After a four-year hiatus, the new season of Euphoria has returned to mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. The show’s five-year time jump has proven particularly divisive. Some viewers are in support of the more gritty, adult themes. Others feel that creator Sam Levinson has traded the show’s emotional core for “shock factor”.
Arguably more grotesque than previous seasons, Euphoria has pushed the limits since its initial release in 2019. Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard, is, as always, the centre of much controversy. A shot of the character in a baby costume posing for OnlyFans has left viewers outraged, to name but one of the controversial scenes.
The long-awaited third season comes following the exit of a number of well-loved characters, including Barbie Ferreira’s Kat, Storm Reid’s Gia and Javon Walton’s Ashtray. The untimely deaths of several cast members. Eric Dane, who played Cal Jacobs and Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, who have both passed since the second season, cannot be ignored.
Their absence has left a hollow feeling, in the final season.
Only the first three episodes of the new season have been released to the press so far, yet the reviews are shockingly negative, averaging a mere two stars.
At its peak popularity, this show played an important role in making teenagers feel seen. After experiencing the trauma of COVID-19 and the lockdowns, many young people found it difficult to connect with their peers and express their feelings. Euphoria seemed to understand them. The opening sequence of the pilot episode alluded to growing up in America post 9/11; something that young audiences felt to their core.
Although it had always borne similarities to several predecessors, namely Skins, Euphoria was considered as a pioneering show, one that displayed the realities of teenage life. These same people, now in their 20s, are tuning in again to watch, and some say they felt both disgusted and uncomfortable.
“I absolutely hated it!” said one viewer. “I felt very disturbed by it.”
Others were less negative but still not overly enthusiastic.
“I didn’t like it, but it wasn’t catastrophic.”
Some cited excitement as a motivation for watching it, having watched the previous seasons. A sizeable amount of those surveyed said that although they liked Euphoria before, after having seen the conversations about the new season online they have decided not to watch it, as it didn’t align with their values.
Having watched the newest episode in preparation for this article, I, like many others, was left feeling somewhat disappointed. The fond memories of watching it as a teenager are no longer enough to sustain interest. As a European, America’s “gross factor” in their TV and film have always been a bit disturbing, but now I feel it is getting even more extreme.
Nonetheless, it seems that despite the backlash, Euphoria is still a must-watch for many viewers.