The second most-watched HBO series, “Euphoria,” gets serious for their second season. PHOTO CREDIT: Rotten Tomatoes
[Writer’s note: this review contains spoilers from the HBO Max “Euphoria” series]
Following their Emmy-award winning first season, the cast and creators of “Euphoria” produced one of the most shell-shocking, illustrative collections on television in the show’s second installment.
I fell in love with the series in 2019 with its stories of sex, drugs and fashion that were electrified by impressive actors. Episodes from season two of “Euphoria” hit screens each Sunday for the past eight weeks after the show faced a more than two-year hiatus. This season set the tone for more of a realistic perspective on such controversies.
These eight episodes span a plethora of genres – from the adolescent love triangle of Nate, Maddy and Cassie, to the suspenseful and heart-shattering depictions of Rue’s relapse, creator Sam Levinson doesn’t miss a beat.
First things first: “Euphoria” season two is an overwhelming watch. Aside from the pure chaos of things, it deals with sensitive topics that are unfeigned. Characters grapple with issues such as drug addiction, domestic abuse, familial loss and mental health crises.
The greatest difference between the two seasons is that season one was somewhat illogical. Levinson dramatically painted romanticized portraits of substance abuse and other difficult topics with glittery makeup and flashy costumes.
Don’t get me wrong, the glitz and glam were still present in season two, but Levinson and his cast weighed the show’s real-world issues as more urgent and true to reality.
We watch Rue hit her lowest moment in season two and experience how drug use can plague the lives of friends and family surrounding an addict. In episode five, “Stand Still Like The Hummingbird,” Zendaya puts forth an indisputably spectacular performance as Rue lives “on the run” from her harsh realities. In the first 15 minutes alone, the lives of her sister (Gia,) mother (Leslie,) and best friends (Jules and Elliot) are spiraled by the realities of Rue’s addiction. This nail-biting altercation is enough to have Zendaya winning another Emmy, in my opinion.
In peripheral plots, actors including Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Angus Cloud and Maude Apatow draw attention to similarly dark issues. Comedic relief is provided by Cassie (played by Sweeney) and Maddy (played by Demie) as they, in teenage fashion, navigate relationships through white lies and distrust. Fezco (played by Cloud) struggles to maintain secrecy as a drug dealer trying to provide for his family. All the while, Lexi (played by Apatow) produces a play depicting her life on the sidelines.
There is so much to be said about “Euphoria” season two, but on the whole, this season is more vulnerable and accurate to real-life traumas. The final episode, “All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name,” is a culmination of Cassie’s deranged love life, the frustrating romance of Rue and Jules, Lexi’s opportunity for the spotlight and the tragedies involved with Fezco and Ashtray’s controversies. I don’t want to spoil too much, but it’s a lot to process.
Cinematically, “Euphoria” continues to impress. With parallels between multiple scenes from both seasons and jaw-dropping film transitions, I tip my hat to cinematographer Marcell Rév and his devotion to realism and allusions.
Someone take away my keyboard. My thoughts are never-ending. If you really want to experience all of this incredible artistry, catch up with this euphoric series on HBO Max.