Audiences were shocked by Sam Levinson's dark portrait of modern adolescence. The series' toxically cool material made it notoriously controversial. Critics were worried that the approach to drugs, sex, and violence and the costume and makeup aesthetic of Euphoria would make teens more likely to engage in dangerous behavior. Fans argued that the oozing angst of Euphoria was due to its rebelliousness.
The two Euphoria specials that were released were tame. The episodes were smaller in scope and more intellectually complex because of the restrictions of the Pandemic. Each focused on the main characters Rue and Jules in a Marriage Story-esque narrative that finally got into the guts of the star couple's tumultuous romance and innate incompatibilities through lengthy, intimate scenes. The specials were sad and cozier than anything we'd seen before.
Two years into a global crisis, "Euphoria" feels grown up in its broadening of traditional teen narratives for an audience that is scared and worried.
The second season of Euphoria begins at the start of 2022. The seven episodes provided to critics are just as bold as any of the other Season 1 episodes. The series' ballsy bluster feels better justified in Season 2 because of the confidence in the writing and direction of Levinson. If previous episodes left you wondering what the kids of East Highland High School were going through, the new installments will explain and deepen the meaning of that suffering.
Maybe I'm projecting. Two years into a global crisis, Euphoria feels grown up in its broadening of traditional teen narratives for an audience that is afraid of everything.
Dominic Fike was named as Elliot. The credit is given to the cable channel, HBO.
The downward spiral of Cal, the optimism of Rue's mother, and the alcoholism of Suze are some of the adult characters that are shown in the film. The sense that the entire community is hurtling into chaos grows stronger as the parents of Euphoria lose control of themselves. This show has always been about a feeling of panic, and this season every character exhibits that tortured state of mind at one point or another.
The plot mirrors this emotional precariousness through an unpredictability that pairs enormous suspense with hyper-articulate character work. The time between revelation and reaction is fast. At the end of the premiere, there is a miscalculation fromNate and a breakdown fromCassie that leads to a season-long saga with Maddy. Rue's addiction drives her further into deception as she befriends a new person and re-examines her relationship with Jules. The best hour of the series has ever been seen.
Lexi and Fezco find an unlikely connection, even as Fezco's illegal business with his brother Ashtray grows more dangerous through a host of new characters.
The person is Sydney Sweeney. The credit is given to the cable channel, HBO.
Rue's sponsor Ali and the mother of a kid babysits a child. The action is allowed to fly and the audience is left to watch the consequences of the action. The aftermath is less predictable than last season, but it's still Levinson's expert rendering of all-consuming emotion that makes these various storylines, touching on a dozen different corners of life, work as a coherent whole.
That doesn't make for an especially relaxing Sunday night show, though the nail-biting agony is lessened by the blend of reality and fantasy. This time around, the series has a second classroom lecture from Rue, a Martin Scorsese homage with Fezco, and a Lexi stage play episode. If it can be said that there are some moments when Levinson loses his way, then it is in some of these. There are some that are amazing, but others that feel redundant. Barbie Ferreira is the one who suffers the most. The sex work plotline from Season 1 was provocative, but it turned into a snooze-worthy drama with her boyfriend, and a Game of Throne reference, that made me cringe.
Fezco was named after Angus Cloud. The credit is given to the cable channel, HBO.
It's a dream-like watch for the combination of striking music, visuals, and supercharged feeling of Euphoria. The agony of these newest episodes channel the themes of the past and make the uncomfortable feeling of that broad, cynical thesis bearable.
In the next eight weeks, you can expect a steady trickle of obsession-worthy television reaching new heights. It might be smart to wait until it's out. The second season of Euphoria is an amazing ride.
The second season of Euphoria will premiere on January 9. The show is on HBO Max.
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