To preface this review, it needs to be acknowledged that a significant amount of information is omitted from this review and it has been adapted to be appropriate for a school setting. “Euphoria” handles heavy and controversial topics such as alcohol/drug abuse, violence and sexual content; parts of some scenes have been adjusted to be suitable for all audiences. In addition, there will be spoilers for the first three episodes of the latest season.
Season three, Episode one: “Andale”
After the young, reckless high schoolers in seasons one and two of “Euphoria” graduated, there is a time skip. To recap, Rue (Zendaya), was in debt to an illegal substance dealer after she tried to fuel her addiction, but couldn’t pay the price. Laurie, the woman who gave Rue the illegal substances, forced her to transport illegal goods to repay her debt – $43 million. Meanwhile, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) from the first two seasons are going to have a wedding. The first episode is essentially an update on the character’s lives after high school, and while it is somewhat boring, it’s extremely informative and sets the scene for the rest of the season. The viewer also gets a brief glimpse into Rue’s past, showcasing the broken home that caused her addiction. While some of the scenes seem to be used for shock value, others are deeply sentimental and highlight the struggles of addiction or abuse.
Season three, Episode two: “America My Dream”
In episode two “America My Dream,” Rue leaves for Mexico to visit a man named Alamo to transport illegal goods across the border as a favor to Laurie. She ends up enjoying her time with Alamo, and after Laurie fails to ensure the safety of the product she was giving him, one of his employees passes away. Alamo decides to keep Rue to work for him at a club he owns, causing a dispute between himself and Laurie. Meanwhile, the viewer discovers that Nate is in debt to investors in his father’s business, and can’t afford $50,000 floral arrangements for the wedding. Cassie decides to try to become internet famous behind Nate’s back, asking her old high school friend Maddy – who dated Nate before – to be her social media manager. Rue also reconnects with her ex-situationship Jules, who attended art school. Jules is a transgender woman and has struggles with her parental relationships that carry over into her romantic ones. This season thus far has a major emphasis on the struggles of connections with others, including parental figures and romantic partners. This is shown through Rue’s addiction affecting her relationship with her mom as well.
Season three, Episode three: “The Ballad of Paladin”
In episode three “The Ballad of Paladin,” Cassie and Nate get married, and have a very emotional wedding. After a beautiful ceremony featuring the $50,000 floral arrangements that Nate caved and bought, the reception was held. Similar to a high school reunion, nearly everyone from the first two seasons was there. It starts out with a tone of soft happiness, but quickly switches as Rue leaves Jules by herself at the wedding due to a work call. Very soon after, a man appears at the wedding to get $100,000 dollars from Nate, who owes him money for unknown reasons. Cassie finds out about Nate’s debt and spirals, screaming at him and causing a scene. Meanwhile, Rue travels to Laurie’s house with another of Alamo’s employees to have a meeting about Laurie becoming increasingly disrespectful towards Alamo. Cassie and Nate return home, only to be met with the same man who showed up at the wedding reception. This episode not only ties back to past issues and clarifies them, but also appears to be used for shock value, as it is very violence heavy.
Main Takeaways
The tone changed significantly from the first two seasons to the latest one, specifically in regards to the lighting and music. The beginning of the show set a standard of glamorized experiences, characterized by glittery glam makeup, techno/trap music and parties. The new season seems less like “Euphoria” and more like “Breaking Bad”, with a gritty and dark undertone. Despite the direction the season is going, the colors of the former seasons still manage to shine through in a more sophisticated nature through Nate and Cassie’s wedding and the club Rue works at.
The latest season highlights the darkness under each of the characters – Rue’s substance abuse, Cassie’s need for attention, and Jules’ self-esteem issues – rather than focusing on the drama amongst them. It has a more “adult” feel, as if the characters themselves are focusing on self-improvement rather than drama, parroting the real world issues many young adults face as they mature. While it is uncertain how these issues will manifest, it builds anticipation for the rest of the season, which won’t be fully released until May 31.
