WhenEuphoriawas initially released for streaming on HBO Max, it was an instant success. The series drew immediate attention, withZendayaattached, portraying teenage addict Rue. UnderSam Levinson’screative direction, the show has attracted a wide audience captivated by the moody cinematography and raw depiction of some of the more unpleasant realities that face Gen-Z.
Triple-threat Levison’s strength as a creator is undoubtedly responsible for yielding desirable results for the show’s first season. His acclaimed writing, directing, and production gave Zendaya the platform to earn her first Emmy, after all. The highly-anticipated second season has fallen short of expectations to many regular viewers. The HBO hit series has stirred controversy with a chaotic season finale.
An Emotional Audience Response
After Season One concluded with Rue’s tragic relapse, Levinson left fans with high expectations. Throughout season two’s release, viewers flocked to Twitter to discuss the impending firestorm between best friends Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). On Super Bowl Sunday, many said that the only two teams they cared about were Maddy and Cassie. They rooted for “Fexi,” the budding relationship between drug-dealer Fez (Angus Cloud) and wallflower Lexi (Maude Apatow). Twitter timelines were flooded withEuphoriamemes and Fexi “fancams.” According to insight from Twitter analytics,Euphoriais the most-tweeted-about television show of the decade thus far.
Even in season one, fans admired Lexi despite her lack of screen time. They appreciated her for being loyal, genuine, and observant. They were delighted when the self-proclaimed underrated character literally stole the spotlight this season; her play was a spectacular hit among both audiences. Lexi’s bold production is a comical yet thoughtful narrative storytelling technique on Levinson’s part.
Of course, before the play meets its poetic end, Nate (Jacob Elordi) breaks up with Cassie in a fit of anger and disappears. Cassie becomes fully unhinged and interrupts the performance in an epic display of secondhand embarrassment. Violence ensues. Arguably one of the show’s most compelling storylines, the play’s truthful core is fully revealed to the entire school.
Inconsistencies Influenced a Conflicted Reception
The chaotic finale was not enough to impress everyone, however. Ashtray’s (Javon Walton) self-sacrifice is uncharacteristic because of how well he typically navigates the world he grew up in. In previous episodes, Ash maintains stoicism beyond his age, a testament to the trials he endured as a small child. Although he is still a kid, Ash’s street smarts are fundamental to his character. Apart from subtle cinematographic Easter eggs, there is no prior indication of his undoing. Ash’s death may have beenadded for shock value.
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Some viewers also took issue with Cassie’s unraveling due to being too exaggerated and that she is not the actual “villain,” nor should she be depicted as such. She is only the villain to herself. The audience wants a reason to root for her despite her flaws. To reduce Cassie to one dimension would be an injustice to the complexity of her character.
Perhaps the most popular grievance is thatLevinson has devised more plotlines than he can address; fans have mentioned the dissolution ofKat’s (Barbie Ferreira) storyline, McKay’s (Algee Smith) fall to obscurity, and the controversial addition of Elliot (Dominic Fike).
The Controversy of Elliot’s Character
One significant aspect ofEuphoriathat appeals to Gen-Z is Levinson’s commitment to unapologetic representation. The show features main characters of different ethnic backgrounds, mental illness in various forms, and prominent LGBTQ+ characters. The series' initial success can be attributed in part to Hunter Schafer, an openly transgender woman whose character Jules, an openly trans girl, is in a lesbian relationship with Rue.
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In season one, Jules owes her growth to realizing that men do not define her worth. She gains an understanding that just because she is a trans girl, she does not need to conform to femininity and heterosexuality. As her relationship with Rue progresses, Jules no longer sees herself as an object of men’s pleasure, so she begins to dress in more traditionally masculine clothing and binds her chest. She is comfortable; she can be masculine and be a girl. Elliot’s introduction undoes all of her progress with self-discovery and love. This plotline undermines Jules’s entire story arc in season one. In her special episode, Jules says, “I’m no longer interested in men.” After being presented as a lesbian canonically, LGBTQ+ fans were understandably upset when Jules began an intimate relationship with Elliot. This deliberate choice accomplishes one of two things: it either strips LGBTQ+ fans of pre-established representation or compromises the LGBTQ+ identity by misrepresenting it.
Elliot’s actions and intentions are frustrating to many fans. He informs Jules that Rue is using again, allegedly out of concern for his friend. Meanwhile, he is knowingly intimate with his supposed friend’s girlfriend. He has not expressed any guilt to Jules or confided in her regarding the matter. Similarly, Jules has not tried to justify herself to him or anyone. Because of its loose structure, Jules and Elliot’s relationship feels forced.
Following the finale, fans took to Twitter to joke about and share their disdain for the several minutes Elliot spent singing and playing guitar for Rue. If he feels any remorse over Jules, he should feel far too guilty to share a moment of such vulnerability with Rue. Until his character and intentions develop further, he is in very poor favor with the general audience.
The Show Will Go On
The finale was a hit despite stirring mixed emotions,garnering 6.6 million viewers. HBO announced that the Emmy award-winning serieshas officially been renewed for a third season in February. Fans have already begun to speculate Fez’s fate, Cassie’s revenge arc, and Lexi’s newfound importance. While it is true thatthe season two finale raises many unanswered questions, the drama is undeniably entertaining. The consensus seems that although season three is likely to have high viewership, fans are expecting resolutions.
