Euphoria Season 2: Chaos from start to finish – Full season review

Here at Q+ Magazine, we’re all for shows that break stereotypes and dare to tell stories that defy what’s normally accepted. Since its first season, Euphoria has been breaking and changing all the rules when it comes to depicting addiction, sexuality, gender identity, and the struggles that come with adolescence on television.

Its graphic, cruel, and, at times, very crude portrayal of these social issues has managed – despite harsh criticism – to capture viewers across the globe, making it one of the most-watched series in the HBO universe to date. With over 19 million viewers, Euphoria has already doubled its own numbers compared to its first installment.

Naturally, when a TV show delivers a highly acclaimed, award-winning first season, expectations for the second become pretty high (no pun intended). Both critics and the general audience expect much more from its creator and its product, but more often than not they end up disappointed. This second season of Sam Levinson’s Euphoria is, unfortunately, another example of that.

The second season picks up right where the first one left off and, in true Euphoria style, introduces us to new characters and new plot lines that we hope will be resolved at some point down the line. The problem this season is that they do not. There’s a lot going on in the span of eight episodes but at the same time nothing at all, yaknow?

Unfortunately, a lot of the show’s characters and subplots remain undeveloped this season, and that’s why writing this review is so hard. What do we talk about? The absolute mess that was this season? The drama that happened behind the scenes and that clearly affected the show? The amazing performances that all these young actors gave us?

All of the above?

Why we’re not so euphoric about Euphoria anymore

Watching Euphoria every Sunday for the last eight weeks felt almost like a job. It was hard, folks! And not because we get easily spooked by the hyper-sensualized and hyper-sexualized vision of teenage aesthetic hell that Levison created. But because we were trying so hard to find the narrative in the midst of the chaos that was this season that when we finally realized that there was none, we found ourselves in a predicament – to continue watching or just give up hope and drop the show.

We strongly believe that for TV shows to be successful and please audiences, they must have a strong narrative. In its second season, Euphoria really struggles to move forward with its pivotal arcs, which makes the story feel lacking in a lot of ways. It also makes the huge mistake of sidelining multiple characters, turning them into a shadow of what they used to be. 

Just so y’all get an idea of what we’re talking about, Lexi’s ethically questionable play titled “Our Life,” – which takes place in the last two episodes of the season and is based on the lives of everyone who is part of her life – ends up being more structured and cohesive than the show itself. Go figure.

So when we say that this season was just chaos from start to finish, we’re not kidding. Did we still enjoy tweeting, sharing memes, and discussing with fans around the world all our thoughts and feelings about each episode? Absolutely. Euphoria is almost a cult – a piece of pop culture that unites lovers, haters, and casual viewers alike every Sunday for an hour-long episode. And that alone makes it special.

But between multiple script rewrites (it’s no secret that show creator, Sam Levinson, almost completely rewrote the second season between the time it was supposed to start filming and when it actually did), the behind-the-scenes conflicts between Levinson and some cast members, and a distinct lack of direction in its storytelling. We have to be honest, this season of Euphoria really tested our loyalty to the show and its characters.

So what made us stay, you ask? First and foremost, the queer stuff, duh. But there were several things that we liked and that we also enjoyed because not everything was bad. In fact, we liked that some characters like Lexi (Maude Apatow) got more attention this season. We even started rooting for “Fexi,” Lexi and Fezco’s (Angus Cloud) romantic pairing. And we didn’t hate the absolute craziness that was the whole Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), Maddy (Alexa Demie), and Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) “love” triangle. But if we’re very, very honest, what truly made us stay was the work of one woman: Zendaya.

Zendaya and the strong female-led cast that accompanies her 

When people say that Zendaya carries Euphoria on her back, they’re not lying. Yeah, she’s the lead and her character seems to be the only one that Levinson seems to care about lately, so naturally, that helps her shine more among the cast. But credit where credit is due. Zendaya is one of the best actresses of her generation, and watching her bring Rue to life every Sunday is an absolute privilege.

Her work throughout this season is simply spectacular and can only be described as award-winning. If what she did in standout episode five “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird,” doesn’t earn her a second Emmy, then we don’t know what else could. Because truly, what she did in that episode was just completely out of this world.

But she’s not the only one who delivers. In fact, Euphoria has always been stunningly acted. From the supporting characters to the main ones – all the actors and actresses involved in this production are in a different acting league. The passion and dedication they put into their craft is admirable, and it is clear that the show wouldn’t be where it is today without any of them. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that seeing so many amazing and strong actresses at the front and center of a show like this is refreshing. All six leading ladies – Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, and Barbie Ferreira– give career-making performances that deserve all the accolades and a long-standing ovation. So if you need a reason to watch this season, watch it for the ladies. They truly deserve it. 

So…to watch or not to watch?

Like we said, watch it for the ladies. No, but jokes aside, we say watch it, but only if you’re comfortable with this type of show. Euphoria is a provocative piece of television that’s been sparking debate every week since its first season. So if you like messy, crude, cruel, explicit, and at times scandalous content with characters who are absolute nightmares and their very own worst enemy, then this season will surely entertain you.

But be warned, if there’s a word that defines this new installment, it’s inconsistency. What made the first season so brilliant is completely absent from the second. That connection that existed between each character’s subplot and Rue’s journey is very weak. So don’t expect one point to lead to another and then satisfactorily come together at the end like in the first season. It’s not going to happen.

It was a very average season, with a couple of standout episodes that served as a reminder of just how good Euphoria can be when it tries to be serious rather than just provocative.

Will it improve in the recently announced third season? We guess only time will tell. The wait will surely be long, but we hope the show’s creator, director, and sole writer, Sam Levinson can use this time to create a season that can return Euphoria to its former glory. The fans need it, we need it.

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The second season of Euphoria is streaming exclusively on HBO Max. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!