REVIEW: Euphoria

By Jailyn R.

Many schools around the world face the same problems. Students might struggle with addiction, mental health or problems within their families.Students at AHS are no exception. Many of our teenagers can likely relate to dealing with these problems or have friends or are struggling internally with these same problems. 

One television show, albeit fictional, which also addresses some of these issues and which many students of AHS like to watch is Euphoria, which follows a troubled teenage girl called Rue. Even after six years of its release, Euphoria still remains iconic, and with the third season finally being released soon, it is fresh on many fans’ minds.  

On the show, we follow Rue through a journey to find her place in the world, her struggles to remain sober, and reconnect with her past relationships after leaving rehab. In my opinion, Euphoria is one of the best TV shows for teenagers like myself who can watch to know they are not alone through the struggles that we have in our lives. 

Firstly,  the TV show has a relatable portrayal of teen issues like addiction and mental health. Rue throughout the TV series primarily deals with her struggles by indulging into pills, drugs, or anything that can numb her pain, but during that she attempts to get sober. This shows realistically how difficult recovery can be to an addict.  Other characters also show a relatable portrayal of teen issues. Cassie, for instance, deals with low self-esteem, body image issues, and suicidal thoughts due to the tramua from her childhood. In addition, Jules, who is Rue's best friend. She is transgender teen, and is also an empathetic,creative, free-spirited, and compelling person. But during the course of the show she navigates being a young transgender person. While dealing with anxiety, depression, and the trauma from her past. Throughout the show there are  more characters shown that deal with their own issues.

Secondly are the soundtracks. Two specific moments in the show where music is used especially vividly are when  Rue actually sings two of the songs, like “All For Us” and “I’m Tired.” In the song “All For Us” the lyrics say “No food in the kitchen (famine, famine), Money MIA (pockets hell-a empty), Momma making ends meet (making ends meet), Working like a slave, (Mississippi, aye-aye), Daddy ain't at home, no (father, father).”  Rue is singing this song one line at a time, with a slow paste. During this part of the song Rue is singing the extreme sacrifices that are made for love, like her mom sacrificed her entire life just to raise her two daughters even if they don't have a lot. Another moment where music is used in a really powerful way is when Rue sings, “I don't wanna win, Let it take me, let it take me, I'll be on my way.” These lyrics are from “I’m Tired” by Zendaya. While singing the song we see that Rue's struggles have been compromised, and we are now uncertain about what the future holds for her. Rue sings these songs in a low place, which contemplates her mindspace during the duration of the TV show. Her mindset during this song is her not wanting to live anymore because she was tired of the trials in her life. They show her battle against her mental health has taken control of her. 

Lastly, its excellent camerawork and cinematography. The camerawork and cinematography work together to create a dynamic kinetic style that uses lighting, camera movement, and the unique framing of the characters emotional states between reality and fantasy. This was shown where Rue had taken pills during a party. It showed her state of mind in a blur, she had a vision of her and Jules living a happy life that she wanted.  The camera angles are used to show long and complex shots that show a type of emotional realism, chaos, and a dreamlike quality. That can help watchers understand the emotional state that the characters are in. Or what the thought process can be for the characters.

I wanted to know what professional critics say, so here’s what I found online. According to Tim Goodman, a tv critic at The Hollywood Reporter said "An early career-defining performance from Zendaya, who is an absolute revelation here; a similarly fantastic breakout performance from trans actress and model Hunter Schafer in her first major role; and strong work from Levinson, who created, wrote and directed (five of the eight episodes), getting the vehicle that emphatically announces his arrival.”

Another professional critic from the Ricard Roeper, a former columnist and film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times said “By the end of episode 4, some of the parallel storylines in “Euphoria” begin to cross paths, sometimes in stunning fashion. If the second half of this story is as compelling as the first, this will end up being one of the best limited series of the year.”

Overall, I give Euphoria 9 out 10 stars. I understand how it has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, One Golden Globe, and numerous other awards. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a drama, thriller elements, and how the series drives into the impact that trauma has on a person. Even if a few years have passed, Euphoria will remain one of the most iconic TV shows of all time that teenagers will watch.