Euphoria: Season 2 Review

Written by ALEX ROEDER

Illustrated by ALEX ROEDER

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED and adored second season of HBO’s Euphoria was an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish. Over the course of the season we witnessed almost every character go off-the-rails crazy and were introduced to some of our favorite and most despised couples. From the very start, the audience was gripped by the ever-questionable choices, flashy outfits, and gorgeous cinematography. Here we will examine all my euphoric opinions on this insane season.

I will admit—I was not a true Euphoria stan before season 2’s release. I had watched and enjoyed the first installment, but the show often left me feeling uneasy and uncomfortable in a way I did not appreciate. However, during this season it became a ritual to sit down on every Sunday at 9 p.m. with my roommates, loaded with snacks, ready to gasp, cry, and scream at the characters.

I think what made this season different for me was the way that the writers leaned into the instability of every character. Last season there were enough realistic scenes included that the over-the-top parties and graphic substance abuse felt a bit out of reach for high school characters. But this season it felt like a deliberate choice on the part of the producers to make the show so unrealistic that in a way it kept me grounded to reality. Sure, there were tender moments and scenes that mirrored a real-life example of what a drug addict or struggling family might look like, but for the most part it was as if the writers took every flaw in the characters’ brains and turned them up to eleven.

Sitting outside of this chaos is the character of Maddy Perez. I really enjoyed her arc this season. She was witty, relatable, and just the right amount of bitchy all the way through. Anytime she appeared on screen, I could count on her for a somewhat level-headed take on what was going on (in some ways she served as an audience stand-in, voicing many of my own thoughts while watching the show). The same can be said for Suze Howard and Fezco, who consistently made me cackle and smile way too big.

As far as cinematography, outfits, and makeup, season 2 blew my expectations out of the water. Every choice was beautifully done and had so much meaning. If you are like me and do not know much about film, TikTok was a huge help in dissecting these aspects of the show. This online engagement and analysis in turn made me even more invested in each episode.

Overall, if you are looking for a bingeable, well-done show, I highly recommend Euphoria. Trigger warning—this show is graphic in every way. I suggest that you have a watch buddy that you will not get too embarrassed around, because I certainly needed it. But, if you can make it through the painful scenes, you won’t regret it.