My EUPHORIA review for seasons one and two is easily a glowing 🤩. Season three, though, is another story. It’s earned a lot of the negative sentiment thrown its way, and most of it is deserved. So before I get into why those first two seasons are so freaking fantastic, let’s break down why season three stumbles.
- Labrinth: WTH happened?! Labrinth’s music is so essential to this series that without him, Hans Zimmer’s score falls flat. It’s not that Zimmer isn’t up to the task; it’s that he takes what was once a star of the show and mutes it into generic Western themes, draining the intensity right out of it.
- OnlyFans: Sydney Sweeney’s OnlyFans plot is so meh. At times, it feels like Sam Levinson is trying to sell the audience on the platform’s value, and I wasn’t buying.
- Main Plot: This has nothing to do with these kids growing up. It’s that the main story isn’t that interesting. The whole Alamo/strip club arc felt like something out of FARGO, not EUPHORIA.
The one saving grace is the finale. Audiences get proper closure, beautifully realized in a way only Levinson can. It’s thoughtfully poetic and gives plenty of screen time to everyone’s favorite sponsor, Ali.
With that out of the way, it’s time to dive into S1 and S2. Holy f*cking shit, these first two seasons are powerful. An old friend once told me EUPHORIA’s style is so unique that it invented a new cinematic language, inspiring the filmmakers who’ll come after it. That’s 100% accurate. EUPHORIA feels like Paul Thomas Anderson joining forces with the Safdie Brothers, then soaking the whole thing in Gen-Z hip-hop culture.
Seasons one and two are shocking and binge-worthy, while the two-part finale of season two is sheer perfection. It’s so good, in fact, that you could stop right there and pretend that’s where the show ends. You’ll thank me, since you’ll save yourself nearly eight hours.
One last note: two bonus episodes take place between seasons one and two. I didn’t know they existed until I went back after finishing season three, and they reminded me how impactful this show was and how it could’ve gone out on top. Audiences never needed season three to see where these characters land. The group’s final performance at the end of season two was enough.
Final Thought: EUPHORIA is a genuine high for two seasons, then comes down hard for a third. Watch S1 and S2, then call it a wrap.
The entire series is available on HBO Max.