By Sophia Glenn
The HBO hit series Euphoria gained an immense following when its first season aired in 2019. For those who are not familiar with the show, it follows Rue Bennett (played by Zendaya), a teenage drug addict who struggles with sobriety, relationships, and herself. The drama series also dives into the lives of her high school peers and their struggles.
Some might say the show gained popularity because of the troubled main character Rue, the heartthrob bad boy Nate Jacobs, or because it is totally raunchy and filled with drugs, sex, and drama. Whatever the reason, the series has its fans locked in a chokehold.
The show has yet to be compared to anything else since it is so unique, especially with how detailed the producer, Sam Levinson, gets with each character.
When the first season aired on HBO, many viewers immediately connected with the characters on personal levels. For example, Jules struggles with her identity and the need for validation from the men in her life. Maddy deals with emotions stemming from insecurities and growing up in a broken home. Cassie tries to mend her abandonment issues related to her absent father. Fezco tries to navigate lies and relationships while simultaneously trying to find himself.
All of these characters make the show so relatable and compelling. The emotionally raw scenes in Euphoria are sometimes hard to watch, but they can be a true reflection of the real world.
As much as we all love the show, what fans don’t love is over two years of waiting for season three to be released. But this isn’t new for the Euphoria series. Season one was released in June 2019, and fans did not see season 2 until January 2022. Although fans were eager for the next season, it is understandable given that the production was on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The show made up for it with a jaw-dropping second season, making fans even more anxious about what will happen in season three.
One of the biggest reasons the show had to take a step back was the death of one of the cast members, Angus Cloud, who played Fezco. The 25-year-old actor from Oakland, California, passed away on July 31, 2023, from an overdose. His unexpected passing greatly affected the cast and the Euphoria fanbase. Filming and production were all put on pause to mourn his loss and try to navigate the way the show would go or if it would continue. The 2023 Hollywood writers’ strikes also played a part in the show’s postponement.
The media has revealed many conspiracies over the past year. Some are convinced the show is over and the cast will go on to do bigger and better things in their careers. Others have speculated that the cast and production have been disagreeing behind the scenes. But most of the internet is still hoping and praying that the show will release season three sometime in 2024.
The latest news is good and bad. The good news is that Euphoria will be coming out with a third season. The bad news is that they are still in the process of writing the script, there is no expected release date, and filming isn’t expected to begin until 2025–but let’s focus on the good for now. All Euphoria fans can do is take a deep breath and wait for the writers to do their thing.