It’s impossible to get on the internet or social media without seeing something about Euphoria. The teen drama series, created by Sam Levinson, releases episodes weekly. Euphoria focuses on a group of high school students as they struggle with drugs, sex, their mental health, and everything in between.
As much as Euphoria has been praised for its acting and cinematography, it has also been criticized for its focus on gratuitous nudity and excessive drug use. Like many shows dealing with such mature themes, there are times throughout Euphoria when things get a little too intense and uncomfortable for the characters and viewers.
Trigger warning. This article contains mention of sexual assault, physical assault, and drug abuse.
10 When Maddy Is Manhandled By The Police
Euphoria makes it clear that Nate physically abuses Maddy. When Nate grabs Maddy by the neck at the carnival, he leaves severe bruising behind. To cover the bruises, Maddy wears a turtle neck and hoodie to school. Because of the incident, Maddy didn’t have much of an appetite and hadn’t eaten. Without food and without a working AC in school, she passes out.
The paramedics are called and notice the bruising on her neck. By law, the school is required to report the bruises. The police are soon involved and Nate is questioned. Maddy, who is already traumatized, didn’t want to show the police her bruises. When she doesn’t comply, the police forcefully hold her down and cut her clothing from her to take pictures. The experience is no doubt traumatizing to Maddy, but it is also hard to watch as a viewer.
9 Euphoria Was Criticized For Excessive Nudity
Stuntin’ Like My Daddy, in season 1, focuses on Nate Jacobs and features excessive nudity. Stuntin’ Like My Daddy follows Nate from his childhood to his adolescence and documents his developing toxic masculinity. As Rue narrates the scene, Nate walks through the locker room while his classmates and teammates are standing around, talking to him with their genitalia exposed.
The episode Made You Look sees Rue explaining the trend of unsolicited nude photographs. Made You Look features photographs of naked men, specifically their genitalia. Euphoria has been criticized as such relentless nudity isn’t always necessary to the storytelling.
8 When Cassie Is A Victim Of Revenge P**n
Cassie is a beautiful girl and is confident in her sexuality. When a boy gives Cassie attention, she tends to falls in love easily and is persuaded or manipulated into anything. Unfortunately, a lot of sexually explicit pictures and videos of Cassie are uploaded and circulated online, without her consent.
Nothing is ever said about the characters who violate her privacy by uploading these images and videos, and there is only criticism of Cassie. Nate makes derogatory statements about her, and even Daniel calls her a “tease.” The ever-relevant commentary on victim-blaming can make for a difficult watch.
7 When Maddy Is Abused
One thing that Euphoria touched on but glazed over is the subject of Maddy’s virginity. Maddy tells Nate that she is a virgin when they first have sex. However, as Rue narrates, Maddy lost her virginity at 14. When Maddy was 14, she was abused by a 40-year-old man.
As Euphoria handles difficult and mature themes, this was one such theme that was not treated well. Rue’s narration is insensitive, and the manner in which this is dealt with is very nonchalant. Abuse of minors seems to be a reoccurring happenstance in Euphoria.
6 When Cal Goes On A Wild Ride While Drinking
When Cal visits Fezco and Ashtray, he learns a few things. Cal thinks Fezco has the disc (a videotape of Cal and Jules’ sexual encounter), and Fezco and Ashtray think Cal is trying to scare them away from Nate. The situation is a big misunderstanding for everyone involved.
However, after the encounter, Cal learns Nate is in love with Jules. Cal breaks, perhaps because that information sends him spiraling. Cal gets drunk and takes a wild ride through the night. He swerves between both lanes of traffic as he continues drinking. The scene is meant to highlight Cal’s rock bottom, but it also depicts something very dangerous with real consequences.
5 When Tyler Is Beaten Excessively
Tyler’s altercation with Nate is one of Euphoria’s hardest scenes to watch. Nate believes that Tyler sexually assaulted Maddy, so he decides to get revenge. Nate breaks into Tyler’s apartment to wait for him. Nate hopes that Tyler will take the blame for Maddy’s bruised neck if he uses statutory rape as a threat.
Nate beats Tyler mercilessly, wanting him to confess to assaulting Maddy. The beating continues until Tyler is left bloody and afraid to move. Viewers learn that the beating had extensive damage to Tyler’s health, including permanent damage to his eye.
4 When Mouse Tries To Take Advantage Of Rue
When Mouse shows up at Fezco’s house to collect his money, Rue happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mouse introduces himself and forces Rue to try Fentanyl (an extremely strong opioid). Since Fezco thinks that Fentanyl is too dangerous and won’t buy any, Mouse forces Rue into a high so that he can convince her to buy some. The situation is anxiety-inducing.
Rue takes the Fentanyl and slowly loses consciousness. As she’s passed out on Fezco’s couch, Mouse presents a very prominent threat of sexual assault. Since Rue has no money to pay Mouse, he suggests a different method of payment. In a sickening scene, Fezco is forced to step in and pay Mouse off so he will leave Rue alone.
3 When Nate Has A Nightmare About His Father
In episode 7 of season 2, The Theater And Its Double, Nate has a nightmare about his father. In the nightmare, Nate is lying down on his bed and his father comes in and gets on top of him. This rattles Nate, who wakes up in a panic.
Nate and his father have a very complicated and estranged relationship. The nightmare seems to highlight the strange relationship between the two, with a possibility of past abuse from Nate’s dad. It also harkens back to the altercation between Nate and his father – Cal pinned Nate down, which led him to bang his head on the floor and scream out in anger.
2 When Cassie Is On The Carousel
In Shook One Part II, Cassie and Maddy are both ridiculed by their boyfriends. To deal with their emotions, the pair decide to take MDMA (AKA molly). Maddy goes to confront Nate and his parents, while Cassie rides the carousel with fellow East Highland High classmate, Daniel.
At first, Cassie enjoys being on the carousel and likes how free she feels. However, she begins to use the carousel for self-pleasure. As she begins moaning, the crowd and Daniel look on in disgust and disbelief. Embarrassed, Cassie flees from the carousel and tells Maddy she wants to go home.
1 When Nate Plays A Dangerous Game Of Russian Roulette
When Maddy finds out about Nate and Cassie, Nate is sure that Maddy will use the disc of his father as revenge. Nate can’t let that happen, as he knows it will destroy his father and his father’s business that Nate is set to inherit.
He breaks into Maddy’s home and holds her at gunpoint so she will tell him where the disc is. She continues to deny having the disc until he crawls on top of her and points the gun at her head. He begins to play Russian roulette, asking Maddy for the disc and pulling the trigger each time she denies it. Nate had removed the bullets from the gun, but Maddy and viewers are not aware of this until she confesses to having the disc and he leaves. Maddy is clearly traumatized by this, and the scene is hard to forget.
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