Revisiting ‘Euphoria’: A recap ahead of season three

Coming to HBO Max on April 12, ‘Euphoria’ season three has been on everyone’s minds since season two last premiered over four years ago. ‘Euphoria’ follows several high school students as they navigate themes of drug addiction, sex and complicated romances.

Out of the many stars who made a return for season three, several big names in central roles decided against returning for the show’s third season. Foremost, Barbie Ferreira, who played lead character Katherine “Kat” Hernandez, has decided not to return in order to avoid playing the stereotypical “fat best friend.” Additionally, USC alum Storm Reid, who played Rue’s younger sister, Georgia “Gia” Bennett, will not be returning due to scheduling conflicts.

On the other hand, many of the main stars will be returning, including Zendaya as Rue Bennett, Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez, Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard, Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs and Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs.

Season 1 –

Released in the summer of 2019, each episode of this season focuses on a specific character’s backstory and personal life, with narration by the main character, Rue. Despite each episode having a central main character, they all tie into an overarching storyline of Rue as the “connecting point.”

The hit first episode of ‘Euphoria’ follows the story of the high school student Rue as she navigates a life out of rehab after her younger sister, Gia, found her overdosing. The audience quickly understands her character when she begins using drugs again immediately after rehab. That night at a house party, Rue meets Jules for the first time, and audiences are introduced to the controlling jock Nate Jacobs, his girlfriend Maddy, and other key characters like Kat, Cassie, and McKay, played by Algee Smith.

The second episode, “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” dives into Nate’s character as controlling and manipulative, exploring how a discovery in his father’s study led him to a warped mind. Later, Kat’s sex tape gets released consensually, to which she strongly denies. Then, Nate confronts the boy– Tyler– Maddy had sex with at the high school party in the last episode– violently beating him. Finally, Rue and Jules’ relationship continues to develop as they get closer.

In episode three, “Made You Look,” Kat is the focus, exploring her relationship with food and her body image. Additionally, the episode reveals her experiences being a “cam girl,” and the confidence she gains from the money and attention she receives from her fans. Next, “Tyler” (who is actually Nate) and Jules’s relationship begins to develop online, with Jules slowly falling in love with him. The episode ends with Rue running away to her drug dealer, Fezco, played by Angus Cloud, after an awkward kiss with Jules.

Episode four, “Shook Ones Pt. II,” begins with an in-depth look at Jules’ traumatic childhood experiences and her gender transition. The infamous carousel scene occurs in this episode with Cassie riding a carousel on molly with her best friend Maddy. Also, Jules’ spots her former hook-up Cal Jacobs making chili, and Nate accuses Maddy of wearing too skimpy of an outfit, leading to a fight. “Shook Ones Pt. II” concludes with Jules meeting up with “Tyler” (who is actually Nate) and him threatening to blackmail her with intimate photos.

The fifth episode, “03 Bonnie and Clyde,” begins with an in-depth character analysis of Maddy. At school, Maddy passes out in class, which leads the school to launch an investigation into her relationship with Nate after finding bruises on Maddy’s neck. Rue and Jules’ relationship continues to develop while Rue also navigates her newfound sobriety with the help of her mentor, Ali, played by Coleman Domingo.

“The Next Episode” occurs on Halloween night, with McKay and Cassie’s relationship being put in the spotlight. Nate concocts a plan to protect himself after being accused of choking Maddy. He blackmails the boy she had sex with (Tyler) into taking the blame, and forces Jules to corroborate the elaborate lie.

In the penultimate episode of the season “The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed,” Cassie’s childhood, sexuality and past experiences with boys is explored. Nate returns to school, and his relationship with Maddy thrives. Rue goes through a depressive episode, leading to a kidney infection, while Cassie learns she’s pregnant and confronts McKay.

In the chaotic finale episode of the season, “And Salt the Earth Behind You,” the characters head to their high school winter formal, where several storylines come to a head. It’s revealed that Cassie had an abortion, and that Maddy and Nate had a fight leading him to bring a different girl to the dance; however, at the dance the couple reunites. Rue threatens Nate to no avail. Then, Jules and Rue plan to run away to the city, but Rue panics and backs out at the last second, leaving Jules travelling to the city alone. The season ends with Rue crying and relapsing.

Season 2 –

Season two begins with the tales of Fezco–Rue’s drug dealer–and his grandmother. In “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close The Door,” we’re also introduced to Faye, played by Chloe Cherry, and high-level drug dealer Laurie, played by Martha Kelly. Later, at a New Year’s Eve party, Nate cheats on Maddy with Cassie, and Rue befriends musician Elliot, played by Dominic Fike, after relapsing when she sees Jules. The episode concludes with Fezco and Nate getting into a fight.

The next episode, “Out of Touch,” begins with the aftermath of Nate’s fight, and depicts how he is torn between his new relationship with Cassie and his old one with her polar-opposite best friend, Maddy. Also in this episode, Kat’s relationship with Ethan, played by Austin Abrams, develops, Jules’ worries about Rue, and Cal shows up at Fezco’s store.

In “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys,” the audience gets a look at Cal’s life as a teenager and how he has suppressed his sexuality. Cassie begins dressing like Maddy to impress Nate, their affair deepening. Next, Rue gets in touch with Laurie to start dealing drugs, and Cal searches for the tape of him and Jules.

“You Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can” begins with Jules cheating on Rue with Elliot, and only continues to intensify. Tensions rise during Maddy’s birthday party when Cassie gets too drunk and throws up in the hot tub, while Jules and Rue get into a heated argument in the car with Elliot. Episode four concludes with Cal getting drunk, lecturing his family, and peeing on the entryway floor.

“Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” begins with a chaotic scene in Rue’s house when her mom finds out about her relapse and realizes that her suitcase of drugs from Laurie is gone. After her breakdown, Rue enters her living room and realizes Jules and Elliot told her mom about her drug use. While her mom tries to take her to rehab, Rue escapes and runs to Maude Apatow’s character, Lexi’s, house, where Rue exposes Cassie and Nate’s relationship.

Episode six, titled “A Thousand Little Trees of Blood,” starts with Rue fighting to detox the drugs from her system at home with the help of her mother, sister Gia, and sponsor Ali. Lexi continues working on her play, while worrying about Cassie’s reaction to it. Later, Nate brings a gun into Maddy’s room in order to scare her, permanently putting an end to the relationship.

In the aptly named second-to-last episode, “The Theater and Its Double,” Lexi’s play “Our Life” is finally realized in all its messy glory. Her play exposes the lives and secrets of all her friends, leading to the fracturing of relationships as characters react to seeing themselves portrayed onstage. The episode abruptly ends with Cassie chasing Nate out of the theater.

The hour-long finale, “All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name,” begins with Fezco trying to leave for Lexie’s play before being interrupted by Custer, played by Tyler Chase. Cassie angrily interrupts the play by coming on stage and yelling at Lexi, which is eventually interrupted by Maddy fighting Cassie. Before the end of the episode, Cal gets arrested, Ashtray, played by Javon Walton, tragically dies trying to protect Fezco when the police raid his house, and Lexi’s play concludes with a deep look at her relationship with Rue. The season concludes with Rue feeling optimistic about her sobriety.

Season 3 –

The third and final season of ‘Euphoria’ will jump five years forward, looking at the characters’ transition from high school into adulthood. In this season, audiences should expect a conclusion to Rue’s storyline with Laurie, Cassie’s relationship with Nate is expected to develop, and several new actors are expected to join, like social media influencer Trisha Paytas.

It’s time to buckle up and prepare for this rollercoaster of a season that Sam Levinson describes as their “best season yet.”