A teen drama series, Euphoria, airs on HBO and is based on an Israeli miniseries. The original series was created by Daphna Levin and Ron Leshem, while Sam Levinson created and wrote the series for HBO.
The series premiered on June 16, 2019, and has had two seasons with 18 episodes. The second season of Euphoria premiered on January 9, 2022, and the network renewed it for a third season in February 2022.
Cast
The show has an ensemble cast with Zendaya in the lead as Rue Bennett. Rue is not only the show’s narrator but also is a teenage drug addict, newly out of rehab.
Others on the show include Maude Apatow as Lexi Howard, Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs, Angus Cloud as Fezco, Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez, Barbie Ferreira as Kat Hernandez, Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs, and Nika King as Leslie Bennett.
Storm Reid plays Gia Bennett, Algee Smith plays Christopher McKay, Hunter Schafer plays Jules Vaughn, Sydney Sweeney plays Cassie Howard, and Colman Domingo plays Ali Muhammed.
Austin Abrams plays Ethan Daley on the show, Javon Walton is Ashtray, and Dominic Fike is Elliot.
Premise
Euphoria follows the life of Rue Bennett, a drug addict who is freshly out of rehab, and a group of high school students who navigate through their lives experiencing trauma, identity crisis, drug abuse, family, relationships, self-harm, and sex.
The series’ filming takes place at the Sony Studios in California and Ulysses S. Grant High School in LA.
Reception
Euphoria is the second most-watched series in the history of HBO, second only to Game of Thrones.
Euphoria has received mostly positive reviews from critics. The critics have appreciated Euphoria’s plotline, music score, cinematography, and the performances of the show’s cast.
The performances of Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, and Sydney Sweeney have received appraisal from the critics and the audience. Although Euphoria has received praise for its approach to mature content, some critics have also criticized its sexual content involving teenage characters.
Accolades
Euphoria has received several nominations and awards as well.
The series has received nominations for prestigious awards like the TCA and British Academy Television Awards.
As Rue Bennett, Zendaya has won a PrimeTime Emmy, a Satellite Award, a People’s Choice Award, and a Black Reel Award.
Adam Leber and Jen Malone won the ‘Best Music Supervision’ award at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for Euphoria. It won awards for its original music and lyrics and contemporary make-up at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Euphoria won the award for its first season and its pilot episode at the Casting Society of America Awards in 2021. As Ali Muhammed, Colman Domingo won the Best Actor in a Limited Series at the Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards.
At the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Labrinth’s song ‘All for Us’ won in the Best Original Song category.
The series has also received nominations in several categories at the MTV Movie and TV Awards which will take place in June 2022.