For many teenagers, Euphoria wasn’t just a television show; it was a defining feature of their adolescence. Now that the series has come to a close, viewers are looking back on the role the HBO drama played in shaping conversations about growing up, identity, and modern teenage life.
The HBO original series premiered in June of 2019. It follows the story of a 17-year-old girl, Rue, who struggles with addiction. The show was applauded for its groundbreaking cinematography and discussion of difficult topics. Season 2 was scheduled to begin shooting in March 2020; but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the cast got back to work in April 2021 and Season 2 premiered in January of 2022. The show continued to thrive, averaging 16.3 million viewers per episode and earning an 8.6/10 rating on IMDb.
After being left with a cliffhanger in the season 2 finale, fans anxiously awaited the next chapter. A third season was teased for years, but there remained no production or release date until February of 2025. Finally, Season 3 was set to premiere in 2026, four years after Season 2. While fans were excited about the renewal of the show, many expressed concerns about the actors’ age. The series was originally about teenagers, but now that most of the cast is in their late twenties and thirties, the writers had to think creatively to accommodate the age issue. Euphoria writers decided to incorporate a time jump into the plot, having Season 3 be set after high school. The third and final season was set in 2024, with the main characters now in their early 20s. This time jump created a huge shift in the plot of the show.
Euphoria was a drama that originally focused on teenage issues; now, it would follow the lives of young adults. Because the audience was primarily teenagers, this change polarized many fans. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes claimed it had a “vastly different tone than the rest of the show.” B-CC freshman Maya Ingber states, “I think that Euphoria has definitely given me a better insight of other teens’ problems and feelings that they faced, unrealistic or realistic, and after eight years I think that it has been really impactful…to see that I’m not going through some of these feelings alone.” She adds, however, “Season 3 didn’t meet my expectations, because it kind of became more unrealistic and followed a more adventurous storyline, rather than focusing on the broader feelings and emotions that many teens face in high school.” B-CC Junior Emi Adams shares a similar point of view, noting, “I feel like [Season 3] is a lot different and not as good as the first.” Nevertheless, the show’s finale had many teenagers feeling sentimental, as it marked the end of an era for some. Adams states, “it’s sad because we waited so long…theres nothing else to look forward to about it.”
Although Euphoria may fade from television screens, the impact that it holds on society is vast. The series not only entertained fans, it brought important issues to the forefront of society and created more awareness for challenges that many teens face. The teens who once watched Rue and her friends navigate high-school are now preparing for the next chapter of their own lives. Euphoria’s ending may mark the end of an era, but for the generation that grew up alongside it, it perhaps marks the beginning of something new.
