EUPHORIA - What Laurie ACTUALLY planned to do.

[@zapcV]

she's even scarier than mouse to me. her calm demeanor and the fact that a lot of people instinctively want to trust women over men just makes her worse

[@amberr1241]

💯🎯 I agree

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

Not just any women. She is a frumpy middle aged woman who dresses in normal frumpy clothes and who liters her apartment with normal middle age lady knit-knacks.

[@everest1132]

I didn’t even find her scary man I thought she was sweet like I didn’t see her as a villain wow I got manipulated real bad and was blind to this

[@iluvyonaa]

@@everest1132 righttttt! this just proves we’re easily gullible and will fall into these traps. gotta stay safe 😭😭

[@everest1132]

@@iluvyonaa frr I hope this kind of stuff won’t ever happen to us but if it does bruh i hope we see all the red flags and gtfo

[@MrNoNothingAtAll]

Finally someone actually watched the scene. I still hear people saying lorie was trying to help and she wanted to give her another chance. Shows people don't know what evil looks like. Be safe folks

[@MoonShadow333]

Ikr? Laurie clearly had the drugs Rue wanted but she instead gave her morphine to knock her out

[@lilabrat]

LOL those comments make me want to rip my hair out! How is locking a girl up in a house filled with criminals armed with guns "trying to keep her safe" xD

[@animationlover2944]

I'm amazed that some people are so bad at reading others

[@jemmstone468]

You could not have said it better! The episode, and specifically the scenes with Laurie, gave me the creeps. I had so much anxiety

[@cinsationalcinema1776]

Haha that’s funny. Hell no Laurie was not helping. She literally was cleaning her new pet bird with long fluffy chocolate brown 🪶 feathers new bird called Ruby (aka Rue). Laurie was banking on Rue getting a taste for the needle . IV drug use gets a person lost in. Death grip. Their addiction slowly strangles them like an anaconda. I wonder in season 3 if Rue will relapse with going even further down addiction road by shooting up as her preferred route of administration .. of course drug of choice heroin or actually nowadays she will likely be smoking Fentanyl.

[@shanniasampson3041]

Laurie is such a good villain She knew what she was doing when she gave Rue that suitcase I don't know how Rue is gonna get out of this but I guess we'll see

[@Zarakiiwii]

I look forward to see how this unfolds

[@ArielLarue]

Laurie knew what she was gonna do the second Fez told her Rue was on drugs but he trusted her.

[@raymondlang8753]

@@Zarakiiwii BESTIE I DONT THIS SHIT FREAKING ME OUT!!

[@iDewThis4Yu]

Faye Probly saved her tbh

[@TititoDeBologay]

With what Faye said to Custer, while his phone was recording. The cops will link Laurie to ol' mate murder. Fez will cut a deal by testifying against Laurie.

[@ineedmoresleep3728]

It’s done so well, because Laurie doesn’t look like the kind of person people imagine a trafficker to be. Laurie is a frumpy middle aged lady in her pajamas and an unkempt apartment

[@maaaaayaaaaa]

most traffickers have women helping them because they have a more welcoming demeanor to young women

[@jujugarcianyc]

@@maaaaayaaaaa yes and I think what OP is saying is that actually a lot of head honcho traffickers are women themselves

[@roselybarrera1916]

Please keep in mind that traffickers can look like normal people please stay safe!!

[@clorby22]

@d b yeah her whole sort of “vibe” (I sincerely apologise for using that word) is very unsettling and I think the actress did a phenomenal job portraying someone so evil. Even when she says something that on the surface, sounds harmless and almost like she cares about Rue, she maintains this tone of pure callousness. It’s really impressive. I just hope that Rue is okay in S3

[@annemariebell6257]

That's how you avoid getting caught!

[@kiwichainsaww]

Not to mention when Laurie talks about what certain drugs do to part of your brain and how certain emotions get essentially killed off until you can't feel happy or sad anymore, it would make so much sense for Laurie's emotions to be almost non-existent to do this kind of shit

[@slvervisuals]

OMG !!!!! 😧

[@seamsungg]

she must be a sociopath or whatever the word is for people who physically and mentally cant "be human" or feel or express and have to learn it instead???? maybe

[@skulletorable]

Exactly why she wasn’t lying when she’s never felt anger before.

[@bane8257]

facts she lost the emotion of empathy to feel empathetic

[@star7827q]

I also think she was trying to say that the sadness, disgust, humiliation, etc of being trafficked would also start to hurt less as she continues to use drugs

[@TheGreendaygirl28]

I felt so scared for her, I immediately knew what Laurie was up to but I’m terrified for Rue

[@Zarakiiwii]

Me too, I think rue will be okay honestly, she’s the narrator and main character so I don’t think they would kill her off but I think that she’s still in some real danger

[@TheLastMimzie]

@@Zarakiiwii there are fates worse than death

[@AA-qb7ni]

@@Zarakiiwii human trafficking seems worse than death tbh.

[@Zarakiiwii]

@@AA-qb7ni good point 😭😭

[@Richard-lh3te]

Laurie basically said how you broke when you got a throat

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

Ok but the thing I’m most confused about is… how is not Rue in jail after that entire episode? Did nobody investigate the girl who caused multiple car crashes, robbed someone’s home and ran from the cops for like an hour? That was odd

[@dejaa736]

showbiz logic

[@BrokenEvil]

I'm sure is gonna come up on the next season, we only saw the naive and almost silly consequences of high school drama, next season will probably be very dark as we'll see the adult consequences of their decisions, i really love that scene with Rue and her mom telling her she is no longer her concern and that she's an adult now at 18,I really think it sets the tone for next season

[@paigelovette8156]

@@BrokenEvil Excellent point.

[@cocoteeeie]

Honestly I think rue has to do some jail time or juvie because In the finale she said she stayed clean but it really wasn’t her choice. I think they catch up with her in season 3

[@It_guy613]

@@cocoteeeie hello?? It is her choice.. why would you think otherwise

[@gooblegal817]

I feel like we don't see a lot of good female psychopaths in media, but Laurie scared the shit out of me and made me extremely uncomfortable in nearly every scene she was in. I love how calculated she was with the people around her, and genuinely doesn't seem to have a motive other than money and power. she knew what she was doing when she gave Rue the suitcase, and the scene where she's injecting Rue with no emotion unsettled me so much I had to stop watching for a minute

[@lestranged]

Yes, some people mistook Laurie's calmness as kindness but she is calm like a robot or a zombie. No human emotions.

[@moonkoral1009]

she was also trying to give her double what rue ended up with.. definitely scary

[@deerheart87]

I agree when she injected her that was the worst scene for me in season 1 and 2

[@gooblegal817]

@@moonkoral1009 I kept thinking about that throughout the rest of the show, made me wary of her right off the bat. could've been really bad if Rue didn't limit herself

[@nightvisions8]

I don’t even think it’s about money. I think it’s about intimidation and power. Laurie could be way better off with all the money she has. But we see her making microwave dinners, wearing WalMart pajamas (they are actually still sold there), and watching cable TV. She’s living comfortably, but no differently than anyone else in the season like Suze. I think she enjoys knowing people are terrified of her, and that she can drain them of their money because of it. She doesn’t seem to use the money for anything specific or important.

[@djmixnmagic]

Egh! I didn't think about her possibly owning the whole complex. Still trying to cope with that last scene where Rue comes to her home, and the symbolism of the caged birds and sounds at the scratching door.

[@Zarakiiwii]

A lot to digest I know

[@tearupnationinc.7199]

@@Zarakiiwii Who would win in a fight Nathaniel "Nate"Jacobs Vs Bryce Walker from 13 Reasons Why.

[@Zarakiiwii]

@@tearupnationinc.7199 Nate Jacobs, you see that gun scene? 😳

[@alejandraponce6214]

How old are you? If you’re having a hard time digesting that tells me you’re not of age.

[@alejandraponce6214]

@@Zarakiiwii that’s nothing. How old are you? Feels like you’re too young.

[@coraliecadet90]

Even if Laurie gave her the suitcase , I’m more mad that the mom and Jules flushed all those drugs in the toilet instead of asking Rue where she got it from. They could’ve easily called the cops on Laurie and stopped her trafficking

[@Zarakiiwii]

So true! I was more stressed about Laurie than anything, but I wonder if rue would’ve even shared that info about Laurie

[@32ozhazelnutbutter]

Didn’t Elliot know where Rue got the drugs?? Edit: I’m not saying he knows that Rue got them from Laurie. I’m saying if Fez said no to Rues plan then it’s obvious Rue got them from a different drug dealer.

[@ellendaniels8715]

It's normal for loved ones to get red of the immediate problem and that's what their first instinct was. Rue was too frustrated and afraid of Laurie that all she mentioned of her was "that wasn't my suitcase." I think she was more panicking than angry tbh. Even if she had spilled the beans on Laurie, her family and friends might believe her, but the authorities likely wouldn't . The reason it makes so much money is because of how many people are involved in secrecy. For example, Donald Trump (former president). Prince Andrew. Michael Jackson. Jeffrey Epstein. Just the other day there was new of a ring being discovered in NYC with NYC cops being part of it. It's extremely common for places to not only have cops know and are aware of trafficking, but to be active participants. Even if they took Rue's word (which in a typical US cop mind would be a black girl in a drugged out word vomit frenzy), Laurie would know who reported it. AND Laurie doesn't look like a dealer, and that's for a reason obviously. The cops would likely believe her over Rue. I only know stuff like this because a close cousin of mine has had personal experiences with trafficking. I think you underestimate how difficult it is to escape that situation, and how complicated. It's rare for rings to be fully broke open, but even more rare for pimps to be put in jail. If you have money in this country, no matter what you do, the police will look the other way.

[@ellendaniels8715]

@@32ozhazelnutbutter My guess is no. Elliot doesn't seem like the type to care imo.

[@hieronymusesquireiii380]

Any idiot knows that a WHOLE SUITCASE full of drugs is not cheap. Her mom cannot be that ignorant to throw the drugs away.

[@AsNatureIntended13]

also faye saying that shes scared by laurie gave me chills. she said it in an attempt to fool the cops but it seemed to be stemming from sth sincere. faye seems like a chill character not really being bothered by much so that made me think that she has a deeper insight. she seems to be the person that pretends to be dumb but still catches on on things although shes a junkie.

[@jemmstone468]

I agree

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

Absolutely. And Faye would have experience from that world and that kind of people.

[@jenniferramirez3062]

What scene did she speak about her in ?

[@rubyhhh2715]

@@jenniferramirez3062 in the last episode, where the guy that’s working with the cops tries to get fez to confess to killing mouse

[@amedeusarezv7580]

I mean if your head was smashed on the wall by her worker it would be normal that you will be scared of her.

[@DevinSchiro]

Oh my god, the kitten sale clip. Such an easy thing to miss.

[@Zarakiiwii]

I know right!!! As the kitten is being prepared rue is being “prepared”. How eerie

[@darcie3340]

Time stamp, please?

[@kaiaswrld]

Right!! I definitely missed it cause I was too focused on Laurie drugging rue in the background

[@porcelainpixie9897]

Stuff like this would never be shown if it weren’t for a reason, I also didn’t think anything of it..

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

Made me feel sick. That maybe the point getting rue to the bath was to "examine" her. Weren't they trying to get her naked the first time she was there too?

[@XleahrachelleX]

THIS is why I say they were dumb for flushing the suitcase. Anyone with the slightest bit of common sense would know that Rue owed some big money to someone dangerous. You don’t have to know anything about drug dealing to put 2 & 2 together.

[@JamaicaDiamond24]

i don't think they found the whole suitcase. i think Elliott got to it first and left behind some pills. remember he knew of Rue's plan and he's the one who set this whole thing in motion about everyone finding out that she relapses. Also everything Rue had couldn't be flushed down the toilet. No way her mom would see THAT much drugs and not ask questions.

[@summyv7058]

Yeah even if I was an addict my mom would have been very concerned about who gave me 10k worth of drugs and would have wanted to know about that before getting rid of the drugs

[@retroreceptionist7571]

Flushing those drugs was like a death sentence for rue. Anyone who knows anything about addicts and drugs know they are not free! Now someone’s gonna pay, in cash, sex, or blood. That’s just how it is.

[@resurrectthenight]

We're still not sure if they flushed them though.

[@fatoumatacisse3796]

I don’t Jules even knew about the 10k deal and Elliot knew but didn’t say snything

[@mvb2683]

Another hint about the trafficking: in season one when Kat went to ask Ash and Fez about bitcoin, Ash says "Except human trafficking. I don't fuck with human trafficking!" And in the last episode when Faye tries to blame Mouse's death on Laurie I bekieve that will also have an impact in season 3.

[@Zarakiiwii]

This is sooo true! Good catch

[@blondambition1223]

I got worried for Faye when she said that

[@thediamonds3293]

They better not do my girl Faye dirty next season

[@Urmom-jy2ox]

Faye said that because the phone that Faye’s boyfriend set down was a mic for the cops. We all know ash killed mouse and that Faye’s boyfriend snitched on ash, so since Faye knew that the phone was a mic for the cops she said that Laurie killed mouse so the cops would hear her and think it was Laurie not ashtray

[@user-in8zu1tx9z]

@@Urmom-jy2ox duh

[@user-zi2wd3uc1i]

if season 3 leaves laurie in the dust, its a major opportunity missed, she is absolutely bone chilling

[@lyndsann3309]

They won’t, she is too intertwined with the story

[@briannajacoby4456]

same with the woman who maddy babysits for im dead sure i saw a camera in the room maddy would change in and I swear shes flirting with maddy theirs so many loose ends

[@CuratedVibes]

@@briannajacoby4456 same! I really thought something was going to happen between Maddy's boss lady.

[@CuratedVibes]

@watermelon yup, she did.

[@dylankennedy4539]

Minka Kelly is a pretty big star, Id imagine they want to keep her

[@ettawashburn6275]

There’s an old Grimm folktale about a young girl who meets and falls in love with a man who is new to her village. As their relationship progresses, he eventually invites her to his house. When she arrives, she realizes he’s been kidnapping and murdering other girls in the village, reaching down their throats and removing their souls which appear as doves. He keeps the doves locked in cages around his house, symbolizing his complete control over them. The entire scene has heavy undertones of sexual exploitation, and the scene with Laurie felt very similar to me, especially because of the caged birds. I wonder if the reference was intentional.

[@lookitskatiex]

I tried to look that one up. What is it called? There are so many Grimm stories it’s hard to find things sometimes.

[@estrelladavila1776]

I read that the scene was supposed to have even more sexual undertones but the actress who plays Laurie was uncomfortable with it. This is so interesting

[@ottymatir7143]

@@lookitskatiex I think it might be some German version of Blue Beard? it sounds pretty similar and i can’t find anything about it so I’m assuming

[@okflowerhead909]

Lmao I don’t even watch this show I just watch the KZbin analysis vids BUT …. I was watching another vid that did talk about how the show’s creators are VERY reference-heavy with classic stories and whatnot so yes you may be onto something!!!

[@karenxie8345]

man with the red lips I believe is the title. green eyes and red lips. it was in a children’s adaptations of the grimm storytale

[@s.1469]

Laurie knew exactly what she was doing when she handed 10k of opiates to Rue!!! She trapped Rue. The woman is good at what she does; she studies people and finds their weaknesses. When I saw her hand over that suitcase to RUE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SKETCH WITH THIS WOMAN. I thought, “there is no way this woman believes that Rue will sell these for 10K+. Rue is an addicted teenager with no connections or experience to prove she is good for the money! She is not like FEZ, who only dabbles with weed and has a long-standing history of success with, say, 10K of illegal substances. Laurie’s calm, monotone presence makes her even scarier. She is not violent, easily angered. She doesn't show any outward expressions. I’m waiting for her to find Rue one way or another. I suspect Rue will get kidnapped in the following episode(S) and “pay” her dues. I don't think a woman like Laurie gives up with “opportunities” like Rue. I believe this is where maybe Fez’s storyline might also stay intertwined with Rue’s. Unless of course his story line is already tainted with that snitch. Fez is a smart guy. He will catch on.

[@Zarakiiwii]

Really enjoyed your analysis and theory! And I totally agree! She’s way too calculated to just hand rue that suitcase without having some other intentions. She’s a really interesting villain

[@s.1469]

@@Zarakiiwii Thank you!! I wanted to add something. I find it interesting that Rue's mom has relinquished responsibility for Rue’s addiction. I took it as, “you’ll be 18 soon; this is now your responsibility. I have done everything in my power to keep you above water. Now I have to take care of your sister.” It scares me because it sets me (the audience) to believe Rue is now alone in some way. It’s like the show is foreshadowing an even more sinister or painful downfall for Rue, and I don't know if I’ll be able to handle human trafficking.

[@marceline4893]

I think Laurie will take Rue’s little sister. There’s theories about that!

[@Zarakiiwii]

@@s.1469 honestly I think that the mom saying that is a very important part of rues recovery, and I don’t see rue relapsing. I meant to mention this in the video but.. that scene is reflective on Ali’s influence on Rue and her family. Ali’s character is to hold Rue accountable for her actions while also gently guiding her. When he visited the family, he told gia and her mom it was okay to show rue how upset and disappointed you are with her, coddling her is going to make rue forget about all the pain she’s put her family through and make her think it’s okay to relapse again. Ali was an addict and he understands how important accountability is. After that dinner, the mom called the rehab clinic and they wouldn’t take rue. She later probably thought about what Ali said, and after that we see this scene, her mom saying she’s not focusing on her anymore. This is the first time shes ever shown rue that her love is not as unconditional as rue might think, that she has boundaries, and she’s going to prioritize the daughter who isn’t causing her so much pain. And the best part? Rue agreed. She said “that’s fair” her face was filled with guilt and shame. Her mother is not coddling her, she’s letting her feel ashamed, and that will ultimately be a stinging reminder to rue if she ever thinks about relapse

[@LilytheHekateRevenant]

The positive is that the recording prior to police breaking down door, they said her. Police tend to let someone off fully or lighter sentence if they say who they get it from. When he finds out she’s after rue, fez may break own morals and say it. As we already know how much he protects her and her friends from his experiences with Nate, Nate’s dad and others

[@etherd.859]

Also bear in mind that RUE asked for a lower amount. Laurie offered her 50 thousand dollars worth of merchandise at first. Very sick.

[@k.5164]

That’s so scary and unnerving thinking Laurie owns the entire complex and has trafficking victims in the apartments…. I think also bc it’s possible that might actually be happening somewhere in the world is what makes the theory even more horrifying idk

[@tatteredloved8501]

it happens everywhere espically in each location I've lived in so far...

[@ellendaniels8715]

With the job I have currently I have met quite a few people who have been trafficking victims and I can personally tell you it's not just possible- it's happening. I work in the USA so that's where my department is, but these people are very intelligent and target vulnerable people. And that includes children. As a woman in this country, you should always watch your back, and if you see another woman possibly in danger, help her.

[@bakeymykakey]

@@ellendaniels8715 Yeah human trafficking is everywhere you're so right. It doesn't always involve kidnapping as people envision, but they will manipulate you into walking into their traps. That's why Laurie was nice to Rue, to build trust.

[@courtney9546]

It unnerved me too but i don't think it's the case because there were quite a few cars parked there unless she own those too which who knows.

[@MikRubin]

@@courtney9546 those cars could also belong to johns

[@youllbemytourniquet]

The most chilling part of that episode was when Laurie talked about how she has never once gotten angry before. Like that right there tells me enough about her. But there is something oddly calming about her voice, it reminds me of Kourtney Kardashian.

[@joseloko2149]

Trust me. KOURTNEY IS LAURIE. That's why she sounds like that. The kardashians are evil

[@sorawakabayashi]

Spot on

[@imxel2193]

@@joseloko2149 let’s not accuse people of being sex traffickers. Especially when that way of speaking could apply to people on the spectrum or to people with speech impediments. Think LOGICALLY

[@ellendaniels8715]

@@imxel2193 It's a joke first of all, but do you know how many RICH rich people are involved with trafficking? The Kardashians would be a prime example of the most likely offenders.

[@hais556]

when she said she's never been angry, it indicated to me that she's a psychopath because they're notorious for being calm, cool, and calculated

[@oakleywyatt1717]

I thought it was so weird when Rue proposes her ridiculous idea and Laurie goes 'you're a fucking genius Rue' and shows no scepticism at all. She doesn't even hesitate and just hands her the drugs. So yeah, I think you're right. I think Laurie knew from the beginning Rue was going to fail, and wants to use that as collateral against Rue so that she can use her somehow. Basically, she's exploiting Rue's weakness as an addict.

[@courtney9546]

That was the alarm bell moment for me too. Like what 17 year old high school drug addict is going to come up with an idea a Queenpin hasn't already thought of...

[@shaunaray1]

Oh shit. I thought that locked door held the drugs and Rue's attention was on it wanting what was inside so bad, like clawing noises on the door was all heard mentally to show how much Rue wanted to get in. But now it makes sense that all the locks are to keep people in not out and all the birds are to mask any unwanted sounds like screaming. 🤯

[@lizfiles5477]

Same I thought it was where the drugs was at

[@monimoo5777]

@@lizfiles5477 same lol

[@Blue-gu5vq]

It honestly could be intentionally ambiguous and suggestive of both

[@Bats4lawyer]

That’s actually a pretty valid interpretation

[@CypherForest]

I deadass thought the same

[@corgeousgeorge]

Let's also remember that when Rue came to her all strung out, Laurie said she didn't have any pills for rue, only the IV drug that could calm her, but when Rue was vomiting in the bathroom, Laurie went to the closet and took out her suitcase it was FILLED with pills and she just grabbed the vial and needle. Not only did she know Rue would take that for relief, she LIED to Rue in order to make sure she would give her that relief via the IV. Laurie is truly a villain in every word!

[@aprilMichelleXJRL]

Yes bc once you go to the needle, as a recovering iv addict myself, you don't go back to a damn pill. And she already had the taste of the fentanyl, I already have so many theories.

[@sarahagnetti]

I noticed that too I was like where did all those pills come from?? I thought maybe not the right kind… like what she was withdrawing from but it def seemed purposeful to me

[@Lilly-fp8ei]

How the suitcase was filled with various other drugs also weed and stuff too…. I got so mad 😂

[@alaynaolender3904]

I also noticed that when she was giving her the morphine she inserted it 2-3 times. And when Rue wakes up it pans to her arm and there is like 5-7 more pokes in her arm. This could show that Laurie gave her more or that she possibly could have been there longer.

[@deerheart87]

Yes 👍 I saw that !!! All the pills and she said no I only have morphine !!

[@gerardwayz]

Laurie legitimately reminds me of the other mother from coraline. She has a calm demeanor and lures you in and traps you forever.

[@raiiishaaa]

omg yes

[@whorable]

@@raiiishaaa not the coralline pfp

[@whi2278]

@@whorable LMFAOO

[@DVDTAPEAFKs]

The Beldam

[@nimloc1670]

There was a reason this scene was so eerie and uncomfortable. The actors and director did amazingly.

[@chanelwaldorf9728]

Yes I think you are dead on with your theories and explanations regarding Laurie. I totally agree, however I had not considered that Laurie owned the whole complex! I kept thinking she’s got to have so much money so why the hell is she living in a shitty apartment and also how could you deal out of an apartment without your neighbor’s getting suspicious? You are dead on. She is a super villain and she is running her whole sick empire in this creepy ass apartment complex. Drug dealing, human trafficking and who knows what else! Brilliant. Thank you for figuring this out.

[@Zarakiiwii]

Thank you 🙏 ahh yes so many hidden messages

[@kennedyblevins2174]

Also there’s a little forshadowing in the episode where Kat’s character asks for help on how to use bitcoin and Astray said “as long as it’s not for human trafficking”.

[@thevillageidiot2935]

It also explains why there were so many people watching from their windows and how Rue and Faye get pulled from the car

[@blacklavoux]

U gotta lay low when u have drug money

[@svcsc-b3l]

her living in a cheap apartment is to avoid suspicion from law enforcement

[@deya8525]

faye was loudly saying "didn't you tell me laurie killed mouse? the drug dealer in the complex off kemper?" definitely going to be stuck in my head because the cops will most likely link mouse's murder to laurie instead of fez (hopefully)

[@bakeymykakey]

oh my god I've only just realised the cops would obviously be listening in to that

[@npsck1802]

We don’t know if the soundfile actually got sent to the police though, or if it was destroyed when fez dunked it

[@sadmermaid]

@@npsck1802 Custer dropped a second one in the little rocks, divide thing. So they would have heard fez and ash convo too. Plus with grandma, maybe he gets house arrest?

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

Maybe he'll just tell the truth that it was Ash. It can't hurt him now.

[@peekaboocharlie8502]

@@sadmermaid yeah or they put her in hospice or something

[@Tere999]

The way how the Cat represents Rue and the fact that the birds represent the victims and the scratches on the wall is really horrifying. Euphoria definitely tackles some of the biggest issues.

[@shannonjanetsmith]

Did anyone notice that the pjs Laurie is wearing in this scene say "It's a Jungle Out There"? Also, the prints spread throughout her apartment resemble animals and plants found in the jungle. The birds she has, like the White Cockatoo, are from tropical rainforests & jungles are a type of dense rainforests. I've researched many traffickers use loud animals to alert them and also distract the public from what is going on behind closed doors, which is terrifying!

[@1kayowa]

this is fucked up. the caged birds already have a strong symbolism of trapping/kidnapping...i thought it was just for symbolic reasons. only to discover that traffickers use them to distract people 😳

[@shannonjanetsmith]

@@1kayowa right?! It is so disturbing. I remember when I read about it and felt sick to my stomach. So, so frightening!

[@wallofpie]

Laurie literally toldRue that she would “kidnap her and sell her to some very bad people”if she didn’t get her money when she got that suitcase

[@BettiePagan]

Yeah ngl I’m rly confused why ppl think it’s big news, she literally said that’s what she would do. She asked Rue how much she had been taking, and Rue lied. Based on the lie she gave Rue a high enough dose to knock her out for a long while, but since Rue has such a high opi*oid tolerance she woke up earlier and escaped being trafficked there and then, because as soon as Rue walked in Laurie knew. Not to be rude or anything but I thought this was all fairly obvious from what we already knew.

[@celinaandrade9918]

@@BettiePagan fr I thought it was gonna be something new

[@victorias7364]

I think the video is trying to point out that Laurie's plan has always been to sell Rue. Shes not stupid, she knew she will never get those money back from rue and if rue had somehow magically come up with 14k, Laurie still wouldn't have cared because those are pocket money for her. Like drug dealing is just a front to attract potential victims and hide what her real and much more profitable 'occupation' is

[@idontwannabeanonymous4725]

@@BettiePagan Yeah, I know that from the first. But I think this video kinda points out what the real intention that Laurie had for Rue. It's not necessarily about the drugs in the first place, but she did that, to trap Rue into prostitute

[@micaholson7293]

The one thing I don't get however is the profitability of her decision. How much does human trafficking make for criminals as opposed to selling drugs? For the average escort, they usually cost around $200. Though the price could go up because Rue is underage and there are sick people willing to pay a premium to have sex with underage girls. Even then, I'm not sure how much more that price would go up to.

[@kaylavaldez8121]

Also with the way her mom made it clear she’s not going to keep fighting for her I feel like they are setting it up for Rue to go missing and her mom will assume she’s fallen off the wagon…

[@georgecroberts8451]

omg no don't say this

[@32ozhazelnutbutter]

Omg I bet you’re right, she’ll stop narrating the story for a bit.

[@ellendaniels8715]

Well and the ending where Rue was walking away she was saying something like "I was sober for the rest of that school year", implying she relapses at some point. I definitely see this as possible. I'm also worried about Gia's safety.

[@reemtaha5398]

Rue did say she stayed sober for the rest of the school year, so maybe Laurie came back in summer and she relapsed cause things bad for her

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

Yeah. And ending the things with Jules meaning she might not be looking for her either. And Fez will be too much in his grief for Ash to pay attention to where Rue is. My only hope for her is Lexi at this point.

[@cheyennerose2177]

Let not forget she originally wanted rue to take $50k but rue said no and took $10k. She wanted her DEEP in dept to her.

[@geordishafer8361]

If this is true it really just shows how immensely overwhelming lucky Rue is for outrunning the cops AND Laurie in her busted ass Converse

[@hannah-zw5dy]

honestly busted converse are way easier to run in

[@moisturizingfacialcream2983]

@@hannah-zw5dy not when you have a sprained foot

[@lestranged]

But if Laurie knows Rue's real name then she also knows where she lives. She didn't just give 10 grand in drugs to a kid without doing a full background check. I really think we have to see Laurie again coming to collect that debt.

[@clarazoghbi6110]

BAHA THATS WHAT I THOUGHT

[@glee69]

She’s a crackhead almost every crackhead I’ve come across on the streets are track stars 😂

[@mlem1042]

Laurie was 100% going to pimp out Rue. I don’t think she was going to sell her “I thought “this girl is going to be in my life for a long time”” wouldn’t make sense in the context of her selling Rue. The reason she looked up her name was probably so that she could change it later on and the reason she injected her multiple times was to cover her ass in case Rue snitched to the police so she’d look like a hard-core addict. But that’s just my personal opinion. The scratching on that door was no animal. That was another person who fell victim to the same trap. They weren’t sold. They were locked in so she could pimp them out.

[@emanuellerene307]

that's such a good point about injecting her several times!!!! woahhh

[@Iamdajahx]

Wow!!! Your mind is so great

[@zobizobizobi]

Terrifying

[@lucarony]

The other thing I love that I noticed is how rues background is so dark and empty, because she has nothing to offer, and Laurie’s is bright and colorful because she is going to ultimately benefit from the situation one way or another

[@Zarakiiwii]

Wow this is such a great interpretation! Loved this comment

[@Biboche23]

Laurie scared me so much in that scene. I really taught she was gonna kidnap Rue. I feel like this is not the end of this.

[@JordanT711]

I don’t think people realize that Laurie is an actual psychopath. She said she has never gotten angry in her life because she has no human emotion or conscience. Even when she mentions her old life of being a track star, school teacher, and having a previous family, there’s no happiness or sadness in her voice of those memories. She pretends to care and on the outside she seems like a normal, kind person, but she’s cold hearted and does anything to get what she feels she is owed. She has no remorse in hurting others by selling drugs like Fez does, nor does she have any remorse in human trafficking a minor. She could actually win the legal insanity defense in court because of her lack of a moral right and wrong. She’s an actual psychopath, which makes her the most dangerous character in Euphoria.

[@turtlesaremylife4238]

I also want to say, the whole scene with her mom talking about her turning 18 and that she was gonna focus more on her younger sister and the whole Jules situation is also like if Rue were to dissappear, obviously people will be concerned but at the same time with her relapse it's isolating her more and more. Making her an even easier target. I just hope her and Lexi rekindle their friendship, so at least someone is there to be like "she wouldnt just dissappear like this, just because of her past history etc." but idk how much that'll stop Lori's plans. Overall, I'm terrified and worried for Rue more than ever.

[@jemmstone468]

Me too!!!

[@nextdoorvegan3663]

I think fez and Lexi would be concerned and at least fez has a connection to Lori!

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

With Fez too. Everything that happened with him and Ash I don't think he's gonna be too focused on Rue anytime soon.

[@turtlesaremylife4238]

My thing with Fez is that if he ends up in prison even if he wants to help he can't. And I know next season they are going to milk the fact that Cal and Fez are both arrested

[@mazzydelrey4547]

@M L yea like she’s basically saying I give up on you

[@keenanicole23]

You can hear people moaning and making noises if you turn the sound up and really listen. It is clear as day. It's when Rue is sitting at the table talking to Laurie and Laurie says "you don't look like someone who's gonna come up with money any time soon" and then Rue looks over and sees the bird in the cage and then the camera starts panning down the hall to the locked door. As the camera is going down the hallway, you can hear a girl being assaulted. Someone else actually mentioned this in the comments and I went back and listened and can't believe I missed it the first time. You hear the scratching on the door afterward.

[@amelia512]

Oh gosh I’ve never noticed! Timestamp?

[@keenanicole23]

@@amelia512 start 24:16 in on S2 E5 and turn the volume up. As the camera pans down to the hallway to the locked door from there you will hear it.

[@keenanicole23]

I missed it when I watched it on TV but I can hear it a lot easier watching and listening on my phone. Shortly after you hear the woman and man it does a close up shot of the lock on the door and that's when you hear scratching inside the door and people moving around in there locked inside.

[@rebeccacottrell3742]

@@keenanicole23 24:16 she’s banging on fez’s door. it’s actually 40:05

[@orangecupoftea8929]

@Karolina k they could be drugged too so maybe they just go to scratching if they don't have enough energy to pound on the door or kick

[@Yugigreg]

I was a former heroin addict and I have never seen a show perfectly display what addiction and the world of addiction is like until this show

[@thevillageidiot2935]

I also have a theory on a seemingly small detail, kinda Laurie prepping the morphine before Rue had even asked for it, was Laurie putting on the food after seeing Rue was in withdrawal. Once again, Laurie knows what it's like to go through withdrawal and knows of the intense nausea and fatigue you get from it so putting on the food was just another nudge to get Rue to where she wanted her

[@baylee8659]

Yup this makes sense

[@444fawn]

wow she’s very strategic i need THAT kind of intelligence

[@merlinho0t]

i’m definitely more invested and interested to see how this arch plays out in Season 3. i thought some of teen drama stuff was getting kind of old and i always find Euphoria at it’s strongest when it’s dealing with Rue and her addiction and all the dark things that come along with it. i love the other characters, but this is the kind of stuff I think is important to see and watch. because this scary shit happens in real life. Edit: Also I feel like the birds are there to alert Laurie if anyone is trying to escape or break in and rob her, since she is a pretty big drug dealer. They can also help cover up suspicious sounds that the neighbors or guests might hear, such as scratching noises on the doors.

[@jemmstone468]

Well said! I could not agree more

[@sxmhoward]

Yesssss!!!! Series 3 needs to pick up this trafficking story like for sure

[@merlinho0t]

@@sxmhoward i’m sure it will, it was a pretty major story arch just left wide open. i just hope it’s sorta the MAIN story arch for S3 instead of just maybe getting one or two episodes about it and or god forbid not even be mentioned again at all

[@elstcman5]

It's not going to happen. the show is unhinged lmao, just alluding to the consequences of addition without actually investigating it. dont wait on it

[@anaochoa]

Completely! I am so annoyed by the general public over-focusing on Maddy, Nate and Cassie's love triangle. And even when it's about the importance of that plotline, people seem to ignore the seriousness of it. Maddy is terribly traumatized as she was abused psychologically by her boyfriend. Cassie yearns love and attention so bad that she doesn't realize the rabbit hole she's going into. Yet people still think it's fun to say whether they are "team Maddy" or "team Cassie". That's not the point. Don't even get me started on how people found Rue's story in season 2 boring.

[@captassassin5680]

The way Laurie kept saying “You gotta hold still, Rue.” Made think this is something she’s said to more than a few girls she’s gotten “into her tub”. It almost sounded like the beginnings of brainwashing, getting Rue to associate that phrase with getting a dose. It freaked me out! And I’m glad somebody else picked up on the underlying tone of the scene, nice work!

[@hereiampercylover]

And she stabbed her with the needle more than once. I found that very odd

[@dominique8461]

@@hereiampercylover well its kinda hard to find a vein in someones arm sometimes, especially when theyre very skinny, like lots of addicts are.

[@hereiampercylover]

@@dominique8461 but my thing is Laurie did not hesitate to stab her so many times with the needle. She didn’t take the time to find the vein or try to get the needle in with less stabs

[@lestranged]

@@hereiampercylover I felt like she wanted to give Rue a lot of track marks so that if Rue ever went to the cops, they would not believe her. She was making Rue's arm look like a longtime needle junkie.

[@hereiampercylover]

@@lestranged that’s a good ass theory🤔🤔

[@Astrolionking]

Reminder that traffickers apparently have a ton of birds to cover up the noises of their victims.

[@SuperSlimshady1]

So bird sounds drown out peoples screams?

[@fairiebearie]

I really do hope she escaped because I remember her saying that she compares the beeping of the monitor from the hospital to birds

[@Zarakiiwii]

That’s a good point! We might never know what actually happened during those crucial hours

[@hilo6487]

😲😲😲😲

[@lotus.bouquet]

This is honestly the most sinister plot I’ve ever witnessed.

[@XxHUNT3RN4T0RxX]

It never even occurred to me that there might be a kidnapped person behind that locked door. I always felt that Laurie was the most calm and reasonable person despite being a criminal, especially when compared to almost every character in the show. But now after thinking about the human trafficking theory it creeps me the hell out and it made me realize sometimes the scariest people are those who seem normal and reasonable on the surface but also have some unknown demons in their closet (literally by referencing the locked door) that you never know about.

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

Here's the thing: a lot of drug dealers try and make themselves look scary or intimidating or strong. We even see it in this show and you see it in real life too. But Laurie? Oh, Laurie doesn't have to look like anything.

[@XxHUNT3RN4T0RxX]

@@rosesweetcharlotte that’s exactly my point. The scariest people usually don’t have to show others how tough they are.

[@mollysullivan262]

As someone who does struggle with addiction, people like Laurie know how to manipulate addicts and get them hooked on stronger substances than they’re used to in order to either traffic them, secure future business, and to make sure that if they go down that they bring other people down with them. A lot of these people do end up living in shitty places to avoid suspicion about making a lot of money. I definitely think Laurie might own the building because where else is all the money going and no one has ever seemed to investigate about the amount of people coming in. Or another possibility is that she deals to people within the complex and that’s why no one questions her.

[@Zarakiiwii]

Great points!

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

I think a lot of these people just don't care where they live exactly. Their drug dens are comfortable, paid for, and set up for their business.

[@danielleshovlin5369]

Kinda random but I knew ruby was rues real name when I heard that Lexi named her character in the play "jade"

[@mypeachmyplum7344]

smart

[@djina]

What? I’m dumb how’d you figure that one out?

[@djina]

Nvm I got it lol

[@baylee8659]

You smart

[@amelforeal]

i thought it was rue b as in rue bennett

[@forsurefurshur9727]

I recently read somewhere that the actress playing Laurie, (she’s in Baskets which is hilarious), spoke to Sam about how she didn’t like the scene. She said the original scene was leaning into “pedophilic tones” and she didn’t want to play a character that would harm kids. I think it was about the scene where she’s giving Rue the bath, she said they instead made it blurry..

[@lottiederex]

oh yeah, maybe she was like "examining" her in some way, if that makes sense? to see what she is worth and such when she was planning on selling her and what not, but instead it is left more up to interpretation

[@intothewoods2033]

It’s good that Faye mentioned Laurie because Rue escaped, there’s no way Laurie was just going to let her escape. But now if the police hear her name, they might investigate her and she might go down too, letting Rue actually be free. I was surprised Laurie didn’t come back for her quickly after that, actually.

[@cadavher]

Something missed also is all the Magnets on the fridge, meaning she makes a heckuva Lotta $$ to have traveled extensively. Could also show how far she is able to traffic.

[@samanthab1923]

I thought it was child like. What adult has magnets all over their fridge?

[@Victoria-l8u4u]

@@samanthab1923 what's child like about magnets?:(

[@samanthab1923]

@@Victoria-l8u4u What adult has magnets all over the front of their fridge. Tacky looking. Also you can’t use magnets on Stainless.

[@courtney9546]

@@samanthab1923 like... all my colleagues. People who travel extensively collect and use magnets, but also people with kids, grandmas, southerners, etc

[@samanthab1923]

@@courtney9546 When my son was little he collected state magnets.

[@Jeremy-ql1or]

After seeing the season finale, it kind of seems like Rue got away from Laurie. The voice over described Rue making it to the end of the school year. So unless Laurie is planning some real delayed shit, Rue got away. Though, on the other hand, the show has brought back some plot points that it seemed like they had forgotten about.

[@sarahd4639]

In the finale, Faye implicates Laurie in Mouse’s murder while her boyfriend had the wire on. Is it possible Laurie goes down for murder and goes to jail? That’s my hope for Ru’s sake.

[@miekgg]

@@CHADO.30K nah, i think she will get into something soft such as weed or nicotine, like how ali is. Her relapsing AGAIN will be unrealistic for the shows progress.

[@miekgg]

@@sarahd4639 very possible, though fez dropped the phone in lemonade so

[@keenanicole23]

@@miekgg they were listening that's why they busted in. That wasn't just a recording. So what was said up until he dropped it, it was heard by authorities.

[@kerenacosta6946]

@@miekgg it would be painfully realistic for Rue to relapse again. Because many addict in the real world relapse many times, even after they were clean for years. In the case of the story, yeah, it would be very tiring for the audience to see Rue go through that again, but I really wouldn't be surprised.

[@virgosun_]

this scene made me so uneasy, especially the way laurie is so soft spoken. It makes her even scarier.

[@Memphis901Production]

As an ex fentanyl addict, this show hits hard. Don’t let this show fool you or glamorize that lifestyle.. opiates can easily end you up in this type situation

[@The2cute4uok]

I know people take this show as romantization but I don't think that was ever the creators intent. Rue is actually the symbolism of what the creator has gone through with his drug addiction as a teen. Obviously not exactly everything but how Rue feels and everything we see is how Rue feels in the moment. Then the truth like this is revealed and I think that's the most important part

[@EpicIMVU]

What's glamourse about oweing someone money and possibly being sex trafficked? I'm not sure who is watching this show and going oh yeah let me get in on this action.

[@ivanespinosa1474]

This is EXACTLY why this "teen drama" is for adults over 18, because only an impressionable young mind would see this and think "oh cool, I'm gonna start doing drugs, it literally looks so glam"

[@Roy-G-Biv]

Lol….where is any glamorization in this show?

[@Layer88]

@@The2cute4uok exactly only people that glamorize this lifestyle either never been addicted or never had anyone around them be heavily on srugs

[@springdaydimple1006]

I thought everyone could see what kind of person Laurie was. She gives strange vibes since the beginning. This means a few things. People don’t pay attention, or they easily trust anyone. And that’s just concerning. Because if you listen and watch what she says and does, you can see she has bad intentions. The other thing is maybe I’m thinking too much into it, but how it applies into real life. Laurie seems nice, if you don’t pay too much attention. I guess since I’ve had to be wary of people around since I can remember I could see she wasn’t good.

[@ma_de_sa5848]

I think part of it is her appearance. If it was a man there would be red flags right away, but since women aren't portrayed as a threat people don't catch on to how bad she really is. That's how a lot of girls get trafficked. They trust the women has good intentions.

[@auroraward8842]

Not to mention that Laurie was telling Rue “You know when I first met you I thought you would be in my life for a long time” while she shot her up. That unsettled me so much.

[@lyndsann3309]

It made me think she was hinting at rue dying

[@blacbharbie8586]

@@lyndsann3309 sameeee

[@leah-is3ci]

i’m pretty sure laurie’s actress also told sources that the original scene sam wrote was too creepy for her to act out

[@mychannel8809]

She did!! Originally she was supposed to creepily undress rue and she was uncomfortable with this so that scene was blurred for us

[@brayanvillanueva7527]

In season three, not only rue should be in danger, but also Gia and Leslie. It would make season three scary AF, but that would be the only way for the show to make sense because Rue can't just get away with everything she did in episode 5

[@bbycherub2420]

It wasn't just scratching, it was also faint moaning and the bed springs moving. Idk what was happening in there.

[@anondfgho]

This makes so much sense and also explains Lauries charm. Human traffickers will make you fall in love with them to build trust

[@christopherone1]

huh, hardly. the women are abused, drugged, kidnapped, often having very little interaction with those trafficking them. There's no falling in love with them. SMH

[@alejv8024]

@@christopherone1 she’s talking about how they lure you in, before you realize you are being trafficked.

[@Ojo10]

@@christopherone1 Not nessicarily. People, even traffickers, know they lure more victims with honey than vinegar, but usually, they know who to look for. The easiest being minors. If they're a bit older though, they look for vulnerable people, junkies being easy to entrap. Many women are trafficked after they unknowingly date a pimp for a while, and he takes her to a motel and has someone come in and rape her. Other times, women like Laurie, who are either pimps themselves, or are dating one, will strike up a conversation with a woman, who she suspects to be living on the street, and befriend her, one survivor, who at the time was homeless due to leaving an abusive partner and family, said her trafficker went even so far as to tell her, "she'll be her adopted mom", and was very charming before luring her to a hotel and selling her. These people are heartless and will sniff out people's desperations, and take advantage of them by manipulating them. They're smart enough to know that in order to get someone hook, line, and sinker, they need to lure them with kindness. People are more likely to go into situations, that set off alarms, like meeting in a hotel, if it's someone they trust.

[@inspiredby624]

@@christopherone1 In a lot of cases it doesn't go as far as _love_ but human traffickers usually do build a level of trust with their victims because it's easier and less suspicious than kidnapping people off the street. They offer their intended victims drugs, jobs, some kind of support and make them come to them and then they trap them. And sometimes trafficking organizations actually do go as far as hiring young attractive men who play the loving boyfriend that helps a pretty young girl from a poor country to get a fake passport to start a new life with him in a different country. It's a lot easier to have someone cross borders willingly than to smuggle them against their will

[@badtothebunny7628]

Another thing that really made me feel uneasy in that scene was when Laurie was injecting the morphine, I felt that she kept missing on purpose.

[@twixey_]

yes! i thought she was going to overdose her as well as hurting her. definitely on purpose. its sick

[@badtothebunny7628]

@@twixey_ I feel like Laurie wouldn’t overdose Rue on purpose because she needs Rue to be alive to make her money (by selling her body)

[@dahjiat.8562]

from another comment on this video, it was apparently to make her look like a long time drug user

[@twixey_]

@@dahjiat.8562 yeah that’s what i was thinking too!:) overdose wasn’t the right word, im glad rue is okay and safe for now

[@Shiann444]

This was such a good video! I love theories like this, especially on characters like Laurie cause she’s so scary! One more thing I noticed with the scene was when Laurie was giving rue the morphine in the tub. It definitely looks like she was purposely missing her vein and intended on making rue looks like she shoots up so that she would look less credible if she tried to tell somebody about it. Laurie is crazy and smart at the same time! I really hope they develop the storyline about her more in season 3

[@ellendaniels8715]

If Laurie knows Rue, then she knows of Gia. That's where I think this might go next season :(

[@estephaniezapata4714]

Noo not Gia 🥺😞

[@livingperson8573]

If she takes Gia Rue will probably guess what happened she also knows where she lives whereas if Laurie takes Rue who knows that she took 10 thousand dollars worth of drugs from a trafficker no one will be able to completely guess what happened

[@annjay2581]

Am I the only one who was creeped out by this lady from the start? Lol only a psychopath talks this calmly while selling drugs to teenage girls

[@tudororor]

I can't believe I didn't get this until two weeks after watching the episode. I feel so dumb, I actually tought that Laurie was helping Rue because she knew how hard a drug addiction is and somehow felt empathy towards her

[@Zarakiiwii]

You’re not dumb! Honestly when i first watched it I missed a lot of messages too. There were just some subtle things that I had to rewatch and realize. Laurie just came off as actually nice, that’s what’s so creepy about it. She genuinely seemed nice but the environment was off

[@dpsoccer01]

i thought the exact same thing!

[@dust4602]

@@Zarakiiwii nah, they dumb lol

[@conigliana]

@@dust4602 lmao fr she gave me creeps from the very first time she appeared

[@gothicseiya]

@@dust4602 exactly she was creepy from the start

[@PhlesheBone]

Ok but can we talk about how Laurie repeatedly stabbed her (even swishing it to ensure bruising!) with the needle probably to make it look like she's a habitual intravenous drug user

[@krisgrym]

Yean and for marking her

[@froggy4023]

This was a rlly good analysis! I love the part about the kitten on TV, I didn’t catch on to that one :)

[@jemmstone468]

Although I understand this is a tv show, the episode felt incredibly real to me. The feeling I had watching it lasted for days after. My perception on those who are vulnerable was altered and expanded. The reality that anyone can become as vulnerable and desperate as Rue in this scene with Laurie breaks my heart. I see that Laurie also represents what Rue’s future may look like if she continues down this path- dead inside. That scene felt enormously serious and I could not understand why there was not more of a conversation on it once it aired.The mere fact that Rue and her nakedness was brought up for the first time once Laurie was introduced, despite the more sexually suggestive scenes with Jules, hints to an ominous and worrisome future for Rue. The ambiguous, monotoned, dead eyed vibe Laurie gives off is truly chilling and it shocks me, while simultaneously does not come as a surprise, that some people thought Laurie meant well in this scene. I feel slightly worried for those who did not pick on that. This episode makes the finale even more significant because of how uplifting it was. The feelings of optimism and hope that was injected into the finale juxtaposes the reality that we know Rue has a debt to pay.

[@saraht.8822]

well said, and that last part is so true.

[@dpsoccer01]

i didn’t know her full name was ruby i just thought laurie got her name wrong 😂

[@santa5528]

i thought it was Rue B Bennett

[@mofetabionica]

Ruby = Jade in the play

[@dreamificationist]

@@mofetabionica daaaaammmn I just got it

[@dpsoccer01]

@@mofetabionica god i’m so dumb 😂 how did i not see that?! thanks!

[@444fawn]

@@mofetabionica damn the way that just clicked

[@lahlah3922]

These scenes took a huge emotional toll on Martha Kelly (Laurie), originally the scene was supposed to be much darker than even that but she was understandably having trouble with it.

[@lalla12123]

I found it weird how easily rue escaped and how this trafficking sub-plot was never mentioned again, but I understand that this is not Breaking Bad and that the author wanted to focus more on teenage life themes rather than exploring the criminal underworld

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

Nah I think they left the trafficking storyline for the next season. It was way too well set up to just drop it.

[@tspopstar512]

@@user-yh8li2tm8g this show always drop story lines so maybe it will

[@ariesmry]

@@user-yh8li2tm8g oh most definitely. Kidnapping and trafficking, you gotta let that type of storyline breathe and build up. It’s definitely not over. And Laurie is the type to go after Rue when she is comfortable and least expecting.

[@missdee4927]

There are still more seasons to go. And this episode reminded me of Breaking Bad actually. A lot of shit went down that was Breaking Bad-ish. I was shocked.

[@jiffysanchez]

I believe the caged birds were a metaphor for Rue in an oppressive environment. They symbolize a sense of confinement, while also longing for freedom. Think you hit the nail on the head about Laurie's future intentions for Rue. I'm very scared for her next season.

[@LUckygem33]

Not to mention Laurie made sure to put a bunch of injection sites into Rue's arm to make her look like a long time user. And it looked like she had way more than liquid morphine in that bag.

[@lilabrat]

Yup, I'm pretty sure she was fully stocked up on all her drugs!

[@LUckygem33]

@@lilabrat nothing is scarier than a person who looks like they are chill and helpful

[@FannyPack117]

Apart from all the creepy shit in this episode, one thing that absolutely made me sick was when Laurie was giving Rue the morphine, she kept inserting and taking the needle out. She did that so many times that there were a lot of red marks on Rue's arm. And when she finally put the needle in, she moved it around a bunch. She knew how desperate Rue was in that moment, and she certainly got off on administering pain and the power dynamic. Absolute psycho that woman.

[@marihanderkhan5663]

I dont think she gets off to those kinds of things. That goes against anything that has been estabslihed so far. She is cold and a monster, sure, but she isnt sadistic and causes people pain just for the sake of it. She wants to gain something from it. I think she did that to make rue look like a long time addict. Maybe to make her seem less believable infront of the police?

[@cutekittens6]

When I first watched the locked door, I thought it was meant to suggest drugs stored in there that rue maybe wanted, but after hearing the trafficking theory oh man that's scarier

[@DiegoHernandez-ry2df]

Laurie is one of the most terrifying villains on tv. It’s her calmness and control of herself that makes her someone to fear as opposed to someone who loses their cool easily. Also the scene where She injects Rue is so dark. To anyone who knows drugs, once you go IV it’s hard to go back and I think that scene symbolized that Rue is crossing new territory.

[@guts6226]

she already did H so

[@katiarodriguez600]

@@guts6226 yeah snorting H or fentanyl is not the same as injecting it. I’ve heard there’s a huge rush and it has a much more of a euphoric affect when u inject it. People start to give up everything once they start using needles.

[@negativenancy4268]

also when Rue wakes up at Laurie’s house we see multiple needle marks on her arm. i counted about eight of them when i zoomed in. when Rue was in the bath tub the close up of the needle going into her arm shows there were no marks or scars there. assuming she hasn’t been shooting up by herself in the mean time, bc she doesn’t even know how to do yet. Laurie drugged her several times so she could’ve been in the apartment for several days unconcious. i think they might’ve taken pictures of her body so that she would be easier to sell.

[@Luxenya]

When Laurie injected the morphine she made sure to "miss" several times. That's why she has so many needle marks. I thought she was using that to stage her death or smt since it looks like she is just a junkie.

[@sadmermaid]

I took it as it was like branding her, so everyone knows she's a junkie junkie.

[@1364394421]

I thought the same thing but when rue returns home all of the furniture is still knocked over from the fight with her mum…I can’t imagine her mum leaving the house upside down for more than a day

[@sadmermaid]

@@1364394421 such a missed opportunity!

[@samanthal133]

7 years clean and sober in March and from the Atlantic City area. THIS IS BEYOND REAL! So many of our young women groomed at young ages to this world. Years ago they started to try to talk to the sex workers to have their perps arrested and not them. I was a stripper from 19 to 25. Yes I choice it but at a young age the “audition” the idea of it all, great money & great workout but it’s a whole different world! This “simple” “normal” drug dealer is beyond real!!!!

[@jasminedragon7360]

Here’s the thing with Laurie, she researched Rue, she’s insightful, yet rue was able to escape and stay clean the rest of the school year without her getting her money back?like WHAT?!? This woman was supposed to be a villain but she gets dropped like nothing.

[@leahnoeldickerson]

Laurie is a great actress. She gave me chills while i could also see how she could manipulate someone into trusting her

[@hufelumpwoozle5093]

Idk if any of you watched israeli euphoria but in the show there is a character, a doctor, who got all kinds of pets in his house cats birds etc so i immediately thought about it. The animals might have a deepr meaning but im pretty sure the inspiration is taken from there

[@dance_ofThaDEAD]

Their's an Israeli version??

[@EllyJelly23.]

@@dance_ofThaDEAD Euphoria was inspired by the original version which was made in Israel

[@mcchilde2903]

@@EllyJelly23. What's it called?

[@taleakent4828]

Commenting cause I’d also like to know the original’s name

[@bascal133]

The tone of the season finale was so final that I totally forgot that Ruth still owes a dangerous drug dealer $10,000 lol

[@huestran5097]

Thank god it’s only 10k

[@BC-fi7go]

It's kind of disturbing to think that Laurie was offering to give Rue $50k worth instead of 10. If she knew Rue wasn't going to make all that back (or any for that fact), then that'd mean she'd be in bigger debt to her and also just the fact she was straight up prepared to have that all lost. Could mean she does trafficking on a much larger scale than the show leads on initially, and that she has way more money than we think, which is creepy af

[@giggles7179]

I was LIVID to get to the end of Season 2 and not have this plotline somehow reconciled. Even worse, according to her epilogue voice-over, Rue apparently gets to the end of the school year without incident, as well (she mentioned she stayed sober; you'd think she'd mention if she were sold into slavery). I have an extraordinarily hard time believing this woman and her terrifying roommates haven't come to collect for the suitcase of drugs Rue so gloriously mismanaged. For a show that revels in such gritty realism, it's pretty unrealistic. Plus, Laurie could be a truly terrifying villain - her soft-spoken and almost sedated kindness reminds me of Gus Fring from "Breaking Bad" before he showed us what he could do with a box cutter.

[@moonmoonface119]

I mean, they could set it up so she relapses toward the summer. Lori knows that rue won’t be able to pay her back and she knows who she is now, she can come and collect any time. This was also the end of the season so I don’t think it would be smart to fully explore that storyline with only an episode or two left so they’re saving it for when there’s more room (hopefully)

[@user-yh8li2tm8g]

I JUST REALISED SOMETHING about the kitten being examined for sale / Rue in the bath scene!!! First time Rue goes to that house Laurie suddenly decides to have everyone strip-searched. At the time the decision seems quite unreasonable. Then they press Rue to do it too even though she tries to get away not doing it. This is after Laurie sees Rue for the first time and "has a feeling she's gonna be in her life for a long time". It just makes me sick that maybe the point of the strip-search wasn't to search for wires but to examine Rue for whatever purpose Laurie had planned for her.

[@paulae4033]

Do you think Rue's statement about staying sober the rest of the school year against her choice is hint at Laurie kidnapping her. I think because of her partner's reaction to Faye shooting up in episode one is a hint that Laurie and her associates stay clean(ish) So she probably doesn't give her victims drugs while they're held captive.

[@Zarakiiwii]

Based on the direction of the writing, I think rues staying sober was actually rues own choice to do better, we saw way too much progress for her to be forced into that, I think Laurie has more in store for rue, but rue hasn’t seen that coming yet and same with us, we’ll see it coming in the next season. Especially since fez will be locked up and can’t even help her

[@shilohgoes5544]

Hired people maybe, but she’s basically a pimp so it’s highly likely she keeps her girls doped up so that they rely on her, etc.

[@Ojo10]

Usually, pimps ensure they stay addicted 1. They're less likely to be taken seriously by cops 2. It keeps them not straying far from the supply, making them feel helpless to leave 3. Many victims get high before seeing their customers, in order to escape and numb the pain of rape. (I'm calling it rape because it's sex under coercion)

[@tulipchic34]

It found the whole scene unsettling and how these kids get into situations they are so dangerous because they are just kids and although you would consider Rue street smart she is still also naïve to how evil people can be

[@inspiredby624]

I think it's more the addiction clouding her judgment rather than her simply being naive. Critical thinking is hard when you're in pain and someone's dangling the cure right in front of you.

[@raiiishaaa]

rue is definitely not street smart. i remember fez got mad at her for acting stupid and he said half the shit that happened in there was her fault

[@alissacathy8860]

This was my favourite episode so far! It was so gripping

[@FeliciaSandiego]

Thank you!! I think the Laurie plot was one of the most interesting to watch but not many could see how dangerous it was. Thank you for your analysis, you really hit the nail on the head

[@DJ-zm4kj]

WOW you are realy good analysis (i am not good at writing english) i love your series , can you do analise scens in films/movies/series like this one, love you

[@Zarakiiwii]

Thank you so much! That is so kind of you ❤️ yes I will post a lot!

[@electricalascension8069]

You did a wonderful job of breaking down and analyzing this scene thank you so much.

[@miamicutie-qh6gk]

What I'm wondering about is how was it so easy for Rue to escape. I'm 100% sure that if Laurie wanted to keep her there she would've found a way, which makes me think she wanted her to escape. Also I find it strange that so much time went by without any sign or word from her. I really hope they resolve this storyline in season 3, I think it's by far the most interesting storyline they've had and it would be a shame to just drop it however considering Rue said "I stayed clean for the rest of the school year" in the finale (which implies a time jump and also that nothing interesting happened during that time), I feel like it might be the case unfortunately

[@32ozhazelnutbutter]

I think in season 3 Laurie will pop up at Rues place claiming to be a teacher or someone from NA.

[@alidemee8161]

She did not want her to escape…

[@Uthetruth7]

@@32ozhazelnutbutter thats crazy! I literally thought the same. Except my theory was since Rues mom was desperately trying to get her into rehab Laurie play as a counselor or doctor over the phone & when Rue gets there she sees its been Laurie her mother was speaking to the whole time. But Rue doesn’t say anything to her mom or sis out of guilt cuz of the way she acted she sees it as karma or some sort of punishment & also feels like its her own mess to clean up. So she goes away to “rehab” comes home & is all messed up all over again from being trafficked but doesn’t say anything & is still using to deal with the trauma. I thought Sam would’ve done something similar like that or to what u said. Would have been really cool to see in the finale!

[@32ozhazelnutbutter]

@@Uthetruth7 holy cow! I love your theory !! We need Sam to see this!! I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Laurie. It was way too easy for Rue to escape. I feel like your theory is spot on!

[@ariesmry]

Laurie probably underestimated Rue’s tolerance was not expecting for her to wake up as early as she did, that’s the only reason this escape was remotely possible. Laurie is intentionally allowing Rue to comfortably walk about with the thought that she got away, and I’m sure she’s keeping tabs.

[@abeltesfaye_]

This was set up to be such a crazy storyline AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS

[@HynezMovieProduction]

Fun fact: pet birds in movies are usually a symbol for ‘trapped’, locked away for the pleasure of others, it’s also a very beautiful song in Sweeney Todd ❤️ Bird cage is also usually a symbol for sheltered characters.

[@DVDTAPEAFKs]

I look back at the scene of Rue's mom and sister where Gia claimed they flushed the pills down the toilet. I personally think they were both stupid to look at a suitcase and think "Yeah, this suitcase probably worth thousands of dollars should be flushed down the drain." It's not like it could belong to someone she probably stole or borrowed from. When Rue confessed that it wasn't her drugs, Leslie should have been more concerned about the danger she put her family through for flushing down a drug dealer's fortune down the drain. I get it; the police were also part of this issue on why they flushed it but still. People should actually let that sink in because it can turn into something far uglier than what it seems.

[@lestranged]

When Laurie told Rue that she never gets mad, Rue took that as comforting but I took it as scary. Laurie doesn't need to get mad because she is focused on getting her money. Emotions aren't part of Laurie's world. She's like a machine or like a shark. Laurie was also telling Rue how addiction kills part of your brain and that the bad experiences don't feel as bad because that part of your brain is dead. She was preparing Rue, basically telling her " Lots of bad stuff is about to happen to you but it won't be so bad". She also told Rue that addicts will do ANYthing to avoid withdrawal. Again preparing her for the bad stuff Rue would have to do. And she lied to Rue telling her she didn't have any pills, we see that she does have pills but she lies so that Rue will agree to injecting out of desperation. When Laurie is injecting Rue, she makes a messy job of it to give her more track marks, this was like an insurance policy so that cope would not believe Rue if she said she only injected once. She was trying to make Rue look like a longtime needle junkie. Laurie bathing Rue was literal GROOMING. There were so many clues in that scene about Laurie's plans which is why it's very frustrating they just completely dropped that storyline. Why spend so much time setting it up, only to drop it?

[@irinacharo1903]

Wow!! I never thought of that of this episode. Especially the cat in the tv . This was interesting 🤔

[@briancooper2007]

This video basically said everything I was thinking while watching this scene as it was unfolding. I was on edge and I was scared for Rue because I don't think she fully understood or at that time cared about how much danger she was in. To be honest I am a little scared for next season still because without giving away spoilers Laurie said it herself she doesn't get mad you always fear someone who doesn't get mad. I think what happen in the season finale is going to come back and bite Rue because there are only a few people who knew what Laurie was doing in that apartment. Honestly think shes is going to come back looking for Rue because not only does Rue still owe her money but she is one of the few that knew what Laurie was doing and because she is a recovering addict she is a easy target for Laurie to do whatever she wants in the future. I hope I'm wrong because I would really like to see Rue move with her life away from drugs the thing is that doesn't make a great TV show but we will see.

[@jgx0x0]

I just finished watching this episode and i was unsure of what Lori's intentions were, but i knew they weren't good. She has that sweet tone of voice and when she goes and gives Rue a bath, it portrays she's being "motherly" but really, as u pointed out, has already taken the needle+morphine out, whether Rue wanted it or not. I missed the kitten being sold on the T.V. Really good portrayal of what Lori planned to do. When the episode was over, I was thinking about the possibilities but u hit it spot on! Esp w/ the complex having no cars in it, implying that Lori owns the whole thing. Super good video!! 💖

[@Zarakiiwii]

Really appreciate that feedback and comment thank you 🙏 🥰❤️