[WARNING: Spoilers for season two of Euphoria!]
Whether you’ve stumbled across fan edits on Instagram, read spoilers on Twitter, or have been a diehard fan since the show’s initial 2019 release, HBO’s trending TV series Euphoria is hot, controversial and everywhere you look. Based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name, Euphoria has been likened to a grittier, modern-day Skins, sharing similarities with the noughties teen drama as it deals with issues such as sex, drugs, toxic relationships and a distinct lack of adult supervision. The series, written and directed by Sam Levinson, stars a plethora of names such as Zendaya, Angus Cloud, Alexa Demie and Hunter Schafer. The show is unique in the way it has gained popularity, as season 2 isn’t streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime but rather airs every week on HBO; this makes it marginally more difficult to access for many, but with so much buzz surrounding it, love it or hate it, Euphoria is toying with the limits of what’s expected, entertaining and ultimately even appropriate to broadcast on our televisions.
Despite its reputation for graphic scenes of violence, nudity and abuse, Euphoria has doubled its audience between its first and second season. Owing to factors such as social media gossip and actress Zendaya’s popularity, ‘the season two premiere was watched by 13.1 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max’ as stated by Variety (Clark, 2022). Additionally, Clark explains that according to the data company Parrot Analytics, the second series peaked at the end of January following the fourth episode as the number one most sought-after TV show in America, up against the likes of Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett or the new season of The Witcher on Netflix. With stunning visual effects, an original Labrinth soundtrack, a gripping storyline and more, it’s understandable to see the appeal and understand the hype.
Nonetheless, not everybody agrees with what the show is promoting. Euphoria has often been the subject of disapproval and ridicule for some of the topics it handles. Many have argued that for a cast playing a group of teenagers still in high school, it is overly sexualised and unrealistic, and leads a bad example to its viewers, particularly where underage drinking and drug use is involved. However, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (in the US), ‘62% of teenagers in the 12th grade [final year of school] have abused alcohol and 50% of teenagers have misused a drug at least once’ (Moniuszko, 2022). While main character and drug addict Rue’s run-ins with dangerous dealers and overdose scenes might be extreme, many young people can relate to the struggles she has faced; in fact, drug epidemics are widespread all around the world and disproportionately common among marginalized groups such as people of colour, of which Rue (played by Zendaya) belongs to. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes in season two of Euphoria sees Rue’s mother beg for a spot in rehab for her daughter, only to be turned down. This is sadly a very realistic outcome for many as ‘in 2018, only 18% of people identified as needing [substance abuse] treatment actually received it’. Furthermore, ‘for Black and Latinx groups in the US, 90% and 92%, respectively, diagnosed with a SUD [substance use disorder] did not receive addiction treatment’ (Cruz, 2021).
Euphoria has also received criticism for its handling of sex work. A subplot of season one follows teenager Kat after she loses her virginity at a party and comes across a video of the encounter that has been uploaded to PornHub without her approval. Kat makes the bold decision to try to make a profit from her newfound fame, turning to camming, otherwise known as webcam modelling, and quickly finding overwhelming success. Viewers praised this unusually positive portrayal of sex work as ‘an empowering and relatable example’ of female-led sex positivity (Dry, 2019). Nevertheless, some arguments that contrast this and shed light on the unrealistic series of events that follow. It can take ‘“months, even years of full-time sex work to build a clientele and start making decent money”’, cites Allie Oops, a queer porn filmmaker and performer (Dry, 2019). Oops also asserts that Sam Levinson’s writing in these regards comes across as problematic at times, perhaps due to his own negative experience of porn and sex work. With an abundance of nudity that often appears unwarranted and random throughout the show, Oops’ comments are agreeable.
Finally, Euphoria’s viewers are subject to the show’s questionable depictions of toxic romantic relationships. After character Maddy’s relationship with her boyfriend Nate crumbles, she is tormented further after learning her best friend Cassie engaged in an affair with him. Despite Nate being known to have physically abused Maddy, Cassie’s own personal issues are stirred into the mix, leading her to ignore the red flags and continue to see Nate even when her secret is out. Nate’s worst moments have included choking Maddy at a carnival and threatening her at gunpoint. Maddy’s actress Alexa Demie stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that ‘“it’s heartbreaking to see [Maddy] experience something so violent and traumatic… After Nate puts a gun to her head, I think that’s the turning point for her of ‘OK… This is so toxic and I don’t deserve this’”’ (Campano, 2022). The audience is left waiting to see exactly how the twisted love triangle plays out, but such graphic violence tied in with the confusing motives of each party is undeniably disturbing.
For a very blunt explanation on why many feel themselves continually drawn to the show, Purdue University professor Glenn Sparks says ‘“we’re attracted to things we can’t see (every day)… it’s a different kind of world than most people are used to”’ and, on the other hand, ‘“people may get some gratification when they’re engaging in that kind of social comparison… They end up feeling better (about themselves)”’ (Moniuszko, 2022). Sam Levinson himself offered further clarification into the explicit nature of the show, expressing that ‘“[Euphoria is] a good insight into how hard it is to grow up in this time”’ (Moniuszko, 2022). Regardless of any discomfort or controversy, viewers continue to tune in to each episode, and the renewal of a third series means Euphoria will continue to be a show that commands attention.
Figure 1: A selection of the cast from season two of Euphoria, IMDb.
References
Campano, L. (2022). ‘Alexa Demie Opened Up About Filming That “Traumatic” Maddy and Nate Scene in Episode 6 of “Euphoria”’, Seventeen [online]. 14 February 2022. Available at: https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a39075735/alexa-demie-episode-6-euphoria/ (Accessed 23/02/22).
Clark, T. (2022). ‘HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ has doubled its audience in season 2 thanks to social-media buzz and Zendaya’s popularity’, Business Insider [online]. 15 February 2022. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-hbos-euphoria-doubled-its-audience-in-season-two-2022-2?amp (Accessed 23/02/22).
Cruz, F. A. (2021). ‘Racial Inequalities in Treatments of Addictive Disorders’, Yale School of Medicine [online]. 1 October 2021. Available at: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/racial-inequities-in-treatments-of-addictive-disorders/ (Accessed 23/02/22).
Dry, J. (2019). ‘Is ‘Euphoria’ a Rare Positive Take on Sex Work, or Yet Another Pornographic Male Gaze?’, Indie Wire [online]. 13 August 2019. Available at: https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/euphoria-porn-sex-work-camgirl-male-gaze-1202164670/amp/ (Accessed 23/02/22).
Moniuszko, S. M. (2022). ‘‘Euphoria’ nudity, controversies make viewers uncomfortable — but not enough to turn it off’, USA Today [online]. 6 February 2022. Available at: https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/9286707002 (Accessed 23/02/22).
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