10 random thoughts on Euphoria Season 2:
1. Most parents should watch
Every parent of children at least 10 years old should watch it. It opened me even more widely to the world that so many of our children and young adults live in metaphorically.
Please don’t be scared away by the way the script sensationalizes certain situations. When I look at the way the characters reflect on and react to feelings around sex, drugs, hurt, hope, family, etc. there is a literal treasure trove of guidance for us.
It also helps that it’s connective. My daughter knows I watched both seasons and I bring things up from time to time about it that helps our conversations as we have a shared context.
2. Zendaya is spectacular
Her non-verbal expressions of confusion, manipulation and a deep yearning for connection are somehow both heartbreaking and inspiring.
She breaks the fourth wall on the show in a way few performers can. She seems to look right through camera at me.
There is an entire episode devoted to her shaking people trying to get her help. It’s metaphorically a PERFECT representation of someone trying to fight getting help.
The script also portrays exactly the way a manipulative, sick, lost, desperate addict behaves.
It’s brutal and she pulls it off perfectly. I sincerely hope that she continues ascending because she’s a gift.
3. EVERY dad of daughters should watch this.
I didn’t put it together until the very end that a compelling, underlying narrative in this is the lack of a devoted loving father in many of the lives of these young women.
When I did, I was able to see the storylines in a brand-new light.
4. The look, feel and vibe is spectacular
The colors, tension and audacity of the show at times is overpowering AND compelling. It’s hard to stop watching.
The show has a bit of Coen Brothers and even David Lynch in it. There is what appears to be an homage to Raising Arizona in the Roo (Zendaya) scene running away.
And the very first episode when they end up at a drug dealer’s house the music, camera work and dancing is like Blue Velvet re-imagined.
5. The script has COURAGE.
It takes on subject matter that in my mind MUST be discussed. I get that topically it may seem like it’s sex, social media, cliques, drugs, etc. But the underlying subject Sam Levinson portrays are far deeper.
He takes on loneliness, confusion, loyalty in ways that I think are provocative and really hopeful that so many young people are watching it.
The script also focuses on making VERY difficult parenting decisions that include heartbreaking examples of letting go. Oh God when her mom and Roo's younger daughter were collateral damage to Roo's addiction...just wow.
Roo’s sponsor in the 12-step program is a powerful, surprisingly accurate portrayal of an emotionally healthy sponsor. It’s SO hard when people like Roo who we really root for end up on the edge of not making it.
6. Fezco (Angus Cloud) is my DUDE
He is like the nicest, coolest, hottest drug dealer ever. I swear sometimes I wish he was my dealer before I got clean and sober so many years ago.
I can tell you that some dealers actually have a version of a heart.
I wasn’t thrilled with the final scene with the cops, but I got what they were trying to do. His relationship with Lexi (Maude Apatow) is pleasantly perfect.
7. The Self Love Conundrum
There is a meditation on the dastardly idea of shaming anything other than self-love though the character Kat (Barbie Ferreira). It’s a stunningly perfect way to portray how there’s the weight of pressure to tell kids to love themselves.
Personally I think self-love is a REALLY high bar even for adults who often bear the unconscious wounds of our childhood. To casually suggest self-love is where it’s at when we don’t to our kids is poisonous.
I hated myself a lot when I was a kid (and even an adult). I loved how the scene explored that.
I wish she was in this season more, but I found out she got into a fight with the director.
8. Cassie, Nate, Maddy....no thanks!
Most every storyline around Cassie/Nate/Maddy was relatively uninteresting to me. The only relationship in that world that really interested me was Nate and his father.
The backstory on his dad was powerful. At one point the soundtrack had Devil Inside by INXS playing it was PERFECT.
However in generally I just didn’t find them as compelling as the many characters I already mentioned. Even characters like Elliott who was not total focus was way more interesting.
There are some random humor points in the show that I found laugh out loud funny.
One small one was when they went into a store to get alcohol and one of the characters made a reference to Kramer from Seinfeld, it was well placed and funny.
They were welcome breaths of fresh air during the intensity of the season.
10. Grief and Healthy Love
Finally, a big through story is Roo’s father’s death. Her reading the eulogy was Niagara Falls for me. And there is a quote about grief being a winding valley by CS Lewis.
it all resonated so powerfully with me. It’s heartbreaking to see how these young women are portrayed and the impact of not having guidance from loving dads.
Interestingly the one Dad that is supportive is Jules (who is played by trans actress Hunter Schafer).
Her character is one who treats Roo with detached love at the MOST important time. It feels important that she is guided at least partly by a dad who cares.
I recognize I’m leaving some stuff out but what I won’t leave out (yet again) is that we are in a golden age of television.
The boldness of creativity of shows like Ted Lasso, Atlanta, Euphoria, Abbott Elementary and SO many others is beyond inspiring.
Note that Season 2 wasn't better or worse than Season 1, just different.
I know many current parents of pre-teens and teenagers worry about the direction of them. I can assure you that works of art like this wipe that away for me.
It reminds me I have two choices, adapt to the trends/conversations/beliefs and connect there with what I believe in or fight it and get left behind.
I choose to adapt, and Euphoria helped me.