Euphoria Review
"This is it. This is the feeling I have been searching for my entire life for as long as I could remember. Because suddenly the world went quiet and I felt safe in my own head." - Rue Bennett
There is a reason why Euphoria became one of the most talked-about shows on HBO. Between its stunning cinematography, phenomenal performances, unforgettable soundtrack, and deeply complex characters, every episode in the series feels like a movie.
The soundtrack is equally impressive. Much of the music is provided by Labrinth, whose work elevates nearly every scene. The music blends seamlessly with the visuals, creating emotional moments that hit much harder than they otherwise would. Whether it's a heartbreaking montage, a party scene, or an emotional breakdown from a character, the soundtrack always feels perfectly chosen.
At its core, Euphoria follows a group of teenagers as they navigate addiction, mental illness, identity, love, trauma, family struggles, and toxic relationships. While every episode shines a spotlight on different characters, the story is primarily told through the perspective of Rue Bennett, brilliantly portrayed by Zendaya.
The Characters
Rue is one of the most compelling protagonists I've ever seen on television. Diagnosed with OCD, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, and anxiety at a young age, she struggles with panic attacks and addiction. After discovering drugs while caring for her terminally ill father, she became hooked on the feeling they gave her.
Zendaya's performance is incredible because she never romanticizes Rue's addiction. We see the damage it causes not only to herself but also to her mother, sister Gia, and everyone around her.
Jules is another standout character. A transgender teenager struggling to find where she belongs, Jules has a complicated relationship with femininity, relationships, and self-identity. Her romance with Rue is one of the emotional centers of the show, but it's far from perfect. Their relationship often crosses into unhealthy dependency, with Jules feeling responsible for keeping Rue sober.
Fezco quickly became one of my favorite characters. Raised by his grandmother and pushed into the drug business from a young age, Fez is intelligent and caring despite his circumstances. He acts like an older brother to Rue, constantly trying to protect her from herself. His relationship with Ashtray, the abandoned child he helped raise, creates some of the show's most emotional moments.
Lexi is another character who grew on me throughout the series. Often overlooked in favor of her more dramatic sister Cassie, Lexi spends much of the show observing everyone else's chaos. While I loved her character during the first two seasons, I found her overly judgmental in the third season.
Cassie might be one of the most tragic characters in the series as she desperately craves love and validation. Her need to be wanted causes her to repeatedly make self-destructive decisions, including betraying her best friend Maddy by pursuing Nate.
Maddy is confident, fearless, and always manages to command attention whenever she's on screen. Although she often makes terrible decisions, especially regarding Nate, her confidence and charisma make her one of the most entertaining characters to watch.
And then there's Nate Jacobs. He is one of the most unsettling characters I've ever seen in a teen drama. Fueled by anger, insecurity, and trauma stemming from his father's secret double life, Nate creates chaos everywhere he goes. His relationships with Maddy, Cassie, Rue, and Jules leave lasting damage throughout the series.
How Euphoria Compares to Other Teen Dramas
If you've watched teen dramas such as Degrassi or Skins, you'll probably notice similarities right away.
Like Degrassi, Euphoria tackles difficult real-world issues that teenagers face, including addiction, mental illness, abusive relationships, sexuality, family struggles, and self-identity. Both shows are willing to address uncomfortable topics that many other teen dramas avoid.
Like Skins, Euphoria focuses heavily on flawed characters making destructive decisions while trying to figure out who they are. Both series feature raw portrayals of partying, substance abuse, mental health struggles, and complicated relationships. The character-focused storytelling in Euphoria especially feels reminiscent of Skins, where individual episodes dive deep into a specific character's perspective and backstory.
However, Euphoria feels like a modern evolution of both shows. It takes the emotional realism of Degrassi and the chaotic energy of Skins while adding cinematic visuals, stylized storytelling, and social media-era pressures. The result is something that feels familiar while still standing completely on its own.
Season 3 Thoughts
The third season takes the story in a much darker and more chaotic direction by moving many characters into adulthood. Drug trafficking, organized crime, the DEA, and increasingly dangerous situations replace some of the high-school-centered storylines from earlier seasons.
While Season 3 expands the scope of the series dramatically, it also becomes far more unpredictable and over-the-top. Characters like Rue, Maddy, Cassie, Jules, Faye, and Nate find themselves caught in situations that feel closer to a crime thriller than a traditional teen drama.
One thing that remains consistent throughout all three seasons is Rue's role as the emotional center of the story. As much as I love her character, she often becomes the common denominator in many of the show's tragedies. Whether intentionally or not, her actions continue to affect everyone around her.
Final Verdict
Euphoria is one of the craziest, most visually beautiful television shows I have ever watched.
It's heartbreaking, frustrating, emotional, hilarious, and sometimes completely insane. The acting is phenomenal, the soundtrack is flawless, and the cinematography is some of the best I've ever seen in a television series.
While it shares DNA with teen dramas like Degrassi and Skins, Euphoria takes those themes and presents them in a much more cinematic and stylized way. It feels less like a traditional TV show and more like an eight-hour movie filled with unforgettable characters and emotional highs and lows.
It certainly isn't a show for everyone due to its graphic content, heavy themes, and explicit scenes, but if you're looking for a series with incredible storytelling, complex characters, and visuals that are absolutely gorgeous, Euphoria is absolutely worth watching.
If you've watched Euphoria, I'd love to hear your thoughts and favorite characters. And if you have recommendations for other shows I should review, let me know!
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