The following may contain spoilers.
Euphoria Sundays are back, but the glitter is stored away and high school is long over.
The third season of the Emmy-winning HBO show premiered Sunday, more than four years after the finale of season 2. The season will have eight episodes total, released weekly.
The show follows Rue, played by Zendaya, a recovering drug addict struggling with sobriety. Her friendship circle is drama-infused as their personal journeys clash with one another. They all dress in metallic glam meant to symbolize the high of drugs.
The moody, purple aesthetic the show is known for has vanished. Can the third season stand as its own creation, or will it fall flat?
Season 3’s first episode, titled “Ándale,” starts at a five-year time jump from the second season, with the characters now in their early twenties.
The second season left off with Rue sober but owing thousands of dollars to her drug dealer. In the Season 3 premiere, Rue is already in a mess, a staple for the character. She still owes money, which has accrued millions in interest, and she devotes her time to repay it.
A new theme in her character arc is religion, something that can be expected to develop within the season. She still has a relationship with Ali, her addiction sponsor, and their scene together most closely resembled the old Euphoria aesthetic.
The absence of Labrinth, the British singer-songwriter who composed Euphoria’s music for seasons one and two, was deafening. In its place, the music was western, which fell in line with the aesthetic of the first episode.
The sets are in the desert, tumble weeds are floating by and revolving pistols make an appearance. While some may find the aesthetic less colorful than previous seasons, it was a smart tactic to show the nitty-gritty world of drug smuggling.
The change in the atmosphere and look of the show feels like “Breaking Bad.” The hour-long episode wasn’t very exciting, but it set up for a lot to unpack later.
Viewers also got a glimpse of what the other main characters have been up to.
When we last saw them, Nate had just turned in his father to the police, and Maddy warned Cassie she is only in the beginning of a toxic relationship with Nate. Rue and Jules went their separate ways. Lexi found confidence in herself. Fez’s house was raided moments before he planned to leave for Lexi’s play, and as a result, his brother Ashtray was killed, and Fez was taken by the cops.
Now, Maddy and Lexi have made their way into Hollywood, kind of. They are in the shadows of the productions and runways.
I don’t know what was more disturbing — Cassie’s scenes foray into pet play or Nate pulling up in a Cybertruck. It's apparent both characters haven’t changed too much in the time jump.
Angus Cloud, who portrayed Fez, passed away due to an accidental overdose a year after season two concluded, which left his beloved character’s fate in question.
Though Fez and Jules were physically missing from the first episode, there was an update as to their whereabouts. The showrunners confirmed the character Fez would return in the show through phone calls. Director Sam Levinson said he wanted to keep him alive in some way. The most anticipated couple in the series were Fez and Lexi. The first time he was brought up in her scene was gut-wrenching.
Some scenes were too disturbing to be justified, like one involving Faye and a dog. Euphoria is known for making the audience uncomfortable, but it was too much.
New characters are introduced, like the strip club owner Alamo and the actor Dylan Reid, who are both set up to have bigger roles in the following episodes.
Overall, it doesn't look like a flop. I went in with the intention to treat it like a rebrand. I expected to hate it, but alas, I will be seated next Sunday.
Rue’s journey is the most intriguing part of the show, and she seems most like the version of her character the audience knew before.
This season needs an open mind to be enjoyed. It may be best to think of it as an entirely new show — the old Euphoria will never come back.
Contact Teia Williams at twilliams@alligator.org. Follow her on X @teia_williams.
Teia Williams is a journalism student and in her second semester at The Alligator. She is a lifestyle and general assignment for The Avenue. In her free time she is constantly reading, going to concerts, or talking about her favorite celebrities.
