Every once in a while we come across a show that sweeps us off our feet and it’s nothing short of hypnotic.
When I heard of Euphoria, all I cared about was Zendaya being in it. Thus, in a binge ensued by raving reviews on every YouTube notification and hopes of an MCU character comfort, I checked it out.
Let me tell you that Zendaya is no Mary Jane here.
So what is Euphoria?
Imagine a scene with ingenious cinematography, top-notch acting and intense storytelling. Now imagine many scenes exactly like that, as a story unfolds through different character perspectives and episodes narrated by a drug addict tackling unconventional and problematic subjects among unapologetic teenagers.
Rue—played by the fantastic Zendaya—is just out of rehab after a drug overdose. “I had no intention of staying clean,” she says at the very beginning as she goes home with her family. Her self-destructive narration on her reliance on drugs completely sucks you in and keeps you on the edge. It’s heartbreaking to witness how she got to that point of hopelessness. Her pain is our pain and her first impressions are our first impressions. And that’s just the first ten minutes of the pilot episode.
And while the first episode sets up all the characters for their own storylines, the rest of the season opens with the backstory of each one. They shed light into individual motivations and traumas. We follow a multitude of people who are as equally interesting—and problematic—as Rue.
Angus Cloud, star of TV show 'Euphoria,' dead at 25
We have Jules, a transgender conquering femininity through sexual validation, Cassie, who’s started dating after her naked videos and pictures were leaked online, Kate, an overweight girl trying to find her place and Maddy who is in an abusive relationship because of a distorted perception on love.
We are also introduced to McKay, who’s losing himself against the ideal of masculinity, Fez, a dropout paying mortgage through drug dealings and Cal, who hides his homosexual tendencies out of shame.
However, the best performance, in my opinion, came from Jacob Elrodi. He proves to be an exceptional actor, a scene-stealer through and through. Despicable, cunning, manipulative, narcissistic, vengeful, selfish and frightening, Elrodi’s character, Nate, is unlikeable for the most part. It’s when development is added to that unpleasant personality that this actor shows genuine vulnerability blended with rage and self-hate that wins us over. He also delivers one of the most harrowing scenes in the entire show.
Nate isn’t the only one with a character arc though. Almost each character goes through a major change throughout the course of the show. There isn’t a single person who has been left unscathed by their environment. And it is understandably so. When a show tackles issues like drug addiction, teen pregnancy, childhood trauma, mental illnesses, gender transformation, child pornography, self-harm, sexual exchanges among minors and homophobia—especially with characters that are very young—we are bound to see some damaged individuals.
Because of popular TV shows like Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars and 13 Reasons Why—specifically the second and third seasons— it’s hard to take teen dramas seriously. Glorification is as detrimental as misrepresentation. Euphoria presents you with the truth, which is also why it’s so gruesome at times. There is no covering of rotten truths. It’s dirty and raw and it’s real. As a teenager, it resonates with you. Every episode has a lurking sense of inevitable doom, an agitating buildup to a train wreck—and you can’t wait to watch it all.
Aesthetically, Euphoria deserves an award just for the way it’s been shot and presented. Each scene thrums with neon lights bleeding red, blue and pink. When they are not there, we’re given slow moving scenarios with pivotal climaxes, amazing camerawork and intense character moments that has us gripped.
In the age of content, there are very few things that can hold our attention for a long time. To bring out characters that the audience can see themselves in, to be able to make despicable individuals charming and frightening subjects approachable aren’t easy.
Another thing I loved about the show is how diversity is portrayed here. It isn’t just present for the sake of being addressed. Even though there are implications of sexuality, race and gender—it’s all blended together to make complex three-dimensional characters with layers to peel off.
The story isn’t just about teenagers being teenagers—it goes beyond it. And even though the show revolves around teenagers, it isn’t for teenagers, especially not the young ones. With enough explicit and nude scenes to make you raise your eyebrows, the show also contains foul language and graphic depiction of drug use, violence and death.
So you might ask; why should I watch a show about edgy teenagers and high school life? I’m way past that. Let me tell you why. We’re at an age where all of us are technological connected yet systematically categorized. We’re seeing groundbreaking psychological revelations yet witnessing a lot of mental illnesses. Even when intimacy is only a click of a dating app away, we’re lonelier than ever. Euphoria isn’t just about teenagers—it’s about this generation.
It’s a pivotal TV show that has arrived like a much-needed breath of fresh air. And I highly, highly recommend it.
