Euphoria started off as a visually chaotic teen drama and has now become a disturbing and dark series. The show continues to spiral out of control, with the characters’ lives unravelling. Reviewer Maya Zamman examines the transformation of HBO’s hit show from heartbreak to completely unhinged behaviour.
After its 2019 release, Euphoria quickly became extremely popular, mainly focusing on the teenage audience.
From the first season onwards, the show manages to become more chaotic than ever.
This is thanks to its cast featuring Zendaya Coleman, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Angus Cloud, and Maude Apatow.
Originally, the show consisted of a glittery, neon-lit aesthetic with the group of teenagers in high school.
Fast forward to now (season three), the show has completely changed its demeanour, with the group all grown up and living their own lives.
Honestly? The characters are still their unhinged selves, they’ve just become adults now.
Created by Sam Levinson, the series originally focused on the main character Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, and from the very first episode, you could tell what a great actress she truly is.
The way she embodies her character Rue as a sarcastic and reckless girl while showing her battle with addiction after leaving rehab, portrays just how bad her struggles were.
Now, season one was great, the dreamy yet disturbing aesthetic, where every party scene looked like a blast but also made the audience feel anxious.
It was all based on addiction, toxic relationships, identity, and trauma and that’s what made the show feel raw and emotional for viewers.
Rue and Jules Vaughn (played by Schafer) became the centre of the show with their complicated relationship.
Maddy Perez and Nate Jacobs (played by Demie and Elordi) were just as bad, if not even worse.
Nate’s scary and manipulative persona made us realise how realistic his toxic nature truly was. Every time he appeared on my screen, he made my skin crawl.
Then season two arrived in 2022 and somehow it became darker than before.
I mean the visuals, soundtrack and storylines were heavier and definitely focused more on destruction rather than discovery.
Rue’s addiction spiralled out of control, which then led her to being in deep trouble after losing drugs and owing someone a lot of money.
At the same time, you have Cassie Howard (played by Sweeney) who was a sweet and vulnerable girl at first but turned into a wild, embarrassing, and frustrating character.
If there was one person that got on my nerves, it would be the one and only Cassie Howard. Don’t get me wrong, Sweeney played her very well but probably a bit too well in this case.
She betrayed her best friend Maddy by secretly dating her ex-boyfriend Nate (who, bear in mind, abused her).
How much worse can she get? (Spoiler, she loses complete self-respect for herself in season three).
Now, recently released, season three definitely has gathered mixed opinions.
It’s entertaining, but it’s lost that teen drama and ‘aesthetic’ feel to it.
The characters are older now and still damaged but are undoubtedly facing the consequences for their actions which makes us think it’s finally real.
Up to the recent episode 5, this season leans into violence, crime, and internet fame.
I mean, for each character’s development, I’d say it works, their lifestyle matches the way they acted and I’m here for it.
Rue’s storyline is terrifying because she’s now trapped between criminal worlds and her life is in complete danger.
We all saw it coming though.
Remember when I said Cassie gets worse, well she marries Nate, becomes a bizarre internet celebrity, and decides to do OnlyFans while getting her ex best friend to manage her growing online fame.
No words, I’m just baffled on how a character can be that insane.
The show has a different tone to it now, but I’m not hating it. Sam Levinson has tried to shock people with this season and it’s worked.
Still, Euphoria manages to keep me on the edge of my seat with its weekly releases and keeps me questioning what’s going to happen next and what these crazy characters’ endings are going to be.