If your high school experience was anything like mine, then you remember the Euphoria obsession that had a chokehold on us all. While I do not really recall the release of season one, which came out in the summer of 2019, I definitely remember season two. Released in 2022, during my junior year, the excitement of each weekly episode release was intense, and there was even talk of a Euphoria themed prom (this brilliant idea was quickly shut down by the school administration). The show was especially hard-hitting for us as we were all the same age as the characters, albeit I hope not going through quite the same issues.
For those of you who haven’t watched the show or just forgot what it was about, this drama initially focuses on Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a teenager plagued by drug addiction and hoping to return to her life after a stint in rehab. She soon meets a new girl, Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer), who is going through her own period of self-discovery. This, unfortunately, includes some weird and unhealthy relationships with older men. The two become entangled with a popular football player, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), when they realize Jules has hooked up with his dad. There are also other East Highland High students: Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie), who is Nate's girlfriend, Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney), Maddy’s best friend, Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow), Cassie’s sister and Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira), another friend. And of course, Rue’s drug dealer Fezco (Angus Cloud) also plays a pivotal role in the story.
The first two seasons center around Rue’s struggle with her addiction and the web of connections between the many characters as they build and break friendships. Season two definitely gets darker as the characters face more adult problems, especially with narcotics. Both seasons somewhat shockingly display themes like sexuality exploration, trauma, mental health issues and toxic relationships. If anyone has not already watched and is looking to dive in, please review the trigger warnings first. The first two seasons were both pretty big hits, with the second season making the show the second most popular HBO show at the time of its release, only behind Game of Thrones. It also marked the beginning of fruitful careers for many of the actors who soon rose in fame, especially for Sydney Sweeney following the second season.
Season three is set to start releasing April 12 on HBO Max, with one episode coming out every Sunday for eight weeks. This season will center on the same beloved characters from seasons one and two, now long past high school. In the first two seasons, the characters were in their junior year of high school, so they faced the typical and also not-so-typical trials and tribulations of adolescence. The new season is set five years later, so we can assume that a lot will have changed, but perhaps much will have also stayed the same.
As for the actors in season three, Barbie Ferreira and Angus Cloud are not returning. Unfortunately, Cloud died in July 2023 due to an accidental overdose. Euphoria will not be the same without his character. Ferreira says she has chosen to distance herself from the character of Kat because she felt like the show framed her too much as the “fat best friend,” and she did not want to perpetuate that stereotype. We can look forward to returns from the other main actors, many of whom have had significant acting experience and fame since the first two seasons. While popular before Euphoria, Zendaya has become more widely known for her roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune. Jacob Elordi has also taken on acclaimed roles in Saltburn and the more recent Wuthering Heights. Sydney Sweeney and Hunter Schafer have achieved similar fame and growth in their acting careers. With their development and experiences, these actors could bring added depth to their characters and new takes on their roles.
In the trailer for season three, it appears that Rue is still involved with drugs and is perhaps in even more danger than before. Cassie and Nate are now engaged, though the relationship seems strained, with Cassie making adult content online. Maddy, Lexi and Jules all appear to be pursuing their own endeavors as a talent agent, assistant to a showrunner and art student. Based on the trailer, I am sure we can expect just as much drama in this new season as in the first two seasons. What better way to ring in a new week than with a salaciously scandalous Sunday-night special?
Emma Robinson is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
