This review contains spoilers for “Euphoria” Season 1, Season 2 and “Special Release: Rue.” It also discusses contents of the show including: drug addiction, sexual behavior and violence. 

In the opening scenes of “Euphoria” season 2, Fez’s Grandma, a clear bad-ass, struts through a strip club in her bright blue, skin-tight jumpsuit. As she walks, swaying her hips and flaunting her silver handgun, she grabs the attention of everyone around. She forcefully makes her way to the back, pulls out a gun, then shoots. Just like that, a man who we later learn is Fez’s abusive father, takes two gunshots to the legs. 

The release of HBO’s “Euphoria,” Season 2, was much anticipated. From the glamorous photo teasers on Instagram, to its exciting trailer, season 2 of “Euphoria” looked better than ever. The suspense was painful. There were so many questions to answer: Are Maddie (Alexa Demi) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) still together? What happened to Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and McKay (Algee Smith) after Cassie’s abortion? Could Nate really have raided Fez (Angus Cloud)’s home? But most of all, what is going to happen when Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer) finally see each other again? 

This season premiere begins by cleverly unpacking Fez’s adolescent years, with him working by his grandma’s side as she ran a drug business. The soundtrack, featuring Bo Diddley’s “Look at Grandma,” an upbeat blues song, gives you a real feel for the kind of woman his grandma was.  

We then learn one of the more interesting characters, Ashtray, got his name from eating the butt of a cigarette. This montage at the beginning of “Euphoria” episodes is classic. It was special to learn more about Fez and his backstory, after his beloved character went practically unnoticed in Season 1. 

Then, we are back. Once again we see the word “EUPHORIA” take over our screen. It is a familiar and happy feeling—it is good to be reunited with the characters who worked their way into our lives in the summer of 2019. 

Rue is front and center, on the screen once again. In the disheartening finale of  the last season, Jules left Rue at a train station, her return to drug usage was implied through a powerful dance number in the finale’s final sequences. As the series special “Rue” showed, the main character was really struggling in her mission towards sobriety. The audience is once again reminded of her ongoing relapse as she unhesitatingly snorts a line in the back of Fez’s car.

Another classic “Euphoria” rager scene reintroduces us to some of the show’s most infamous characters. It’s loud, music is pumping through the house, it looks lively and tumultuous. 

This particular party is hard to follow- it feels like in every corner there’s another crisis. Most of the characters make it out of this party distraught. Cassie seems genuinely afraid, Rue looks high, Jules looks disappointed, longing for more from Rue. Nate looks angry, Fez looks angrier. 

It isn’t until after searching throughout the mountain of teenage bodies that Jules is able to find Rue towards the end of the episode. In this scene, the filmmakers are once again able to capture the complex emotion that is embedded in their relationship. The camera focuses on Jules, using lighting techniques that fade in and out of spotlight and darkness focused on the characters. We are able to hear and see Rue innocently confess about her feelings towards Jules. She tells her, what she couldn’t say just moments before, that she wants to be with Jules. 

That is when they have the long awaited reuniting kiss. 

Watching this episode, I am reminded of one of my favorite things about this show. The filmmakers are able to capture a big, overwhelming set of plot lines, while also focusing in and showing us the real emotions behind each one of these characters. It is undeniable that Zendaya knows how to inhabit a character; she even received an Emmy for her portrayal of Rue in the first season. She masterfully plays Rue and is able to embody every familiar habit, and vocal niche—that is loved and hated about the famous character. 

The cinematography allows for us to grasp the story-line in unthought-of ways. They utilize ingenious camera angles that give the opportunity to view multiple hidden things at once, or allow for a single subject to fill the entire frame.  They are innovative when it comes to staging, and lighting.  

Employing dark colors such as purple and blue contrasted with bright sparkles and flashing lights, they are able to build a world that seems something like a fantasy. 

Despite the dull and dark feeling that reality can exude, these stories experienced onscreen feel unreal, even glamorous. That is where some problems come in. The show has been accused of glorifying teenage drug use and sex. It is apparent where these critiques are important and how they can be implemented throughout the show. “Euphoria” may border on glorification but it is also able to highlight real untalked about aspects of being a teenager. Many viewers relate to the taboo topics that “Euphoria” explores.

 It is complicated to walk this fine line between reality and glamorization, and this is something that the American media has grappled with forever. Debates on the matter have ranged from reality tv shows such as “Keeping up With the Kardashians” to television shows more similar to “Euphoria” such as 13 Reasons Why. While “Euphoria” offers teenagers a space to explore stories that are far more relatable than those shown across other platforms, it also shows these brutally truthful and intense stories in a way that is all consuming.  “Euphoria” toys with the impossible question: where should we draw the line between censorship, information, and glorification? 

Nevertheless, this episode was well done. From opening to end, it did not miss. It covered the questions that were dying to be answered. It highlighted a beloved character and in typical HBO fashion, it left us with an agonizing cliffhanger. 

In the very final moments, Fez makes his way through the energized party; he looks determined, he’s on a mission. Suspense builds, as it becomes the New Year. Abruptly, Nate is on the Ground. Fez’s fists are pounding. The music is gone. Everyone’s attention is on the two men, the two rivals, and no one knows what to do.

Rue ends it all with a spot on summarizer: 

“Damn.”