jealous. Maddy has discovered the recording of Cal and Jules. Cassie ends her pregnancy with support from her mother and Lexi. Rue and Jules talk about leaving town together, but Rue cannot follow through at the station. Jules takes the train alone. Rue returns home heartbroken and relapses, with the closing musical sequence expressing her collapse rather than confirming her death.