Euphoria Rewatch: Season 2 Flaws & Harsh Realities Before Season 3

As a huge fan, I’m so excited for the third season of Euphoria! It’s been over four years since we last had new episodes, so I’ve been revisiting the first two seasons to prepare. But honestly, rewatching them, some of the show’s issues really stand out. While Euphoria has clearly connected with a lot of people, it hasn’t exactly won over all the critics – the second season, in particular, felt a little uneven to me.

There’s a lot to enjoy about Euphoria – the acting is fantastic, it looks beautiful, and even when the storylines get dramatic and over-the-top, it’s still really captivating. However, revisiting the first two seasons before the premiere of the highly awaited season 3 reveals some difficult things about the show.

Euphoria Season 1 Is A Lot Tighter Than Season 2

The first season of Euphoria is a truly exceptional show, offering a unique and compelling story. Each episode starts by revealing the difficult past of a different character, and the central storyline of Rue’s struggle with addiction is skillfully connected to the experiences of everyone else.

However, the second season doesn’t feel as focused. It jumps around between characters, and even important ones like Rue and Jules end up feeling like supporting players. The season lacks a clear direction, and unfortunately, the finale doesn’t resolve most of the storylines that were introduced.

Every Scene With Rue And Her Mother Is Unbearably Intense

Zendaya and Nika King deliver powerful performances in the scenes between Rue and her mother, though they’re difficult to watch. Whenever Leslie tries to talk to her daughter about drugs, the conversation quickly turns into a hurtful argument filled with things they both regret saying.

Watching the show is especially difficult when Rue’s younger sister, Gia, is present. She desperately wants her family to be happy, but their gatherings always devolve into incredibly tense and painful fights. While the acting is fantastic, the subject matter is really upsetting.

Ethan Deserved So Much Better Than Kat

Ethan and Kat’s relationship on Euphoria is unusual. It begins well, with Kat enjoying being with someone kind and considerate. However, despite her friends thinking he’s perfect, she quickly realizes there’s no real connection between them.

The story had a compelling theme – that even seemingly ideal relationships aren’t always a good fit. However, Kat handled the breakup with Ethan terribly. Instead of being honest, she told a ridiculous lie and then manipulated him when he questioned it. Ethan truly deserved to be treated with more respect.

Euphoria’s Explicit Content Is Absurdly Gratuitous

A major point of debate surrounding the show Euphoria is its depiction of teenage sexuality. While some nudity and sex scenes feel necessary to the story and character development – reflecting the characters’ exploration of their identities – other moments appear to be purely for shock value and feel exploitative.

Beyond its mature themes, Euphoria has faced criticism for seemingly celebrating drug use, even while showing the harsh realities of addiction. The show is also surprisingly violent. While some scenes, like Fez confronting Nate, are strangely compelling, others, such as the repeated attacks on Cal, feel over the top. The final police shootout felt more suited to an action movie than a show about teenagers.

Lexi’s Play Is Entertaining, But It Doesn’t Tell Us Anything We Don’t Already Know

Over the course of the second season of Euphoria, Lexi begins writing a school play based on her experiences growing up with Rue, Cassie, Maddy, and Kat. The play finally debuts in the season’s last two episodes, and the premiere is as dramatic and messy as fans expected.

As the season finale, this performance doesn’t quite deliver. While enjoyable, it doesn’t offer any new insights – it simply restages familiar scenes with actors portraying the main characters.

Elliot’s Song Really Drags Down The Season 2 Finale

The most frustrating moment in the season 2 finale of Euphoria is when Elliot plays a song for Rue. While the song itself isn’t bad, it dramatically slows down the episode and feels overly long. Interestingly, the official release of the song was actually shorter than the version used in the show.

Elliot wasn’t a particularly compelling character to begin with, and felt like a forced way to create drama between Rue and Jules. Giving him a lengthy musical performance in the finale felt unnecessary and didn’t quite work.

Euphoria Sometimes Feels More Like A Music Video Than A TV Show

Euphoria often feels less like a traditional TV show and more like a music video, thanks to its fast-paced editing and highly stylized visuals. Many scenes, particularly the parties, are assembled from a series of visually striking, but seemingly disconnected, shots.

The show uses a fast-paced style with its voiceover, music, and camera work, similar to Martin Scorsese’s film Goodfellas. However, while Goodfellas used these techniques to improve the story, Euphoria uses them in a way that pulls focus from the story.

Nate’s Awful Behavior Never Gets Any Easier To Watch

Nate Jacobs is a compelling character, but he’s deeply flawed and does terrible things. It’s disturbing to watch him act so badly and consistently avoid consequences, starting with his violent attack on Tyler and manipulation to make Tyler take the blame.

I have to admit, watching Jacob Elordi play Nate is both captivating and deeply disturbing. The things his character does – like the way he manipulates Maddy, blackmails Jules, and messes with Cassie’s head – are just awful. And it’s not just emotional abuse; he actively stalks his dad’s partners and even resorts to terrifying psychological torture, holding Maddy at gunpoint. Elordi is phenomenal, truly, but some scenes are incredibly difficult to get through. It’s a powerful performance, but it really stays with you.

Laurie Is Established As A Grave Threat, But It Goes Nowhere

In the early episodes of Euphoria‘s second season, Rue meets a dangerous drug dealer named Laurie. After Fez stops supplying her, Rue turns to Laurie and asks for a large quantity of drugs, intending to sell them at school for a profit. Laurie warns Rue that if she doesn’t pay, she’ll be forced into sex trafficking.

Rue isn’t planning to sell the drugs she obtains; she intends to use them all herself. Despite a dangerous situation involving Laurie and Rue breaking her word, the expected consequences don’t materialize, which feels like a letdown after the tension built up. Thankfully, season 3 will revisit the storyline with Laurie, suggesting some resolution to these unresolved issues.

Euphoria Is A Prime Example Of Style Over Substance

Rewatching Euphoria really highlights how much the show prioritizes visuals and music over a strong story and meaningful emotional depth. It’s beautifully shot and has an amazing soundtrack, but those elements don’t quite connect to a compelling or emotionally resonant core.

While Euphoria shows flashes of insightful storytelling – particularly in the early stages of Rue and Jules’ connection and the complex backstory of Nate – it often prioritizes style and visual appeal over substantial meaning.

2026-03-07 16:10