Euphoria: A Teen Drama Case Study

[@TVChild3]

Euphoria feels different because it’s a teen drama in name only. Unlike other teen dramas, Euphoria isn’t aimed at teenagers (it’s on HBO, and it’s R-rated.) Therefore, the budget is way higher because it’s aimed at a more mature audience that would be more demanding, and the writing doesn’t remotely try to appeal to teenagers (the fact that Rue seems to address an adult audience when she narrates, since she talks about teenage issues as if she was describing them to people who she believes can’t relate). If anything, Euphoria was conceived as a portrait of today’s teens for today’s adults.

[@petrauhrakova]

I completely agree with you, but I still don’t know if it’s just a cultural thing or if it really works like that. I’m from Europe and I was 20 when the first season came out. And I remember asking people on TikTok if teens/schools in the US are just like they portray it on Euphoria. Some of them said that the thing with drugs and partying is kinda true, but other than that, it’s not really realistic. I’m 22 now and after watching the second season, I feel like it would be better if they were at least juniors in college, cuz I can’t imagine 17 y.o. in my country doing all the stuff they’re doing.

[@GameChanger-xi4iy]

It's not an accurate representation at all lol. No one takes this much drugs in hs and the drama is still exaggerated like many other teen/hs shows.

[@queerlibtardhippie9357]

Euphoria is aimed at teens and young adults. Just because Rue talks about teenagers in third person doesn't change that... The kid from Diary of a Wimpy Kid does the same shit and he's in middle school. A lot of modern teenage movies and shows do that actually. The teenager who is edgy and slightly smarter than everybody else is the narrating protagonist. Daybreak on Netflix. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Idk why people think that because it's a show about drugs means it was for 30 year olds like breaking bad lmfao. You can tell the difference.

[@TVChild3]

@@queerlibtardhippie9357 The characters in Scott Pilgrim aren’t teenagers and the narrator is omniscient, so, obviously, terrible example. And Euphoria is literally not aimed at teenagers, none of the other examples you gave are rated R. Just because something is about teens and teens watch and like it doesn’t mean it’s made for them. Larry Clark’s Kids wasn’t made for kids. 🙄 And I never said anything about the fact that it’s about drugs. That has nothing to do with the rating. Plenty of teen shows talk about drugs.

[@violetfolgi]

I think the show can be accurate in most things about what teenagers do. there are plenty of teenagers who had experiences like these relating to drugs sex and addictions in hs, the thing is, most just... don't. So of course it strikes as odd in shows when we're only shown the lives of the teens who do get into all of these things and dramas because it makes it seem as it's all that *all* of them are doing. but of course it's a tv show so they're not gonna focus on the rest of the kids who don't really get tangled up (at least to the extent euphoria portraits) with all of these experiences, which in reality is usually the majority of teenagers.

[@theyoutubeanalyst3731]

do you remember the first time Rue tries fentanyl? Rue being all drugged, with Mouse trying to touch her, and her clearly not aware of anything, saying "I'm so happy" with an effed up face... That's the best drug PSA I've ever seen.

[@shaftomite007]

Fuckin Mouse is terrifying

[@paolita9618]

There truly is nothing like your teenage years. Everything is amplified by 100% and you start to feel the weight of the traumas of your childhood, and cope in ways that highlight the belief that you’re invincible. Looking back on that time in my life, it’s like watching the characters on Euphoria. Like, I lived it but it’s so far from what I am now and how I would handle certain situations. My life is also nowhere near as dramatic and magical as I thought it was when I was 17. I think the show is really meant for adults to ponder on that time in their lives

[@lmaoaims]

That’s such an interesting take. I never thought abt it like that

[@simpforkeqing3997]

just because your life wasn't crazy doesn't mean everyone else's wasn't either. I'm in high school and this show many characters that remind me of teens I know irl.

[@paolita9618]

@@simpforkeqing3997 never said my life wasn’t ‘crazy’! It was messy and chaotic in its on way, maybe not to a Rue or Cassie extent but certainly not innocent either. I realize there are many teens like this, I was more so just making an observation that some of the most exaggerated parts are maybe meant to be interpreted as us making things more ethereal in order to feel better/cope with certain situations

[@kianna270]

honestly it flashes me back to Hs ans all the fucked up situations i got into pretending to be grown or acting like an adult. so many of the situations in euphoria were so relatable to my life as a teenager and really makes me look back, it’s bittersweet. reminds me of the fun times as a teenager with little to no actual responsibility, and also reminds me of the hardest times of my life at the time that shaped me into who i am now. teenager years are so nostalgic for me to look back on, even the hard times.

[@privacymatters6023]

Pretty people doing anything bad is seen as glamorizing. The scene of Rue ODing was heavy and scary. Just because the cinematography is beautiful, the actors are cute and the styling is incredible doesn’t mean it glamorizes DRUGS. Oh brother.

[@AW-xc1xc]

Right? It's clearly shown how Rue's drug addiction severely damages her relationship with family and friends, makes her behave like a completely different person who makes bad desicions, and nearly causes her to die. If there were no consequences of the drug use in the show, then it would be a whole other story - but in Euphoria there definitly is.

[@quanganhle6148]

Yes. This. I’ve been waiting for this. I’m just done with comments “Euphoris glamourizing blabla”. I don’t even want to explain.

[@matthewfors114]

@@quanganhle6148 yeah but the point is kids misunderstand and because sometimes things that have all those neon colors are used to glamorize something they mistakenly think the show is doing that as well. i say change nothing about the show and lets do a better job at home and school giving younger kids better critical thinking skills

[@valka_zapalka]

@@matthewfors114 yes but the show is not meant for kids, it’s R-rated. Producers can’t control who is watching their shows no matter the precautions, parents can’t always be in control of what their children are doing on the internet, but that’s not a reason for people to not make the art they want to.

[@nithi9638]

@@matthewfors114 did you miss the part where the show is r rated? And if yoire talking about older teens most of the people i know who've watched euphoria were scared off from drugs. Show does an incredible job of showing drugs through an addicts eyes while contrasting it to the really bitter reality. It wouldn't be as effective without the stylistic choices.

[@RamenzillaX]

I rarely use the word "triggering", but I'm kind of shocked at how genuine the portrayal of being young and messy is....while I may never have been addicted to pills, definitely had days where I drank way too much and made bad decisions, had very little confidence and resistance to toxic people, etc. We all make mistakes and grow but seeing it on screen struck a cord with me in a way that was very uncomfortable and unsettling....and I think that's partially the point!

[@W0ndaze]

Many scoff at it for being unrealistic... Especially the drug use. Me: not your experience then 😅

[@anacamila8223]

@@W0ndaze ik like personally it isn’t my experience, but there’s a lot of people who have gone through stuff like this so saying it isn’t realistic is just 😬😬

[@anakilleen6605]

my roommate/best friend ended up in the psych ward for 2 weeks in 2020 for an overdose, and said that one of the main driving factors to even start taking pills was that she had just watched euphoria and thought all the drug usage was super cool. she hadn’t watched euphoria since then (also had been clean for over a year) but a week ago me and her started rewatching the first season and then a day later she relapses and steals her grandma’s pills. i definitely think this show is triggering at the very least, now i don’t want to watch the show with my roommate for fear of her relapsing again

[@kali7055]

@@W0ndaze Those who scoff at it for being unrealistic, cannot seem to fathom experiences outside of their own. What is unreal for one person can sadly be very real for another. I‘ve witnessed many people in real life (In highschool) go through the struggles that Euphoria characters did, so seeing it on screen felt very personal and resonated with me. I too have fallen to bad influences and made mistakes. If you put the artistic shots, drama and extravagant costumes aside, Euphoria is the reality of what quite a few teens do go through

[@mokshgauri9099]

I think the show isn't exactly 'glorifying' drug use. Yes, there are hours of just rue snorting drugs, but what more emphasis is laid on is the aftermath, the horrifyingly heart wrenching consequences that each of them has to undergo once high. This is especially seen in the 2nd season VERY prominently. Though, I completely agree that there is a lot of uneccessary nudity. One of the realest teenage sows with excellently balanced writing and impeccable performances not only by Zendaya, but EVERYONE, even ashtray-That is what makes it stand out!

[@txchno4271]

the one scene where rue struggled to even open a twist wrap because of withdrawal was so incredibly uncomfortable to watch, and im honestly glad it was like that. it shows a lot about addiction to someone who has never experienced it before

[@kianna270]

and they show very realistic side effects of addiction. stealing , withdrawals, how addition makes a person unrecognizable, selling drugs to fund your habit, the family’s feelings and life changes that happen when they have a sister or daughter who’s addicted, and the friends who are trying to keep them clean & know more about their person lives then their families do. the portrayal of knowing someone who’s in active addiction is SPOT ON. i knew a lot of people who were addicted to opioids in HS, and the scenes in euphoria sometimes feel like i’m back in HS, helping my friends with their addiction, helping them get clean, it literally made me flashback to my first years of HS which was almost a decade ago for me. this show does not glorify anything, it shows the honest harsh reality of life as a teenager. it isn’t always pretty and teenagers often act like adults in their actions and get into very adult consequences.

[@vivalasammm]

i feel like anyone that finds Euphoria shocking clearly never watched Skins (UK) growing up. They're both realistic portrayals of all the terrible things that happen and can happen starting in your teenage years, some people just don't like to see it and that's okay. i honestly love both shows because i relate to the characters so deeply.

[@prariepryer3119]

100% or anyone who thinks this is groundbreaking because its never been done before. Skins did this years ago.

[@hanniav.g9015]

The only difference I would think is in the explicity in Euphoria vs Skins UK. Oh, and Skins US was bull.

[@ssissigui8846]

EXACTLY ! I just wrote it ! I watch SKINS (original version) when was 18 . A brilliant show. I think that Euphoria is for GEN Z what SKINs was for millennials

[@Sekyebes]

I loved skins and I think that’s why I love euphoria so much

[@davidb5205]

As someone who grew up with Skins, I think the similarities are superficial: both deal with teens who have sex and do drugs. That's it. I don't know how to put it, but Euphoria is more hyper-realistic yet more surreal than Skins ever was. Not just the cinematography or in the way it deals with drugs and sex, but the way it deals with emotions and identity. Most teen dramas, Skins included, tend to use these topics as shock value or essentialize/tokenize around a specific trait (e.g. compare Maxxy and Frankie's portrayal in Skins to Jules portrayal in Euphoria). Euphoria is refreshingly subtle AND blunt about many topics without it feeling heavy-handed.

[@nanasisilala]

i cant watch euphoria in its entirety because some of these topics actually happened to friends and me in high school and i’m actually genuinely traumatized from those years, but i watch it through commentary channels and it’s a weird feeling of thinking “ok so this does happen, even if it’s not right at least i didn’t go through this completely alone” I’m turning 21 in a month and especially in season 2 i’ve been feeling the pain 14-18 year old me had felt again but it’s like i have to feel that pain i pushed back years ago all over again so I can completely heal. it’s really weird

[@1DelaneyRenee]

relatable idk why i can’t watch it but i have to watch it through commentary channels

[@Heidijames111]

Yeah as someone that also experienced a lot of trauma at that point in my life and have constant trouble coping with it, I completely relate. This show is kind of therapeutic to me tho because it’s not my life but reminds me of being this lost and scared. Dealing with addiction, loss, etc.

[@Lockn3s5]

Yes, in order to heal from pain and trauma you must allow yourself to feel the pain completely and totally. Then you can move past it

[@dilaisy_loone2846]

I don’t really like when people label something as “unrealistic” and “glamorizing drugs” just because is being over dramatic. Since I was a freshman in high school, I’ve heard 14-18 yr old teen talk about sex like is the only focus of their life. I’ve been friend with people who go to those dating sites to meet with older man, one of my friends was recorded by a 26 yrold when she was 14. The only gay friend I had was always on dating sites, saying he was older and sleeping with older men because he had a lot of unresolved trauma. And my 2 coworkers have been telling me stories of their life as heavy drug African while they where in high school, and I’ve heard a lot of college students remember their high school years like that. Just because you never had this high school experience doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

[@khaleesi_cosima]

Exactly! I was one of those underage girls who was depending on the attention from older men online. I had friends who got drunk and high all the time, we had multiple sex scandals at my high school, and to read so many reviews/posts/comments criticizing the show for being unrealistic for showing those problems just irks me so much! Just because it isn’t relatable to someone in particular doesn’t mean it’s on the whole unrealistic. The things that happen on Euphoria aren’t just made up to make teens look edgy.

[@systemchangenotclimatechan9827]

you were lexi of your time

[@MimiTheHamster]

I must have had delayed adolescence because this show became more relatable in my 20s. I was sheltered and not allowed to grow up a teen so not until my bipolar diagnosis in my 20s did life become dark and strange. I feel left behind in a way because it feels like everyone is a decade ahead of me in life milestones but oh well

[@nicholejj]

Euphoria is my favorite show and I'm in my late 20s. I remember when I watched season 1, I thought to myself, "who is this for?" Because it's labeled as a "teen drama," yet its rating doesn't even allow teens to watch it. By now, I've realized that it's not really a teen drama; it's adults reflecting on and retelling their teenage stories. When you are a teenager, things feel like how Euphoria looks. Watching it as an adult invokes those feelings. Yet it also reminds you of the not so pretty times as well, the times when being a helpless teen where everything felt like the end of the world or the best thing to ever happen to you. And even now as an adult, I can still relate to a lot of the characters at my current age, rather than retroactively by remembering when I was a teen. The best thing about the characters and the reason why it's so relatable is that, even if you can't relate to the most surface level explanation of the characters, once you dig deeper and learn more about them, there's something at the core of each of the characters or a facet of their life that makes it possible for everyone to watch to relate to at least one or more of them.

[@zaza-jn5wf]

As a teenager, I like Euphoria because it's realism feels empathetic. Throughout highschool, I've sat through so many classes and awareness champagnes, which warn teenagers about the dangers of "sex and drugs". The only problem is that a lot ( not all) teenagers' already deal with those issues and are often scrutinized/ignored for it (instead of given help). Euphoria depicts those weird complicated issues. I've definitely met people who act like the characters in Euphoria and have similar problems, yet they get over looked as "bad kids".

[@iyaiiya-wawg3657]

That's what I was thinking

[@valka_zapalka]

It’s also sad that back in the days when I used to have these “sex and drugs” classes, no one warned me about the actual problems they bring. They act like babies and addiction are the worst thing about it… but in reality it is way scarier. And teens, being afraid to speak about what they’re going through, are in the greatest danger. Sadly, the same people who swore to protect them are the people who put tape over their mouths and made them afraid to talk about their struggles. Because sometimes you’ve already fucked up before you can think twice. And the bad looks from adults will be the same. That’s why I stayed silent. That’s why my friends stayed silent. And if you’re reading this and you or a friend of yours is going through something dangerous, please, don’t stay silent. There’s a small change of getting help, but small > none.

[@sammsiegel]

Incredible analysis. Euphoria captures something about being a teenager that nothing else I've watched has been able to. Sure, my high school experience looked nothing like this, yet I felt all of the same emotions that the characters are experiencing.

[@GoddesssofMind]

I’m 33 and I must say this show is ground breaking, very different than what my generation watched growing up. It’s so realistic it’s kinda scary. I’m so happy younger viewers can watch this, there needs to be more discussions on this. Very good video. Awesome.

[@carolinpurayidom4570]

\for me its not reealistic but then again i grew up sheltered

[@GoddesssofMind]

@@carolinpurayidom4570 I did too. Church 6 days a week until University. It’s realistic at my big age now bc I saw peers in my post collegiate life doing what the show shows and even having the same toxicity as some of the characters. But had I seen a show like this as a teen it would have prepared me that unfortunately some of my peers will fall victim to addiction.. it’s interesting to watch/ dissect..

[@ASM1228]

Yeah that’s why I think kids keep saying this show is unrealistic and overhyped…I just think they can’t relate to the stories, as overdramatize as some may be, it hits different when you’ve seen these types of people on real life.

[@GoddesssofMind]

@@ASM1228 yup exactly

[@arcaine3907]

go watch skins uk, it would be even more awesome for you because it was done in 00's. I'm 31 and skins have a very special place in my heart.

[@nizardelaskar7713]

Euphorbia is emotionally realistic , it's truly goes in depth of teens minds And the over of the Top execution in a brilliant way helps to deliver this emotional complexities of teens

[@thesanya.]

‘emotionally realistic’ is such a great way to describe the show because some scenes only very few can relate to but the emotions portrayed so are accurate for so many (similar) situations

[@babubabbb]

"the show producers are well aware that most kids dont go to school dressed up like this and with such extravagant makeup" i go to artschool and sometimes i forget there are schools with people that are actually normal

[@Tarikkb]

I feel like people just started calling the show “bad” or “worse compared to the 1st season “ only because the show got immense popularity , and when something is that popular. There are gonna be ppl criticizing it just to criticize it but I really like how the show is going

[@jazmin6973]

if u like it that's great but a ton of storylines were dropped, the flashy cinematography and fast paced scenes are gone, nothing anyone does has consequences anymore and it's %80 about Cassie and nate, a romance that wouldn't even exist if hunter didn't refuse to film with Jacob. don't act like people are criticizing it for no reason, it's totally different from s1.

[@Tarikkb]

@@jazmin6973 hunter refused to film with Jacob ? I know there are less storylines compared to season 1 but that’s not an indicator of a show or a story being bad , less storyline doesn’t equal bad , it’s how they tell the they story havethat matters not the quantity

[@jazmin6973]

@@Tarikkb well the story they're telling isn't good either😭 if s1 had a better storyline and more of them there's no good reason s2 shouldn't. and yes the same people leaking spoilers that turned out to be true said kat gets no screentime now because she pissed sam levinson off (allegedly didn't want to have an ED storyline) and allegedly hunter refuses to film with Jacob so now they replaced Nates storyline with Jules with Cassie

[@Tarikkb]

@@jazmin6973 I didn’t knew about hunter not wanting to shoot with Jacob, they post pics together and even had intimate scenes in the special episode , idk if I believe that , but I heard about the Kat storyline too , they cut out a lot of things I know , but the things they have rn aren’t bad either , last season there were a lot of side plots , this season there isn’t much , but that doesn’t mean what they’re showing is bad , rue’s withdrawal story was intense , Nate and Cassie story isn’t bad either , and lexi’s play storyline is also charming , the only down part is that maddie and kat just feel like extra’s but the season isn’t bad , to me

[@titan2k928]

@@jazmin6973 what exactly has been dropped? At least without quantifiable explanation? An entire ep is dedicated to Rue and a good chunk of the season too, a lot of the earlier stuff on Cal, and a lot of the later half of the season on Lexi. Nate and Cassie take up time but its not like the rest of the story isn’t making its course. The displacement of the flashy cinematography and fast pacing was on purpose and its works perfectly. The tone and atmosphere of the series has changed for the better because of these adjustments. I think the slower pacing really creates the tense moments, the intimate moments, and allows for shit to settle more, something I think s1 struggled with since it never took a second to just breathe. Hell I think the best episode of the series is Rue’s special episode because it was just a singular slow burn conversation where we were given a chance to further explore two of the series most compelling characters in Rue and Ali. But regardless of all of that, most of the hate for s2 isn’t even related to the points you stated, most of them are genuinely people hating because its popular or not exactly the same as s1.

[@shaftomite007]

RIP Ashtray. Stay golden, Ashtray.

[@nataliaperez6203]

People criticise the show for not being “realistic” when riverdale and 13 reasons why exist….

[@kianna270]

lmao literally. those shows are a little more unrealistic.

[@McCammalot]

I keep thinking of what the show runners have said: That they are not showing you people you should emulate, they are showing you broken, flawed people to see how far your empathy extends when you know what broke those people. Even if they are never redeemed. I find my own empathy varying per character, and it's fascinating to think about *why*, including subjective events from my own life that colors how I see certain characters differently than others, and why other watchers approach it very differently. I love it.

[@wille4986]

So what do we need to do to get you making more analysis more often? Your consideration and comparisons are just fantastic!

[@danidkg4071]

even if the show has a LOT of problems, i still love it. the second season has been messy in certain parts and the treatment of barbie ferreira by sam levinson is very questionable, but the show still hits hard. my biggest problem with the show is all the nudity. and sex scenes. i get why some scenes are there for realism or showing how the characters relate to sex, but do we really need to see them naked so much? the actress of cassie, sydney sweetey, had to ask sam levinson to reduce her amount of nude scenes. so did the actress of fay.

[@itsamiamario69]

Truly fantastic video. Was fully expecting to see this had hundreds of thousands of views, it deserves it!

[@magblogs]

Yes

[@Howie_vibeMaster]

I think euphoria is always riding the line of glorifying/ romanticizing the stuff they depict in the show, but I think they add enough consequences for the character to make it seem real, this show made scared to even look at drug let alone take any

[@shaziasaund2203]

I’m in my late 20s but euphoria is just crazy good. I loved every moment of it. I cried, laughted had goosebumps and even thinking about the music I feel like I wanna dance on it and fall in my own version of the world and love that those feelings.

[@sadoklajmi]

Yess thank u for addressing this subject of how the show walks a fine line between real n surreal in such a clear way👌

[@brianaibarra1234]

Checking in as the second season is more than halfway through. I think it is extremely interesting to see the progression of the drug use in the series. I think it is important to show the euphoric feeling people get with drugs to properly show the effect of withdrawal and why it has the effect it does on people. I completely agree! The portrayal is so honest.

[@petrauhrakova]

I watched the first season when I was 20, right when it came out. I was a freshman in college, also dealing with a lot of issues portrayed in the show and I couldn’t believe that this was all happening in high school, since I’m from Europe and the “teen/young adult social life” is slightly different from how they often portray it in movies and series from the USA. The show absolutely devoured me with how dark, dramatic and heavy the plot and stories often were, without feeling like it’s “too much” or “just for the sake of atmosphere”. It impressed me so much that I started asking people from the US on TikTok if it’s really like that in American high schools and how true it is according to their reality. Although I get that most shows are targeted for younger audience, it would be maybe better if it was all happening in college, since they’re all pretty mature and dealing with heavy topics, but either way, this show has a special place in my heart.

[@danielleshovlin5369]

I think anything can be glorified if that's where the viewers attention is. If I was ten years younger, I would definitely find the whole show to be an ideal vision of drug use. But I have the same reaction I had rewatching Skins, which was empathy and a little embarrassment for me younger self.

[@kaylituh]

hence why i believe people below the age of 16 shouldn’t watch Euphoria

[@urie4678]

exactlyyyyy

[@titan2k928]

@@kaylituh idk I always find that argument a tad off. I think especially with s2 harpering so heavily on how addiction is causing Rue to burn down all her bridges, lose the support of her family, progressively fry her brain, cause her to commit acts of robbery - vandalism - car accidents, its super hard to imagine anyone above the age of 14 being incapable of realizing how terrible the effects of drugs are.

[@kaylituh]

@@titan2k928 thats why 14 year olds shouldnt watch euphoria 😭

[@titan2k928]

@@kaylituh well I said ABOVE 14 and that the argument is a tad off, by right not so much yours since 15-16 is fine but some people act like 18+ is the only age group capable of using their brains enough to understand the message of the show.

[@guadalajara1998]

Lol i cannot remember a single time when these characters were studying or doing a project

[@TheAliceQuo]

I didn't know what this show was when I decided to watch it. I binged it all in a day because I couldn't bring myself to look away. So many of these scenarios I couldn't just relate to but it's stuff that I experienced myself or witnessed happening to friends in high school. After the end of season 1 I sat for about 10 minutes just thinking and then broke down crying for hours. It hit my so hard. I hadn't cried in years before that and it gave me an emotional cathartic release like nothing else I've experienced. I remember people calling it "over the top" and saying "teenagers don't do stuff like that". Yes they do. As was said in this video, they might not dress up like this, or wear such detailed makeup. But they 100% end up in these scenarios, feel these feelings, and make these kinds of mistakes.

[@FDHWB3A5T]

I can relate to the show and it has helped with getting sober. I'm a little older now, but many of the things the have happen I've been through while not in high school.

[@caIicomoon]

This was such a beautifully constructed video essay. Youve articulated my thoughts and feelings ive had about euphoria and deeply made me like the show even more! Thank you for crafting such a wonderful video

[@mynameismandis]

Its magical realism. Telling real emotions and set in the real world but shown through “magic” or a twist to express those emotions

[@sissiphos_]

I can’t believe this video has only about 3000 views! You deserve much more than that! This is amazing. So many cool thoughts! I never thought about it like that, it was so insightful. And also the editing and overall look is extremely great😍 Loved watching it, thank you! Also the „Til then“ in the end killed me. Great video!!

[@adamr8543]

As a 30 year old I find Euphoria deeply disturbing and unsettling but it's even more disturbing that my 16 year old niece and her friends watch it too.

[@tariqthomas9090]

Yeah it’s interesting. On one hand, teenagers watching content that is well out of their age range is pretty normal. On the other hand, there’s something about teenagers willingly watching frankly triggering and disturbing content like Euphoria that’s fascinating.

[@queerlibtardhippie9357]

@@tariqthomas9090 Kids literally were stabbing eachother in the 80s in elementary school. It's probably better to watch.

[@Twin.tinyyy]

Thank you!!! It’s good to hear it from a mum

[@injsctu]

I find it funny when people day “this show isnt realistic”, idk if its good that they think that because it means theyve never experienced it or its bad that they dont think its realistic

[@isaak1748]

This show really surprised me. I was expecting a bad coming of age series getting into it, but I was wrong. The story feels very realistic to me, maybe not in what's happening itself but the emotions that follow the events. I was a drug addict at the age of 15, and watching the show was very hard. I definitely ended up feeling terrible at the end of each episode for the simple fact that it brought back so many memories, some of them wich I didn't even remember. The scene where Rue gets asked about her summer yet she only has memories of her addiction and the impact it had on her family, just wow. It just reminds me of how guilty I constantly feel for the terrible damage I did to myself, my friends and my family while in active addiction, I understand Rue because when someone asks me about good memories in my teenage years, I have none because they are all related to my addiction and the horrible things that came with it. I think people always have the idea that the worst thing about addiction is that it gets people killed. But in reality the absolutely most horrible thing about it is witnessing how you're slowly losing yourself to the point where you don't recognize yourself anymore. Addiction makes you do things and puts you in situations that you never would've imagine you'd be in. This show portrays that perfectly. I think Rue is such a realistic character because opposite of what people think, she isn't homeless, she grew up in a good family yet she is struggling mentally. She also isn't popular. She is the exact same person as I was back then, just an average person who unfortunately got caught up in mental illness. I personally don't think this show is for everyone, it's definitely intense and hard to watch. But it's a very realistic portray of how it feels like to be a teenager addicted to drugs. I feel like most of the people who take issue with how addiction is portrayed, is people who haven't experienced addiction. Because I can say it's definitely very realistic.

[@olbiomoiros]

Euphoria is so well thought, it’s a work of art

[@anna2skadoo]

A masterpiece in my opinion. The show is so relatable. All the feels

[@katieflynn5526]

Love this video so much, I definitely agree with a lot! One thing I do want to add to the conversation is that Rue isn’t the only one struggling with addiction in the show. I think they did a great job portraying the state of addiction in this country and how it is viewed in America right now. Fentanyl is currently the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45. Thats a LOT of people. That’s not people dying from doing coke occasionally at parties. These are deaths from people who are buying drugs all the time, so much to the point where they’re running into fentanyl. Which is crazy to think that so many people are doing drugs so much that there’s a ridiculous amount of deaths solely from Fentanyl, that doesn’t even include how many people die from doing drugs in general. It doesn’t even count how many people die from alcoholism, which is also more serious than people realize. It’s one of the hardest addictive substances to come off of, and can actually kill you if you don’t detox under medical supervision. There are so many people who are going through addiction in this show but because Rue is the only one whose life is crumbling because of it, she’s the one people focus on as the addict. But Cassie and Lexi’s parents are both addicts, Cassie uses alcohol to cope with her stress so she may end up like her mom in the future, Elliot is an addict, Faye is an addict, obviously Ali as well, they just aren’t currently ruining their lives in the way Rue is. I think it shows perfectly how addiction is so overlooked unless an addict is at a point of completely destroying their life like Rue. People usually completely ignore addiction if the addict is still a functional member of society. The show does a great job of showing just how many people are addicts, and how most people don’t understand how addiction works and how complicated it is.

[@kianna270]

i wish people who stop trying to cancel tv shows for portraying the reality of life. suicide and drug use is a part of life and happens a LOT. they are some of people the leading causes of death in young adults so to not want to touch on these subjects and portray the reality of it all, is stunning to me. we NEED To be discussing these subjects and bringing awareness. there’s a reason that shows have a “trigger warning” in the beginning for things like suicide, drug use, etc. if you know you can’t watch someone using drugs without using them yourself, then you don’t need to be watching shows about drug use. same with suicide and drinking and all the other topics that people want to cancel shows for.

[@amandaaqui8890]

This video was so well written and you gave the depth needed to analyze Euphoria. I am really impressed!

[@stanjanssen1577]

Awsome video! Really high quality and I love your takes. I am looking forward to seeing more from you :)

[@rikkelomundal287]

on the topic on realism / unrealism.. Euprhoria doesn't portray reality the way we see it through our eyes, is portrays reality the way we feel it in our body, the way we feel it in our heart and mind. and that is what's makes this show so damn real

[@aphroditerr]

The narrator sounds so much like Zendaya at first I thought the video started with an excerpt of Euphoria’s narration

[@octopussquid1287]

see the problem comes when actual teens or even younger start watching this which is a huge thing, a friend of mine literally told me she wants to try drugs bc euphoria made them look so cool

[@pure9856]

I don't really know why but Euphoria is my favorite show, and I think it will be for ever

[@user-rr6sl7nb1p]

Period this tv show is basically one of the best things I’ve watched and I’ve watched a lot considering I’m in my early teens I relate to this tv show in quite the many ways it is straight up amazing only way this tv show glorifies addiction is if you watch it just for the aesthetic and don’t listen too it and unfortunately many many people watch it for the aesthetic t

[@zitronentee]

Some people are shallow enough accusing Euphoria glorifying drugs. Clearly, they didn't watch the show. The same with the show Lucifer was said as 'glorifying Satan'.

[@Zarakiiwii]

This entire video was on point and amazing. This was artfully done.

[@expirable]

Surprised freaks and geeks wasnt showed at the beginning because its the arguably best teen drama depicted on film thats aged well

[@egg-lady7899]

Your channel is so underrated, great breakdown. Super cohesive.

[@spoiledbleach]

i was here only for the euphoria topic, but now i think i'll stay on this channel for a while. the serve, the video sequence and the examples you gave were incredible! such a nice vid, ty

[@ellieprint]

love how you used lorde’s caption and melodrama as references. melodrama is like literally the musical equivalent of euphoria, both have same themes, concept and emotional layers.

[@elijohnson8283]

You do a really fantastic job. I think you're gonna blow up here pretty soon. Thanks for the excellent content

[@nikolkuhar8127]

Euphoria feels different in season 2 because director wanted season 2 feel like sunrise, morning and awakening, while season one was nightfall, dark, falling. And I think that is beautiful. That's why season 2 was filmed on film while first digital. Kodak put film in produce just for euphoria, you can not buy it.

[@crtzy9626]

Even my sister who hates teen dramas, but now once I showed euphoria to her she said she loved it

[@Dexxxtroyer]

Im a 45 year old who absolutely loves this show. There's just something to it that I get drawn into. This video kinda explained it. ❤️

[@kianna270]

i absolutely love this video! took me awhile to get into euphoria but i’m glad i started watching it. it really makes me feel like i’m 16 again, doing a bunch of dumb shit and dealing with a lot of similar problems. people say the show is unrealistic but of course it’s tv and a lot of things are dramatized, but a lot of the major plot lines were definitely things i dealt with in HS. i knew plenty of people addicted to opioids, and saw some horrible things in my first few years of HS. i knew girls who were sleeping with older guys and sneaking around to do so. and of course underage drinking and drug use is very typical to start experimenting with in high school. the show portrays them as almost adults bc that’s how teenagers feel!!! you feel unstoppable and already like an adult sometimes towards the end of HS (of course you graduate, and realize you’re a baby ans knew nothing). i think euphoria is really realistic with added crazy elements like their outfits, some of the crazy scenes, etc. but it is VERY realistic to my HS experience, at least for me.

[@uchihabomber1296]

It really is a different blend of a teen drama somehow and it’s not so depressing or serious which is fun

[@huggymchug]

One of the things I love about Euphoria is it shows why someone would want to do drugs, be in a shitty relationship etc etc. It makes it way more realistic, especially since a lot of stories would either prefer to focus on the suffering and let an audience without first hand experience not understand how the character could make those stupid choices. Drugs are fun, abusive relationships have moments that make you stay, and those aspects need to be portrayed for accuracy.

[@luigiboyinblu]

I disagree with most of the points established in the video. Regarding the characters and how does the show portray teenage years. Yes, most of the characters are complex and have their own backstory and their own POV. But the events that happen in the series don’t live up to the way they were presented. I think in Season 1 the worst character is Nate Jacobs by a large margin. Sure, he had a very messed up childhood and that builds up to him being a complete asshole, but in the series he’s not just that but he’s also a mastermind manipulator whose plans and schemes never fail. He’s 17 during S1, most 17 year old people don’t have the intelligence of the Joker. It would make more sense if he was in college or something. Which leads to my second point. I don’t think the show poorly addresses drug abuse, after all, Levinson is very close with that topic since it’s very personal to him. The other topics tho… Something that is even more common in teenagers than problems with drugs is problems with sex and cp. THIS are topics that the show addresses so poorly. I won’t write about nude blackmail because that happens so often and it’s clearly a bad thing. I’ll write about the things the show doesn’t think are that bad. Kat for instance has this whole subplot in which she becomes a sex worker WHILE BEING 17. The way the show portrays this is idealized and with little to no consequences. Yes, I know Kat feels empowered at the beginning by doing all of that and it’s just her perspective, similar to the scenes were characters have drug experiences. But what happens in the end? She just quits because some creepy dude scared her. That’s it. The consequences aren’t proportional to the risk she was exposed to as a minor. It’s like the show said “If you take drugs you will have a good time for a couple of minutes and it’s all downhill from there. But you know? If you are 17 and start uploading porn you could earn a lot of money, self-confidence and the worst that could happen to you is that a dude scares you off.” But the thing that makes me genuinely angry is the way the show portrayed rope. The character who’s the victim in this case is McKay. The scene was arguably one of the hardest to watch and for good reasons. The thing is, the shows just forgets this happened. Completely. McKay even gets erased from the series eventually. He doesn’t talk about it after it happens. It doesn’t scar him in any way. It doesn’t matter. Why introducing a topic so difficult to talk about AND NOT TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL? If anything, it just says that the show thinks that, if you’re a victim, you’ll just get over it and forget it ever happened the next morning. That’s just my opinion for S1, S2 is even worse don’t even get me started.

[@moveslikeninja1]

I feel like both McKay and Kat's issues would've been addressed second season, but there were behind the scenes conflicts with the actors, hence the lack of delivery in their stories.

[@luigiboyinblu]

@@moveslikeninja1 The fact that Levinson had to give up such important topics of his show just because of conflicts with the cast just shows that he’s no genius like people say. There are ways to address and give closure to subplots more organic and healthy than just forgetting they ever happened.

[@naudiasolomon5504]

This was such a good video and then you ended it off with “she is not one of deeemm” yass Thas a queen right there

[@marcobc9461]

The Lorde’s reference, respect to the one who deserve it. An icon, a legend 💅🏽

[@princessmeoww]

could you a video essay on the second season? i loved the first season but the second one really wasnt it. there are too many plot holes and the way things played out this season feels like bad writing. id love to see a video of what u thought

[@AllieOk]

I don't think the drug use was glamorized, but the one thing I felt was disturbingly glamorized was Kat's storyline. While they did try to show her becoming "numb" to the subject of sex, it barely had any consequences, and I don't think they showed at all how dangerous the internet can be, esp that side of the internet. Or how damaging it can be for the psyche of an unprepared teenager

[@beezyqueen]

great video and analysis!

[@wink7907]

I can’t believe this channel is so underrated

[@littleleakyleakythere]

I really, really wanted to watch euphoria. But then my cousin overdosed on fentanyl and died and now it's realism in its portrayal of drugs is the reason I can't watch it

[@valibaba0605]

I think season 2 was not as well written as season 1. The characters either have been written off or do the same stuff they did in season 1. They almost feel like a caricature of themselves. It seems like they never learn from their mistakes and all the conflict revolves around their bad decisions. I get that it’s because they’re teenagers, but it’s really strange. Honestly I’m kinda bored at this point. Aesthetically it’s great, sure

[@madymilian1647]

good video hope to see more!

[@blas8815]

This video was so well done! you deserve so much more recognition!! subscribed!!

[@BraveMoji]

Just found your channel and i really like your videos!

[@ssissigui8846]

Euphoria remind of Skins. I used to watch when I was 18.

[@cr875]

This is not a teen drama, this is a drama about teenagers. A teen drama is high school musical or glee. Children should not be watching this show since it is for mature adults.

[@haha9121]

This video is so well done. So well articulated. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Black_Magic_Woman]

I reckon anyone who likes Euphoria should watch Skins UK , especially Gen 1 and Gen 2. Definitely euphorias witters would have used skins as a muse

[@changinglocale9114]

You should do a voiceover of rue because you sound like her lol

[@dionnedamen]

Really good video. Great editing as well!!!!!

[@Lockn3s5]

I don't personally like the show. Only one episode was interesting to me and that was when Rue was running around trying to avoid her family's intervention. Even though we've seen scenes like this before instead of having her submit to the intervention she runs away but where a story might cut away at this point we stay with Rue the whole time as we see what she does out in the streets to survive. Other than that, I don't like a lot of what's going on. The teen drama is heavily manufactured in ways that are unrealistic. This last episode that just featured Lexi's play the entire episode was awful. I could not follow what was going on because they were trying too hard to be artsy about it when you simply just need to tell a coherent story. Moving in and out between real memories, the play's version of those memories, the actors in the play and the actual characters, and then the side story with that drug dealer guy which was completely squandered because they took that scene which is about 5 mins long and stretched it through the entire episode only to not even resolve it. That play Lexi put on would NEVER be put on by a highschool. Not only did the play feature drug use, overt sexualization, and simulated sex scenes, but the entire story is based on several of the student's lives. Letting a student write a play about herself and her classmates would never go over well. The last scene in the play is exactly why. They used the opportunity to make fun of a student, Nate, who storms out of there because his character was made to look extremely gay on stage by simulating gay sex and ejaculating all over his friends in a musical number... All the while people are clapping and calling Lexi a genius who btw, that was a shit play and was just full on narcissism. That play would realistically never see the light of day in a public highschool. Man, I thought they were gonna do Oklahoma.

[@albertolancho5227]

First time here and can’t wait for more video essays👍

[@alexservin1824]

You sounded like zendaya in the beginning when you started speaking 😂

[@Grace-ig7vm]

YOU DESERVE MORE SUBS! This was incredible👏

[@anniemz6887]

As a teen who watched skins relentlessly and wanted to be and live like Effy i can say for sure that it doesn't matter if the bad consequences of drugs are shown as long as the cast is likable , the soundtracks are cool and party visuals are shown teens themselves would still glorify drugs

[@GoodBeeef]

Proud of you. Happy belated Valentine’s Day love. ❤️

[@DBendo888]

Awesome analysis

[@m.c.a.2699]

*_NOT THE CARTWHEEL AUDITION THINGY_*

[@renee8833]

This was so well done!!

[@crystal-qm1iy]

You are so underrated.

[@kellylovescats]

great video!!! you deserve more subs

[@shubh5614]

i liked genera+ion too

[@guyincognegro99]

I enjoyed this analysis, guess I'll be subscribing

[@jackcarlton8259]

This was excellent.

[@thepeopleslast2579]

I think the biggest issue with Euphoria isn't the glorification of drugs but the glorification of teenage bodies. There is no need for a show about teenagers to show nudity. There's ways to be emotionally impactful without a second of it. It feels like the nudity is to bring in adults to watch and that feels even more gross. From what I understand Rue never had a nude scene nor was she asked to do one and her story is still just as raw and powerful.

[@subpar7404]

Yeah Assassination Nation should’ve been longer. It took way too much time explaining what had happened the week before to the one week later section of the film that wasn’t only underwhelming but also too short

[@JorgeGuapo]

Superb analysis.

[@Solararisa]

Euphoria is good, but I still stand by the fact that it should have been set in college, or the sexually explicit scenes should have been implied. A teen show with graphic nudity and s*x scenes which is directed towards adults, irks me.

[@BlessedBaeLLC]

The fact that there are tik tok challenges and jokes about Euphoria proves the point of this show being mocked and glamorized alone. Smh. I hate when people make play or fun out of real life issues. This is not to be mocked and romanticized. These depict real life struggles people sometimes don't live to make it out of

[@chrisblake5008]

Euphoria is the best thing to happen to our current media