Euphoria Review

HBO’s new hit show Euphoria has gained a lot of attention for its unfiltered realness. The series demonstrates an accurate representation of the problems teenagers experience. Addiction, substance abuse, body-shaming, revenge porn, depression and the pressure of being sexually mature and navigating life as a teenager are the main topics this show covers. The series also tackles the teenage landscape of substance-enhanced parties and the anxiety-ridden life of a teenager. Some have questioned whether the series accurately depicts teenage life. It is hard to believe that what is seen on every episode of Euphoria is something that happens on a daily basis. All the problems represented in the show are those that many teenagers actually experience — just more dramatized.

It is obvious that not all the scenarios illustrated in the show represent the life of every teenager. The purpose of the show is to present an unfiltered, authentic representation of these scenarios — and the show certainly achieved that goal. Euphoria’s raw look into the realities of these problems is exactly what TV needed.

Teen life is no longer bubbly and innocent. It is confusing and distorting, and only gets worse as time goes by. In Euphoria, the protagonist Rue, played by Zendaya, is faced with drugs and chooses to chase that ever-elusive euphoric feeling, which then results in an overdose. This forces her to face her obstacles head on. We learn that the reasons she turns to substance abuse relate to her attempts to escape depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder through drug abuse, This allows viewers to grasp the many layers of difficulty that must be addressed to treat addiction.

Another issue the series discusses that deals with body image revolves around Kat (Barbie Ferreira), a plus sized girl who learns to love herself and accept her body in a positive way despite the relentless body shaming she has endured throughout her life. 

Another issue the series discusses gives a glimpse into the nature of abusive, toxic relationships. The story of Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) revolves around a jock whose anger issues mask sexual insecurities and a pretty cheerleader whose confidence masks her search for a true loving relationship. The relationship between Maddy and Nate is twisted, abusive and codependent, and illustrates to viewers what an unhealthy relationship looks like.

When asked about the reality of the series, Junior Sharon Florez said “I personally know of teenagers that abuse [drugs] and that actually live a drug-filled lifestyle; it’s very real. Euphoria does a great job at going in depth about their personal lives and drawing the silver lining in teenage addicts. The parties, the drinking, and the sex are realistic as well. What is not realistic is the cluelessness of most of the parents in the show. They show little care about the time their teenager comes home, if they come home at all. Another thing that isn’t exactly realistic is Nate’s sociopathic behavior and blackmails. It can be over-dramatized but it is mostly realistic.”

The captivating show Euphoria accurately depicts the problems teenagers face. It gives viewers a chance to experience both the healthy and unhealthy ways people work through many of these problems in an authentic way.