A new season of “Euphoria” has officially been released, bringing viewers back to watch its dramatic plot line.
“Euphoria,” a teen drama, premiered on HBO on June 16, 2019, and portrays the chaotic emotional lives of teenagers struggling with addiction while exploring their identity.
Samuel Levinson created and directs the HBO series, which is based on a previous TV series from Israel. The show is influenced by Sam Levinson’s personal experiences with addiction and drug rehab as a teenager.
Since its release, “Euphoria” has become extremely popular among students, who are drawn to its storyline and actors.
“‘Euphoria’ highlights how social media, pressure, and mental health all mix together, and how many teens are struggling even if it doesn’t look like it on the outside. It’s not saying every teen lives like this, but it’s showing a more intense side that still feels real in some ways,” said Jaela Gutierrez Pasion, a junior at Carlmont High School.
“Euphoria” shows that teenage life is more complex than it seems by combining intense situations with real mental health issues that might not always be visible.
“I think the characters are relatable in terms of their emotions, even if their situations are more extreme. Many people can relate to feeling insecure, pressured, or confused about who they are. Even if not everyone relates to the exact actions, the feelings behind them are pretty universal,” Gutierrez Pasion said.
The characters were made relatable by focusing on universal emotions, even in extreme situations.
The Season 3 introduction was abrupt and received mixed reviews.
“The first episode of Season 3 was good, and got people hooked because it was the story of what happened to Rue after high school,” said Callie Hernandez, a sophomore at Carlmont High School.
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, many teens misuse substances to cope with anxiety or pressure from peers. This added a deeper meaning to the episode, showing how Rue’s struggles are connected to real patterns with mental health.
“Emotionally, the show portrays teenage life pretty realistically, but obviously the situations and visuals are exaggerated because it is still a show,” said Sayuri Stock, a sophomore at Carlmont High School.
The emotions feel real even though the situations are exaggerated, helping the show connect with viewers.
“I would give ‘Euphoria’ around an eight out of 10. It’s visually unique and tackles important topics boldly, but sometimes it leans too heavily on dramatization. Overall, it’s impactful and memorable, even if it’s not perfect,” Gutierrez Pasion said.
The show is often viewed for its strong visuals, but some viewers have raised questions about the new episode and its storyline.
“Where are the rest of the characters from the other seasons?” Hernandez said.
