Gotta start with some disclaimers:
1. Please disregard my (mis)use of grammar throughout this blog post and all the ones that are to come.
2. I am not a professional TV show critic or mental health care provider or analysis person but I am a professional bingewatcher so these are all my opinions with some facts sprinkled in between.
3. This show does contain graphic images and serious themes including sexual violence, violence, death, nudity, profanity, alcohol and drug abuse. Like I wouldn’t watch this in front of kids.
4. I would also like to give a trigger warning just in case.
5. Also, major spoilers ahead. I’ll try to avoid some spoilers though.
If you asked how I was doing this past summer, I probably responded with “fine, have you seen Euphoria though?” because that’s literally all I talked about for awhile. (shoutouts to Eddie for being the only one who also loved this show with me). I was obsessed with this show and this is coming from someone who was not a Zendaya fan prior to Euphoria. I also didn’t really know what the premise of the show was but I decided to start it anyway because the reviews were great and man, I totally fell in love.
Euphoria, readers. Readers, Euphoria
Let’s get you and the show acquainted. The premise of the show is literally about “a group of high school students as they navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, love, trauma and social media” (source: https://deadline.com/2018/07/hbo-series-order-teen-drama-pilot-euphoria-based-israeli-thriller-zendaya-drake-future-prince-1202436451/).
The director is Sam Levinson and he actually draws a lot of inspiration from his own personal life when he was a teenager. He’s been clean for over a decade and he even admits it’s hard writing new content for season 2 because of his history. It must be just crazy for him to receive so much support on a project that’s so close to his past and his heart.
So who’s in it? Well, let me introduce you to a character chart that I had to make because there’s none online lol. By the way, you’re welcome. This collage took TIME. One thing I really love about the show is that each character gets solid screen time and a backstory.
If you hate reading then skip this next part. Just more info. on the characters.
- Fez (Angus Cloud, aka dude who looks like Mac Miller) is the town’s local drug dealer. He’s chill, straightforward, AND SUCH A WHOLESOME DUDE
- Gia (Storm Reid – who actually looks similar to Zendaya so hats off to the casting director). She’s going through the beginning of adolescence/high school and is just adjusting to Rue being back
- Kat (Barbie) – she’s kind of the oddball in the group of friends, she has a cult following on tumblr, and is insecure about her weight. She eventually starts camming and gets rich quick, but her insecurities seeps through
- Jules (Hunter Schafer) – a new girl who’s moved into town from New York. She hooks up with men who are in the closet on a dating app but things eventually become dangerous. Her only friend is Rue but it gets complicated *honestly, she’s kind of problematic*
- Rue (Zendaya) – is the main character of the show. She comes back from rehab during summer break and we see her struggles with staying clean. Later, we see that she overdosed in front of her sister which is why she went to rehab in the first place. Her relationship with her younger sister, Gia and her mother is strained. She becomes best friends with Jules.
- Lexi (Maude Apatow) – quite literally the normal one since she doesn’t do drugs, rarely drinks, and is usually “the mom”. She is Rue’s childhood best friend and Cassie’s sister.
- Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) – is Maddie’s best friend. She has a boyfriend in the show and over the season, we are able to see their relationship go through difficulties because of her reputation being promiscuous.
- Maddy (Alexa Demie) – not to be dramatic but I love Alexa Demie. I honestly think the character Maddy is so complex. She comes across as an annoying selfish Queen Bee character but it’s complicated. Maddy is in an on and off toxic relationship with Nate. She is quite manipulative but is also a victim of emotional and physical abuse from Nate.
- Nate (Jacob Elordi) – man, at first I was like “oh that kid from the Kissing Booth”. But honestly, give him the benefit of the doubt because Elordi does a great job at portraying that guy you know who’s such a self-absorbed prick you want to run over. Nate’s manipulative, incredibly disciplined, violent, and quite frankly, very dangerous.
“It’s Not Realistic”
Honestly, I thought this in the beginning. I mean like 15 year olds overdosing on oxycodone (meanwhile I didn’t even know how to spell oxy as a 22 year old) to wild parties happening every weekend to young teens catfishing older men over dating apps, like c’mon. Oh but how I was terribly mistaken. Sure, I mean I wasn’t in and out of rehab or chasing vodka with a Xanax when I was 15; however, I definitely knew people who were going through the exact same things all these characters went through.
“Been to parties EXACTLY like this. It’s kind of insane. So many kids fried their brains on pressed pill ecstasy that was mostly meth. I went to a totally “normal” Cali high school.”
“Parties didn’t look like this. Also parties were just people trying to one up each other in cringey ways.”
“Speak for yourself. The party experience was spot on”
A snippet of a conversation people were having on Reddit discussing the pilot episode
Feel free to read any of the Reddit threads I listed below or the YouTube videos that review the show:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/euphoria/comments/ci45cw/to_the_people_who_say_that_euphoria_is_exaggerated/
- “Why Euphoria Deserves the Hype” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlRMLnvMwz4
If you aren’t able to relate to the wildness of Euphoria, how about feelings of social acceptance, social isolation, bullying, peer pressure, pressure from your parents, questioning your sexuality, feeling unsure about your future, and having fluctuating mental health. Euphoria shows the underlying pressure of teens wanting to fit in from McKay (Cassie’s boyfriend in college) being sexually assaulted as part of a hazing ritual to Maddy protecting her abusive boyfriend (Nate) to Rue pretending to be 60 days clean at Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
The show reveals the hidden emotions young adults feel when life seems to be moving too quickly. Euphoria does have mature content and scenes that can be unsettling to watch but it also shows the craziness of high school, and just life in general.
Let’s Talk About Angles, Lighting and Cinematography
I am a sucker for anything that’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I adore good lightning, interesting angles and shots taken (but can you blame me?) I think artistic direction and visual stimulation is incredibly important and this show really does not lack in that area.
I chose random shots from the show and you can see that lighting and colour scheme is crucial. It’s so beautiful and the colours emphasized in certain shots are able to tell a story. I’m just gonna add some more gifs to show how unique the camerawork is. Also, the show isn’t sometimes “artsy” I’d say it always looks like this.
The Acting (with a capital “A”)
- We all know Zendaya can sing, dance, and act in Disney-appropriate films/TV shows but can she actually act? I was converted after watching Euphoria to a literal Zendaya fan. Her portrayal of Rue, someone who completely hates their habits, their behaviour, and themselves, ultimately is so raw and emotional.
- For example, if you see the YouTube clip above, Rue is asked to share in front of her class what her summer experience was and the montage goes through Rue’s summer where she’s high, arguing with her mom, and returning from rehab.
- This scene breaks my heaRT GUYS. It’s incredibly depressing but also realistic.
“If I could be a different person, I promise you, I would. Not because I want it, but because they do. And therein lies the catch.”
Rue talking about how she really has no real urge to become clean so she’s only doing it for her family
- Jacob Elordi’s acting as Nate which I mentioned before is honestly so good. I simultaneously hate his guts and don’t want to even see Jacob Elordi’s face ever again but that just shows how amazing his acting is.
- You seriously may get so annoyed at some characters for being so dumb or naive or manipulative but I just think that’s good acting
Makeup Lewks
I think the wardrobe and makeup is really important in this show since it really highlights the character’s personality. Everyone knows the phrase “Euphoria makeup” or “euphoria looks” started trending on Instagram and there’s even over 45,000 posts on these makeup-insired looks on Instagram online. Everyone, literally every celebrity and “influencer” started to re-create the looks. The makeup artists, Doniella Davy and Kiirsten Coleman are icons for birthing these best eye makeup looks – and yes, even my sister and I tried to recreate some of the looks. (yeah…my recreation is never gonna be posted online).
idk but wholesome 
Rue crying/high looks 
dream ice skating scene 
Maddy’s iconic looks 
Closing Remarks
Feel free to hate on the show but I’m gonna defend it forever, unless season 2 sucks. Anyway, all I have to say is that the show feels fresh and I like that. The acting is on par and I truly feel for the characters. The music is lit, seriously check out any Euphoria playlist on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2k3kxQRoRtNLMJchFAymmO?si=68IxkSb1SzKml4RVyiLWkw). If I went in depth about the music, this blog post would be longer than all my final essays combined so yea. The cinematography, lighting, and camera work are the highlights of the show for me. There are such subtle details added into the show which I can go on and on about but I won’t. I think Euphoria sparks conversation on how confusing life is and how you want to escape it sometimes.
Sidenote: I do wish there was some Asian representation on the show like y’all can show like 30 dicks but not one Asian person on screen? It’s 2019 get with it HBO.
Gloria's Scribbles and Thoughts 