HBO’s hit teen drama Euphoria has been stirring up discussions since it first aired in 2019. The show, which doesn’t shy away from showing the realities of teenage life, has grabbed a lot of attention. The season 2’s premiere drew a huge audience of 5.2 million viewers, making it the second most-watched show on HBO, just behind Game of Thrones (via Variety).
The show has faced criticism for its explicit content, especially scenes involving n*dity with underage characters. Even parents, addiction specialists, and some viewers have raised concerns about it. With creator Sam Levinson facing renewed scrutiny again over his show, The Idol, in 2023, the future of Euphoria Season 3 hangs in the balance.
Euphoria Actress, Sydney Sweeney, Defended Sam Levinson Despite Criticism
Sam Levinson‘s distinctive style, known for its unfiltered depiction of s*x and drug use, has been a constant source of controversy. Critics argued (via Rotten Tomatoes) that his show Euphoria, glamorizes teenage addiction and exploits young actors, especially the female cast, who are frequently shown in s*xually suggestive scenes.
Later in 2023, Levinson’s series, The Idol, created with musician The Weeknd, faced similar criticism for its reportedly graphic content. Critics slammed the show on Rotten Tomatoes, describing it as “crude” and “gross” for its “vulgar” nudity and s*x scenes.
The Hollywood Reporter noted, “Rarely does a scene go by without the camera showing flashes of her [Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp)] br*asts or a*s.”
Whereas, Deadline said, “Depp is quite rivetingly game with, to put it mildly, a highly s*xualized performance that also is grounded and often vulnerable, discomfortingly addressing the fine lines between p*rn and art, power and exploitation.”
Despite all the criticism around, Euphoria and Levinson have their supporters. Actress Sydney Sweeney, who plays Cassie Howard, defended the creator. She told Variety:
“You have me, you have Z[endaya], you have all of these very strong minded, independent women. If we didn’t feel comfortable with something, or we saw something we didn’t like, we’d all speak up. It’s hard to see someone completely trashed by the public and the media when no one’s actually there. We are there, and clearly we’re still working on the show, and we’re still supportive.”
She believes that the show’s intention is to provoke thought and that the cast members are empowered with creative control. Sweeney also pointed out that the show has strong female characters and argues that the n*dity is a realistic depiction of teenage exploration.
Is Euphoria Season 3 on the Horizon?
The big question is whether Euphoria will return for another season or not. And the answer is yes! The official Euphoria Instagram account said in February 2022 that there will be a season 3.
But there have been some delays because of issues like labor disputes in Hollywood, scheduling problems, and sadly, the death of cast member Angus Cloud.
Euphoria season 3 is currently in creative turmoil. According to a recent Variety article, there has been a lot of chaos in the creative process for the upcoming season.
Creator Sam Levinson pitched the idea of a five-year time jump between seasons two and three, but some aspects of this idea didn’t go over well. Apparently, HBO and even Zendaya, who plays Rue Bennett, rejected certain drafts of the scripts. Per the same outlet, HBO has let the cast have the rest of 2024, with the promise of commencing filming in 2025.
Watch Euphoria and The Idol on Max!
