Every TV show goes through creative resets at times, but Euphoria Season 3 kicked things off with so many changes that it might as well have been a brand-new show.
The characters had the same names, but they didn’t feel like the people we left behind at the end of Euphoria Season 2.
Of course, life happens, and given that years passed between the two seasons, I was willing to let some of that slide.
(Patrick Wymore/HBO )
Initially, the first two episodes hooked me because they showed Euphoria moving beyond high school.
But the next five episodes have left me questioning whether I’m in a fever dream or watching Sam Levinson attempt a follow-up to his disaster, The Idol.
Many of the storylines have little connective tissue to the wider narrative, and it’s increasingly obvious that the cast’s availability shaped the season.
The Euphoria cast has been in demand for years, with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney among the most sought-after stars in Hollywood.
(Eddy Chen/HBO)
The biggest sign of the issue is Nate’s storyline, which feels completely detached from the rest of the season.
Yes, Nate has had some powerful scenes, but his storyline is pure trash.
Nate Jacobs Deserved a Better Downfall on Euphoria
After being one of television’s most terrible people during the first two seasons, he’s suddenly been painted as a doting husband determined to make his marriage to Cassie work.
The downfall of his career and the money he owed to local gangsters felt like a transparent attempt to make viewers sympathize with him.
(Eddy Chen/HBO)
Nate is Cal Jacobs’ son, and I don’t believe for one second that the apple falls far from the tree.
I understand that people change, and the time jump gave the writers room to let these characters evolve.
But Nate remaining on a treacherous path would have felt like the natural progression after everything he did on Euphoria Season 1 and 2.
Instead, the middle stretch of the season revolved around him losing limbs while Cassie attempted to build an OnlyFans empire.
(Patrick Wymore/HBO)
Yes, her initial motivation was to raise enough money to save Nate from the Armenian gangsters, but she became far too consumed with the attention and fame that came with it.
Then her decision to sleep with a movie star to regain followers — even after Nate’s finger was delivered to her — crossed into outright bizarre storytelling.
If the show wanted viewers to believe Cassie genuinely cared, she should have confided in Maddy much earlier.
That would have added urgency and emotional weight instead of making the storyline feel like an afterthought.
(Eddy Chen/HBO)
Nate’s death was also atrocious.
The writing was on the wall the moment he was buried alive, but it would have been far more compelling if he’d had final scenes with Cassie and Maddy beforehand.
Instead, it felt like another shock-value twist that drained what little excitement I still had for Euphoria Season 3 Episode 8, which will likely serve as the HBO drama’s series finale.
Jules has also been treated like an afterthought this season.
(Patrick Wymore/HBO)
Hunter Schafer was a huge part of Euphoria’s initial success, but it feels like most of her scenes were filmed over a few days.
I’m sick of seeing her apartment and of watching her and Rue recycle the same arguments. They’ve grown apart and are clearly heading in different directions.
Hunter Schafer Should Not Have Returned Without a Compelling Storyline for Jules
At this point, their connection feels more regressive than romantic.
But what have we actually learned about Jules this season?
It’s bizarre how small a role she plays now, and if I were Hunter, I’d have serious questions about why the material became so bland.
The reported salaries for Euphoria Season 3 are staggering, with some cast members allegedly earning up to $800,000 per episode.
At times, it feels like everyone saw the paycheck, signed on the dotted line, and hoped the story would figure itself out later.
Euphoria Season 3 is by far the hardest left turn I’ve ever seen a show take, and it’s getting attention for all the wrong reasons.
(Eddy Chen/HBO)
Sam Levinson is known for rewriting and reworking storylines during filming, and it feels like his intent was to make the series as provocative as possible.
Euphoria has dominated the headlines since its 2019 series debut, and it doesn’t need any more infamy at this point.
If HBO really does renew Euphoria for Season 4, I can only hope it gets an overhaul from the bottom to the top, because it has turned into the most ridiculous series to hit TV, possibly ever.
What are your thoughts on Euphoria Season 3 so far, TV Fanatics?
(HBO/Patrick Wymore)
Are you questioning the creative choices, or are you just along for the ride at this point?
What’s your take on how Nate’s death was handled?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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