And it will pass: Review of the second season of the series "Euphoria"
The long-awaited continuation of the main teen series of the 20's.
The new season of Euphoria picks up at the same point where the first ended (including special episodes), although due to pandemic restrictions, we had to wait twice as long for the continuation of the story. While Ru and Jules re-establish contact after a difficult breakup, a newcomer enters their close circle - musician Elliot (the third, apparently, is not superfluous). He does not know about Rue's problems and uses with her everything that lies badly. Nate finally gets hit in the head, but it doesn't stop him much: although he is distracted from fixing on Jules, he turns his attention to the destruction of Cassie's life. Kat suffers in an ideal relationship, Maddie engages in self-reflection unsuccessfully. And the restless Lexi, who always remained in the background and avoided quarrels, is preparing to summarize everything experienced in one big play, which should be the culmination of this rich story.
The Sam Levinson series became a revelation for the younger generation not because of the beautiful picture and truly biblical dramas, but because of the removal of many taboos, honest conversations about mental illness, addiction, dysmorphia and the friendly message behind all this: you may be passing through a difficult period and get to know your inner demons, but you are not alone and you are not a bad person. Unfortunately, many manage to accuse "Euphoria" of romanticizing depression and the use of illegal substances. In all fairness, no one, after watching a few episodes, is going to be inspired to go down the path of self-destruction simply because Ru put glitter on her face and walked spectacularly around a spinning room. Levinson pushes society to dialogue, fighting the stigmatization of dependent people. Ru is not a positive and not a negative character - this is a heroine with a problem (addiction is still a disease), which is not able to cope without the support of loved ones.
It’s not just Roo who asks the question “Am I a bad person” – in the second season, all the characters collectively engage in such self-reflection. If being a good person is a choice, then no one seems to have one. Or maybe this expression is a myth, because there are no “good” ones, because the world, contrary to the patterns of Hollywood cinema, is not divided into black and white. No one claims that the strong suffer less than the weak, just everyone chooses his own painkiller. For Cassie, for example, it becomes a new boyfriend - she explores the whole range of shades of gray in an obsessive search for true love, which she confuses with control, thereby falling into the hands of an abuser and losing touch with reality. For Kat, it is compulsive overeating against the backdrop of imperfect “ideal” relationships and internal conflict about her appearance and the standards imposed by society. For Ru... you know. Whether she will reach rehab this time is still unclear.
Transformations are reflected in the characters and outwardly, because the make-up and wardrobe of the characters so beloved by the viewer also tells a story. The formerly flamboyant, cotton candy-like Jules stops seeking male approval and starts a relationship with Ru. At this moment, her appearance changes dramatically: the sparkles disappear from her face, her clothes become monochrome. Cassie is buggy in a moment of crisis, like Mr. Smith in The Matrix: trying to adapt to Nate's tastes, she can look like Maddie, sometimes like a hillbilly from Oklahoma, without knowing it. The previously inconspicuous Lexi begins to take risks in order to be heard, and her style also becomes more catchy.
What's most exciting is the story of Fez and Ash's grandmother (do you think we need a full spin-off too?), as well as a special episode about Nate's father. When you look into the past, the present becomes clearer: Nate's antics, if not justified in the eyes of the audience, then at least acquire some meaning. Fez, in general, is likely to become the main favorite of the fans of the series, which also has its own logic: although he trades in dark deeds, he does it to survive (he knows no other life). Whether he is a bad person or a good person is another question, to which no one is looking for an answer.
After watching Euphoria, you definitely won’t want to become a drug addict, but it’s possible to become a filmmaker (you decide which is worse). Filmed all season on film, every frame looks painfully beautiful, it's hard to believe you're watching a teen show and not an Oscar-bait drama. Levinson felt the pain points of the audience and pressed them with even more force, the tension between the characters makes the air sparkle (it seems that the Red Wedding will seem like a children's party in the finale) and it will be unbearably hard to wait for a new episode, because the story ends every time at the most interesting. This is how addiction to quality TV dramas develops.
This article was sponsored by John Chong Lee
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