Euphoria- Feel Something 

EUPHORIA

The Edge of Provocation

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HBO's latest teen drama, an adaptation of a decidedly scandalous Israeli show, Euphoria is an unfiltered foray into the Gen Z world of drugs, sex, violence, and mental health issues. The show, helmed by a fine, young cast led by the impeccable Zendaya is created by Sam Levinson. With one foot placed firmly in a realm of fantasy, Levinson creates an over the top atmosphere with staggering visuals and lucid cinematography that is almost subversive to the horrifying nature of the plot.

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Centred around the 17 year old resilient drug addict Rue, the show navigates the cataclysmic world that surrounds the teens growing up today. After a stint in rehab over the summer after returning from a near-death overdose, we see Rue continue to put herself in life threatening situations over the initial episodes to chase that feeling of not euphoria, but complete nothingness. With Jules back at the end of the summer, she meets the series' second lead and her best friend, Jules played by Hunter Shafer who is a trans teen and the new girl in town. Jules' happy and chirpy personality and an unapologetic attitude set her above the frankly dark events that haunt her childhood. Rue, on the search for her sunshine, is drawn to Jules for that very reason. Zendaya as Rue shakes off her Disney image with a bleary certainty as she captures the character's emotional havoc and neediness.

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What sets Euphoria apart is the almost indifferent narration by Rue. Like Skins before it, each episode of Euphoria delves into the lives of one of its characters. Characters that include the quintessential jock Nate played by Jacob Elordi who puts his 6'4 frame to intimidating use as the poster boy for toxic masculinity and rage issues; the popular sex pot Maddie (Alexa Demie); Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) who is struggling to shake off her promiscuous reputation, and Kat played by body positivity activist Barbie Ferreira who graduated from writing steamy fanfiction on Tumblr to cultivating a dominatrix alter ego online. The show tells the story of each of them as they navigate through their horrifying situations with an almost blasé attitude.

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Euphoria doesn't just depict these teens' lives but taps into their minds to let the viewers glimpse at the world through their eyes. The show has an uncertain quality that adds to the melancholy. Rue's addiction & depression isn't sensationalised but dissected into horror and helplessness. It is a glaring mirror on the truth of mental health disorders that wax & wane & embroil themselves into the fabric of everyday reality. There is no glorification, only the terror.

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Euphoria has its share of problems as well, especially when it comes to clunky dialogues and characters that can't shake off tropes that have been done to death. Easily the most stylish teen show, it struggles with dismissing the body fetish problem of Ober hot teenagers. Then there's the sex and nudity that while not necessarily sexy at all times, often feels perfunctory than necessary.

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Euphoria isn't a show that will appeal to all tastes. However, its bad rep can be credited to the fact that it is difficult to digest. The haunting debauchery visualised is littered with melancholy and can suck the viewers down a rabbit hole of anxiety. However, the angst in most scenes can be brushed away to reveal deeper and more sophisticated messages. In dissecting the brutal sexuality in an atmosphere of constant surveillance, Euphoria taps into the sweet naïveté and dreadful cruelty of adolescence. It captures your attention with shock value and slowly gives way to something more meaningful; quite like the way most social media feeds are handled today. In a lot of ways, you despise the imagery, but as we often do with social media, you can't look away from Euphoria.