HBO's Euphoria: This Drake-produced drama series balances bracing themes, decade-defining stylization, and the voice of a generation to redefine the out-of-touch, out-of-date high-schooler genre. 

With an 82% Tomatometer of 93 critical ratings and an 84% Audience Score of 927 users, Euphoria hit screens with a fast following cry of appreciation from under thirty audiences who related, seeing their story on screen. The US teen drama is a visually stunning, unfiltered, and explicit portrayal of mental health, addiction, sex, and the struggle of growing up online. 

Based on a 2012 Israeli mini-series of the same name, Euphoria was adapted by Sam Levinson directer of Assasination Nation (2018) and stars a career-marking performance from Disney child star Zendaya. 

Euphoria is a raw, glittery, LGBTQ+ proud cocktail of ambitions to highlight adolescent addiction, destigmatize mental health struggles, normalize gender transitioning, recognize social media shaming, empower plus-size positivity, identify toxic masculinity and reflect the reality of porn-warped sex. 

Post a premiere of 1.2 million viewers, Gen-Zers and late Millenials hit social platforms calling out Euphoria for what it fundamentally is when examining beyond its challenging, eye-opening, and controversial themes: a cathartic portrayal of current messages impacting teens today long- overdue their showcase in mainstream media. 

Euphoria's Protagonist 

Euphoria opens with a Fight Club-style monologue from 17-year-old Rue (Zendaya) who amongst other mental health struggles suffers addiction to pharmaceuticals and class As. Euphoria's opening scenes cut from Rue as an OCD and anxiety-ridden little girl to a doctor to her mother sorting her daily medications; a not too subtle comment on the problems of an over-medicated society and how this led to Rue's addictions in later childhood. 

The most potent line of Rue's opening monologue, placed as much for an adult, as it is a teen audience: “I know it may all seem sad, but guess what? I didn’t build this system. Nor did I fuck it up.” 

The narration, which continues throughout the series with spectacular ironic effect, makes a point of ensuring the audience knows that it's coming protagonists were born to a post 9/11 USA. 

Throughout Zendaya gives a breathtaking performance positioning Rue as someone suffocating in her self-aware short-comings, grief, and self-loathing at the devastating impact her self- destructiveness has on her mother, friends, and most especially her younger sister. 

What marks Zendaya's interpretation of Rue, and Levinson's direction of the character taken from his struggles with substance abuse and the stories of fellow fellowship members, is that at her core Rue is vulnerable, cripplingly sensitive and desperate for love. 

A Stand Out Supporting Cast 

With an artistic license, each character in Eurphoria's story-telling is a stark depiction and embodiment of challenges experienced by a Gen-Z generation.
Sociopathic and poster boy for toxic masculinity Nate's (Jacob Elordi) confusion over his sexuality and paternal trauma. 

Cassie's (Sydney Sweeny) viral nudes, self-sexualization, crippled self-esteem, and (spoiler alert) underage pregnancy. Plus-size Kat (played by the influencer model Barbie Ferreira) pioneers a sub-plot of self-acceptance, body positivity, a PornHub based cam girl side gig and eventually love. 

Of all of Euphoria's supporting case, the most beautifully handled is Jules (Hunter Schafer) Rue's love interest, aspiring designer, and transitioning trans woman. Jules is one of the most intelligent representations of transgender ever placed to screen presented in storytelling both gently and with complete acceptance. 

Euphoria: Beauty Revitalized 

With prominent Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter Drake as producer, it was to be expected that Euphoria's soundtrack would be current and perfectly tuned.

What could not have been anticipated before airing, was the visually intoxicating stylization which took the YouTube Beauty community by storm, was featured by Vogue and Glamour Magazine, and launched Euphoria-inspired marketing, look books and tutorials by makeup brands such as HudaBeauty, Stila and NYX amongst others. 

Featuring neon eyeshadows, 1960s bold eyes, 1970s glam rock, glitter tears, and rhinestone accents, Euphoria's glamour was Instagram-ready stepping away from subtly enhancing with makeup to artistic, flamboyant self-expression. 

Levinson encouraged Euphoria's makeup department head Doniella Davy to: “introduce a new makeup language, a way of transcending mainstream archetypes and stereotypes and embracing a more fluid, boundary-pushing mode of self-expression.” 

Euphoria's revitalizing of the beauty industry was born from the aim to suggest to the next generation that they use makeup and beauty not to mask imperfections but to express who they are and by advertising that, paving the way to them being represented. The very same objective of Euphoria as a series.