TV-Show Review - Euphoria (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2022
Starring: Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alanna Ubach, Austin Abrams   

Description: A look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues of drugs, sex and violence.

Review: Cinematically stunning and thematically heartbreaking. Season one of “Euphoria” became one of the most celebrated Gen Z drama series on HBO, effectively getting under the skin of its audience with its raw, taboo-breaking nature. Whether the second season can get you just as high two and a half years later?
The 25-minute opening scene makes clear that this season is going to be a rollercoaster of drugs, mistaken encounters, high-stakes emotions and personal tragedies. Zendaya, who with her portrayal of the destructive Rue is the youngest actress to win an Emmy for “Best Lead Role in a Drama Series”, had previously revealed that this season would be a unch in the gut. And she didn’t lie, as the characters find themselves in even more intense situations and downwards spirals in this second season, which only makes theme more disillusioned with life. It is sometimes anything but easy to watch.
Hope, romance and happy endings are for another round. Although, thankfully, a touch of lightheartedness or an absurdly humorous moment is never far away. interludes that somehow always seem to be accompanied by the showing of a penis. Knowing that the creators of “Euphoria” have created with the series a world, which does not so much want to reflect on reality, but rather the emotional world of teenagers. I am especially relieved that this sequel managed to maintain all the best, ugly, confrontational and progressive of the series and at the same time lift the whole story to unexpected, unprecedented and compelling heights. And that it again managed to keep the clichés that teen dramas usually attract at bay for the most part.

My favorite part of this second season is that Lexi is given a much bigger role. She is the character that I like and relate to the most and I think Maude Apatow did a fantastic job this season. And Zendaya, yet again, is the scene stealer. Especially in episode 5, that one scene is magnificent and I wouldn't be surprised of she takes home yet another Emmy. 
I loved this season of “Euphoria”, just as much as the first. It’s a shocking series, not for the tender-hearted. I somehow always enjoy other people’s misery, in film and TV-show form that is. Not in real life.

TV Show Review - Euphoria

Season: 1
Genre: Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2019
Starring: Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney

Description: A look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues of drugs, sex and violence.

Review: “Euphoria” is perhaps the most discussed series of 2019. The controversies surrounding the scene with the many penises, or the many drugs used in the series that seems to be about seventeen-year-olds, stirred the emotions in America. And yes, nothing could be further from the truth. All this is definitely in “Euphoria”. But what an intensely good series this is.
“Euphoria” follows Rue, a problematic teenager who has trouble with drugs, her mental health and life in general. Zendaya, who plays Rue, shines in this role and proves that she is much more than one of the many Disney child stars. “Euphoria” reflects on the world and is not afraid to show it explicitly. It may scare some people off, but I found it enlightening.
I don’t want to delve too much into the actual story, because you really have to experience it for yourself. Each episode is ushered in by a monologue by Rue. These monologues give more depth to the many characters we follow and set the tone for the rest of the episode. And you learn how that person is the way he or she is now.
“Euphoria” is filled with provocative elements. I was constantly thinking about the fact how and why these teenagers are having so much sex and do drugs. They didn’t feel like seventeen-year-olds. But I guess it’s a new generation and a lot of it isn’t that far from the truth now.
Story-wise “Euphoria” is really strong, but also technically. The cinematography is great and the soundtrack gives the series an extra boost.
There are a few plot points that should have been explained a bit more, but maybe this will happen in the second season. “Euphoria” excels in the scenes where the drugs are in play, for example the scene in the first episode where Rue us walking around a hallway. The last scene of the season was cinematographic excellence and really ended it on a high note.
“Euphoria” is enlightening. It looks at the boundaries and consciously steps over it. It makes you think and it confronts. You love it or hate it, you might find it exaggerated. But even then you can’t ignore the fact that the technique and cinematic aspect of “Euphoria” is impressive. I’m indeed curious about a second season.