Euphoria Episode 1: Inside the Mind of Gen Z
Euphoria is unlike any teen drama, it is very far from the typical high school show. The HBO series starring Zendaya shines a light on the trials and hardships of being a teenager in 2019. The show starts out with the character of Rue explaining that she was born three days after 9/11. This implication meaning that disaster has followed her throughout her life. The pilot involves chaotic, jarring scenes that stimulate stress in viewers. The writer and director of the series Sam Levinson use the disorienting haze of living between the roller coaster of drug trips and harsh sobriety for the telling the story of Rue (Zendaya). The first episode exposes viewers to interesting characters surrounding rue with their own insecurities. As the series goes on each characters insecurities and secrets unravel causing viewers to become deeply engaged with the story line to figure out the background of each character. Euphoria succeeds in having multi-dimensional supporting characters surrounding the plot line of its main character. Euphoria is a 2019 Skins. In recent years the teen drama has gotten darker with shows like Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars but Euphoria sets itself apart as it doesn't hold back.
At first, the show is hard to watch as it is so raw but it begins to get better as it reveals more about the angry, passionate, confused, insecure teens. The biggest transformation is former Disney Channel star Zendaya who plays the drug addict Rue. Rue constantly works against getting better with her problem and instead keeps indulging every episode. It is a risky role for Zendaya and unlike anything, she has ever done but she manages to deliver a breathtaking performance through her stares. Levinson delivers gorgeous sequences for each character and their story. The show explores themes of sex, toxic masculinity, drug addiction and peer pressure in the life of a Gen Z teen.
Euphoria is definitely not an easy watch, it took me two days to get through the first episode. It is also not pleasant to watch as it displays the horrors and flaws of Gen Z. It shows the real life of these teens with no loose ends tied or easy ways out of their problems. It is cut throat and raw where you want to look away but the story and characters drag you back in. Euphoria has an intriguing factor that pulls you in that causes you to demand more.