Any donation helps us keep writing! It also gained traction for its characters–specifically, characters who developed into their arcs questioning, embracing, and repressing their sexuality or gender. A show centered around troubled teenagers who engage in drugs, drinks, crime, and sex, HBO's drama has earned its popularity for its unbridled representation of the teenage experience, all tied together with an addicting soundtrack, fluorescent camera angles, and trend-setting makeup. He is unable to accept that part of himself and struggles when rumors of his sexuality are revealed. Storm Reid as Gia Bennett. There's a lot that Euphoria's disquieting honesty gets right about what it's like to be a modern teen, but there is also much that the series gets wrong.
Rue doesn't care what she takes as long as she experiences the euphoria. However, Euphoria sometimes forgets its main characters are teenagers and portrays them as equals to adults in sexual situations and their acts of sexuality as those of an adult. Her character is bound to make you feel many different emotions all at the same time. Back when he was in high school, he had feelings for his best friend Derek and for a moment it seemed like they had a shot, but all that was blown out of the window upon learning his girlfriend was pregnant. In the end, Nate still finds a way to see Maddy at a motel, so he really wasn't punished because he hasn't gotten Maddy taken away from him.
QUEER||Nate Jacobs|. Seeing as Fez (understandably) doesn't even want to hear her crazy scheme, Rue turns to the deeply sinister, amusingly understated teacher-turned-kingpin, Laurie. It all makes sense now because Fezo and Rue don't have your typical dealer and user relationship. And Cal's story as a tortured man struggling with his sexuality is given a breathtaking backstory in this season's third episode that will make you rethink a character depicted as a towering jerk. An American adaptation of the Israeli show of the same name, "Euphoria" follows the troubled life of 17-year-old Rue, a drug addict fresh from rehab with no plans to stay clean. While Lexi strives to take control, her sister Cassie spends several hours a day squeezing, stretching and mostuzing her skin, to the point of oil overdose, making sure her hair, makeup and outfit are perfectly composed, all in the hope of securing a single admiring glance from Nate, who refuses to acknowledge her existence while at school. She is a lesbian in the series. Maddy, who was in a terrible situation, calls her practically in tears, and Kat blows her off to hook up with a guy. Read on to see Schafer share what it was like for her and Zendaya to pay homage to iconic love stories, her thoughts on Jules's sexual identity, and whether or not she feels Jules was aware of truth about Rue's sobriety. Rue eventually apologizes to Fezo and thanks to him for refusing to sell to her. Though star Zendaya gets most of the attention playing Rue Bennett, a teen struggling with substance use disorder, the second season's episodes are truly an ensemble affair – opening with the harrowing backstory of Rue's drug dealing friend, Fezco, played by a laconic Angus Cloud.
"I definitely think there's validity in saying this might be the worst we've ever seen Rue. Watching Maddy open her door feels akin to a hot-blooded virgin inviting a vampire to their abode; something dark and dreadful is sure to follow. Therefore, viewers must be curious to learn more about the same. During literal locker-room talk, the male students show each other the non-consensual content and slut-shame Cassie. The most notable of the series' critics on this front is the prestigious anti-drug organization, D. A. R. E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), which has condemned the series for its purported glamorization of underage drug and alcohol use. How could we improve it? Fans have praised the authenticity of Zendaya's portrayal of Rue, and Hunter Schafer's portrayal of Jules Vaughn. Because there is so much going on underneath the veil of that relationship on both ends. So I am not going to judge this one too harshly.
It's almost as if the abuse never happened. Zendaya got her start on Shake It Up on Disney Channel. Her experience unveiled the fact that she is not interested in boys but girls. The character of Rue can be deemed to be problematic. Their friendship continues to evolve over the following two episodes, with Jules looking after Rue after she takes Fentanyl.
The encounter is never explicitly stated as non-consensual. The largely-female led show has had significant depictions of mental health and drug addiction. Coming-of-age teen stories often include teenagers exploring their sexuality and encountering sexual situations for the first time where they need to figure out what to do. Rue doesn't respect her mom. To switch it up from the usual hanging out in the bedroom, talking s---, to get something more action-y, was definitely an exciting evening. Yeah, I don't look a lot at what people are saying, but from what I've seen there's already — even without Elliot in the picture — some controversy over what people think about the nature of Rue and Jules's relationship, and whether it qualifies as something that's toxic or worth them investing their time and love and energy in. And so it felt more like a space to just play with the character and the inner workings of her head, and what she's ruminating on at the moment versus something that I think would've changed much of the structural plot in season 2. Barbie Ferreira as Kat Hernandez.
"She feels non-binary to me too, in a lot of ways, which is something that's being explored on the show, " said Sam Levison, creator of Euphoria. Her relationship with Jules is about she makes her feel. "I think I was around her age when I started to understand that transitioning wasn't this point A to point B sequence. For these characters, phenomena such as revenge porn, "dick pics, " and online fetish sites are as natural and commonplace as girly magazines and Harlequin romances were to previous generations. This bisexual character with the most chaotic backstory is brought to life by Eric Dane who you might remember as McSteamy from Grey's Anatomy. Lexi comforts Rue at the Halloween party after she calls herself "a burden". HBO's Euphoria: A group of high school students try to discover their own identities while dealing with drugs, trauma, love, and social media.
It's a plot twist in the love triangle, as he and Rue seemed to have genuine chemistry, beyond their shared passion for substance abuse. The Sober Generation. Rue is seen in relationships with both men and women, and Nate's sexuality is speculated about by viewers, but neither of their sexualities are labeled throughout the entirety of the show. Rue's reserved attitude towards sex doesn't confirm her being asexual.
As the show's second season explores the various facets of Rue's personality, a discussion about her sexuality emerges. NOT THE IN UNIVERSE REACTION. She's still doing the video porn thing and coming off a high from having sex with a former popular guy at her high school. Meanwhile, Jules, Rue and Elliot have formed a tight friendship, taunt with sexual tension, simmering, unexpectedly, between Elliot and Jules. Chronically horny Cal explores his sexuality for the very first time, with both his girlfriend Marsha and his best friend Derek, who he seems to have a genuine romantic attachment to - for the first and (seemingly) last time in Cal's life, it's not just about sex. Dominic Fike as Elliot. Rue and Lexi have been friends since pre-school. Rue is short of Ruby Bennett. For instance, Rue has always struggled with mental health ever since she was a child, and the death of her father led her to feel such sadness that she began using narcotics to help her cope with the struggles she was facing.
Therefore, it can be said that Rue is lesbian. Oh my gosh, that was so much fun. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. I also don't think Rue and Jules really ever talked about their relationship. The last time they see each other is at the winter formal, where Rue and Jules nearly run away to the city together. Jules has had a difficult life but across both seasons, has remained radically inspirational. Kim Kardashian Doja Cat Iggy Azalea Anya Taylor-Joy Jamie Lee Curtis Natalie Portman Henry Cavill Millie Bobby Brown Tom Hiddleston Keanu Reeves. Throughout season one, we also see Nate struggling with his sexuality as he tries to understand his feelings for Jules. Moreover, Maddy's family presses charges against Nate, and he is suspended even though Maddy won't admit that he laid a hand on her.
Before she leaves, Laurie warns to never betray her, or she'll send some "sick people" after Rue. The Rating: While the content of the show isn't quite entirely positive, that isn't necessary. However, there is a conversation in which Nate's sexuality is being discussed and someone explains how some people aren't 100% straight or gay and that sexuality is a spectrum, explicitly stating that bi people do exist. Euphoria continuously presents teens having sex with adults as empowering for them, even though the underage characters seem to not take pleasure but are instead using sex as a way to feel better about themselves, which promotes the idea that uncomfortable sex that only focuses on the pleasure of the man, abusive sex, and sex with power imbalances are empowering.
Although Euphoria has meaningful representations of diverse characters, mental health, and drug addiction, at the same time, the sexual exploitation and abuse of teens in Euphoria are often portrayed as the sexual empowerment and agency of teens. I loved how it explored many of the problems that everyone has with their bodies, sexuality, sexual agency, romantic lives, and well... sex. I've recently been listening to the show's playlist and I love most of the songs. And that was fun for me and Z just because we got to do our Southern accents and act like kind of old withered Southern dudes who were secretly gay for each other. She feels as if she has to take care of her and she knows that their relationship is the only thing keeping Rue sober. Despite having an idea what you should want, or what you would like for yourself to desire, desire can't necessarily be controlled. Rue starts to think that her only fate is death because she's heard of people with Bipolar disorder committing suicide. I get that she's found confidence in herself, but she should still at least try being a good friend. Maddy doesn't lack any confidence and is quick to tell anyone off. We also see Rue and Lexi act as detectives in a dream-like episode when Rue becomes manic. But there's only so far one can stretch out a weed high; if her friends don't already suspect the truth, they'll figure it out soon enough.
This seems to reflect and reinforce the sobriety trend in America and around the globe, as ever-increasing numbers of adults and teens begin to grapple with their addiction and seek new paths free of dependency.