If you haven’t been tuning in every Sunday on HBO, you’re missing out on more pop culture meme references than you realize. The high school melodrama draws a large audience that isn’t exclusive to teenage girls. In fact, many argue that Euphoria isn’t appropriate for teenagers.
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Horrified by the TV-MA rating on the HBO drama, parents are calling it “upsetting, pornographic, violent, and vicious” (A Horrified Dad’s Guide to Not Watching ‘Euphoria’)
Euphoria isn’t afraid to push the envelope and go a step further in portraying taboo plotlines. It’s a Gen-Z rendition of other shows that follow a similar teen drama formula, like “The O.C.,” “Skins” and “Degrassi.”
So if Euphoria is so disturbing and similar to its predecessors, why is it the No.1 title on HBO in the U.S?
The show does a good job of portraying mental health, addiction, and identity. Every viewer can relate to aspects of Euphoria’s fictional teens. Each character represents internal issues we all struggle with.
It’s an intense dramatization of things we all experience.
Whether that be Maddy’s arrogance to mask her insecurity, Cassie’s sensitivity, or Rue’s self-destruction. Similar to life, there isn’t a happy ending to each episode and you form this hyper-connection to the characters you identify with. You watch each Sunday hoping that there will be a positive outcome for the pain you associate with.
Euphoria has also become a universal experience in a way. Hashing out plotlines, characters, and personal takes on the show is all a part of the fun. In any room, there are at least two Euphoria watchers who are ready to kick and scream about Nate or swoon over Lexi + Fez.
Teenagers aren’t as dumb as we think they are. I mean don’t get me wrong, I did some stupid sh*t in high school but I wasn’t naive to the fact that a TV show is a dramatization. I understand parents want to protect their kids from the darkness of the world, but trust me, they know what porn is.
Since the release of season 1, in 2019, the show and cast have released various content warnings, to ensure viewers understand what they’re getting into.
If you’re looking for a comfort watch after a long day of work, Euphoria might not be the best choice. Otherwise, join the anxiety-inducing, beautifully coloured fun of Euphoria season 2.