Euphoria Season 3 Review: A Disappointing Departure from Its Roots
Launching the careers of stars like Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney, HBO's Euphoria excelled in its first two seasons as a relentlessly explicit teen drama. Peering into the disturbed lives of middle-class suburban teenagers, Sam Levinson's series overwhelmed audiences in the best way possible. The deal was simple: strap into this rollercoaster of rampant drug abuse and hypersexualisation in a world that has failed young people, and prepare to be entertained. However, despite high expectations for the release of season three, this latest installment has not only lost its way; it has become a bizarre parody of its former self.
A New Chapter with Familiar Faces
Picking up the action five years after season two, Rue, portrayed by Zendaya, works as a drug mule across the Mexican border, smuggling golf-ball sized wrappers of cocaine in her stomach before landing a job for strip club owner Alamo, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Nate, played by Jacob Elordi, struggles as a construction business owner to pay for his obscenely expensive wedding to Cassie, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney, who flirts with the idea of becoming an OnlyFans star. Rounding out the cast, Jules, played by Hunter Schafer, works as a high-profile escort, while Lexi, portrayed by Maude Apatow, tries out a career in the TV industry.
On the surface, this updated storyline sounds as though it should be interesting, especially for fans of the previous seasons. However, the transfer across to the world of adulthood falls short of its own high expectations. A far cry away from the days when these characters could bump into each other down the school corridor, their new separate lives and the rather clumsy attempts to link them back together feel tired and artificial.
Key Details and Plot Points
Euphoria Season 3 follows the characters as young adults navigating life after high school. The season centers on Rue managing debt to Laurie in Mexico, an engaged Cassie and Nate living in the suburbs, Jules in art school, and Lexi navigating Hollywood. Starring Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, and Chloe Cherry, the season consists of 8 episodes available on Sky, NOW, and HBO Max.
Cassie and Nate's story, in particular, feels like it walks down a heavily-trodden path as they clash over her potential OnlyFans career. Not only do their conversations lack anything new or interesting to say about the industry, but it feels at odds compared to where we last left off in season two, when Cassie appeared so infatuated with Nate that money did not matter. Now, she is enraged at not being able to have $50,000 worth of flowers at their wedding. At one point, Cassie's character is told how she is a 'big fish in a small pond,' and this analogy perfectly captures the series' current state.
Loss of Drama and Authenticity
When the storyline was set back in high school, all of these characters' stories felt huge and dramatic, highlighted by Zendaya's groundbreaking performance as a self-sabotaging drug addict. But here, in this strange Western cowboy re-framing of the story, where neo-Nazis accidentally lace ecstasy with fentanyl, what made them once so fascinating has been lost, and with it, any and all drama has been sucked out. Whereas the previous two seasons effortlessly glided between each character and storyline, everything feels so melodramatic and unnatural in this latest season.
Verdict and Final Thoughts
The start of Euphoria season 3 certainly has its moments, but this latest installment strangely lacks any real bite. It is like Euphoria with all of its teeth taken out. Zendaya's performance revealing Rue's struggles is a shining light in this disappointing return. Hunter Schafer, similarly, as Jules provides hope for the remaining episodes as each of the characters' lives begin to become intertwined, which is when the show has previously been at its best.
It would also be unfair to say that this series is not at times entertaining. Even if the lines that this star-studded cast are saying feel contrived, the likes of Elordi, Sweeney, and Schafer are absolute superstars, and it is great to see them back on TV. Additionally, there are some moments of humour throughout, despite them at times being demented. Sam Levinson behind the camera clearly has an eye for oddball, quirky characters, and his vision for these bizarre, surrealist moments, coupled alongside his stunning cinematography, is at times magnetic.
But for every step forward that this season takes, it feels like there is a misplaced moment, unsure of what it actually wants to say, just waiting around the corner. Previous seasons have been slow towards the beginning, so there is a chance that a stunning finale could save the day. But even with strip club cowboys and dicey business adventures, I cannot help but feel like this latest outing, which is believed to be the last, is forced and unnatural. Season 3 of Euphoria premieres this April on Sky, NOW, and HBO Max.
