![]() The increased focus on other characters comes with a trade-off, as prominent personalities from the first season have to take a back seat. Zendaya and Hunter Schafer are certainly the leads of the show-and their exceptional performances certainly warrant that status, but Sweeney solidifies herself as worthy of inclusion alongside those two as she steps up her game once again. Hot off her star turns in The White Lotus and The Voyeurs last year, Sweeney finds new depths to mine with Cassie, turning a relatively internal and cerebral take on the character into an explosive powerhouse of a performance as she barely holds it together in the wake of a new and shocking status quo. Levinson smartly gives Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie another meaty arc to tussle with this go-round. Anyone who watched all five hours of This is 40 in 2012 knew she had a gift, but it’s taken about a decade for it to become fully realized. The increased screen time means Apatow comes into her own as a performer, becoming one of the season’s biggest surprises. Lexi, previously resigned to an observational role, recognizes her own passivity in the story (in a playfully knowing acknowledgment from Levinson) and begins to take steps to wrestle control of her narrative. Cloud’s soulful take on Fezco continues to be one of Euphoria’s secret weapons, and getting him more into the mix makes the show all the richer when he gets to interact with characters who aren’t just Rue. The broadened scope immediately benefits two characters needing further establishment: Fezco ( Angus Cloud) and Lexi (Maude Apatow). Throughout the seven episodes sent for review, Levinson (still responsible for the lion’s share of the series’ directing and writing) doubles down on the introspection, dedicating his attention to further fleshing out his expansive cast-with the same melodrama and stylish glamor the series cut its teeth on during its debut. Picking up a few weeks after Rue’s (Zendaya) relapse and the Christmastime-set special episodes, Euphoria opens up with a New Year’s Eve fling-one last good time-before a descent into darkness. If the first season was all about letting the good times roll, then the much anticipated (and delayed) sophomore effort is decidedly about the comedown. ![]() While Euphoria had dark moments, overall, the show felt like a bit of a party there was some drama, but nothing which would significantly harsh the vibes. ![]() Euphoria’s strength was how it intentionally stripped away at the veneer of its ensemble cast to expose a compelling underlay. Throughout its debut season, creator Sam Levinson’s angsty HBO teen drama detailed high highs and low lows-whether it be through drug use, fraught relationships, or any other of the myriad difficulties young people find themselves encountering in this modern era-all wrapped up in a gilded sheen.
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