McKay tells Cassie that he is sorry and they start dating. After they start having sex, McKay chokes her without her consent, but he lets go when he realizes she does not like it. Euphoria treats its teens like the people that they are, giving them the credit they deserve for the very adult experiences they go through.McKay and Cassie met at McKay’s party in the first episode. ![]() But most importantly, they learn how to exercise their agency as they move into adulthood. While Euphoria surely had parents gasping - “Do kids these days really get up to all this?” - it gives adolescence its due diligence in a way that doesn’t feel patronizing or cliché. if I can conquer men, then I can conquer femininity.” Conquering femininity, however, is only the beginning - as Jules’ new friend, Anna, puts it, “Queerness is infinite.” In episode 7, Jules breaks down her transition toward queerness ( as actress Hunter Schafer has described it) and the relationship between her sexuality and her gender. It’s estimated that at least one third of Gen Z identifies as queer, and young people are consistently eschewing binary notions of gender and sexuality in favor of a more fluid understanding. This isn’t solely in the respect that a relationship between two women is at its core or that one of the two main characters is trans, but additionally in the way that it reflects our understanding of gender and sexuality today. There’s the sense that Rue will always be stuck longing after Jules no matter how close they grow, a sentiment only strengthened by Jules’ willingness to leave Rue behind during the season finale. ![]() While Jules is constantly moving forward, trying to escape the suburbs and move on with her life, Rue is playing a constant game of catch-up, trying to maintain pace with her best friend and make sense of their relationship. While Jules entertains multiple romantic threads throughout the season, Rue’s focus has always been on Jules alone, both platonically and romantically. There’s also a sense of melancholy threaded throughout the season, particularly through Rue and Jules’ relationship. The event is juxtaposed with a manic episode in which Rue’s intense bout of clarity allows her to unravel the threads connecting Jules, Nate, and Maddy in a buddy-cop bit with Lexi. However, this is balanced out by stark treatment of other subjects: unlike other contemporary teen dramas, the series doesn’t romanticize mental illness - at one point, Rue’s depression prevents her from getting out of bed to use the bathroom, eventually landing her in the hospital with a kidney infection. It’s a series full of teens harnessing their sexuality in ways that are painfully awkward, heart-wrenching, and beautiful - sometimes all at once.īetween the sex and drugs, Euphoria can come off as being provocative for provocation’s sake, particularly early in the season. Still, there’s something painfully earnest in the way that the characters grapple with their sexuality, from Cassie’s too-trusting nature and the men who take advantage of her, to Kat’s flustered confession to Ethan despite her overflowing confidence in front of a camera. ![]() The series made waves early on for its gratuitous nudity in a sequence that sees Nate appearing more vulnerable than villainous in a locker room full of penis … after penis … after penis. Careful cinematography, a lush color palette, and an ethereal soundtrack complement a gripping narrative make Euphoria one of the most compelling series of the summer.Įuphoria is all about horny teenagers, but not in a way that feels wanton or senseless. Narrated by Zendaya’s Rue, a recovering drug addict recently out of rehab, the series focuses on a group of high schoolers who struggle with addiction, sexuality, harassment, and mental health. ![]() Helmed by creator, writer, executive producer, and director Sam Levinson (who takes on almost auteur-like status), HBO’s Euphoria gets Gen Z teens unlike any other contemporary teen drama. Whether they end up kissing (which happens a few times), or holding each other (which happens almost every time), or talking (which only happens some of the time), the moment epitomizes the careful intimacy and painful adolescence that defines Euphoria as a series. There’s this recurring, poignant scene in Euphoria that distills all of the series’ longing and melancholy into a singular moment: Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer) lie facing each other on a bed, curled up together as all of the show’s narrative chaos goes quiet.
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