Sydney Sweeney and the Shifting Landscape of Euphoria

Four years after its provocative debut, HBO’s *Euphoria* returns with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and the ever-captivating Sydney Sweeney reprising their roles. However, the question lingers: has the show lost its edge? Many critics suggest that *Euphoria* has “become a series with very little to say,” a surprising turn for a show that once defined a generation.

One of the most unexpected shifts in the third (and rumoured final) season is the transformation of Rue’s (Zendaya) storyline into a neo-Western. Picture this: desert drives, tumbleweeds, and a cowboy-hatted boss wielding a golden gun. It’s a departure that’s left many viewers asking, “Huh? Why?”

When *Euphoria* first premiered in 2019, it was groundbreaking. It fearlessly addressed sex, drugs, and gender fluidity as commonplace aspects of high school life. But with the passage of time, Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney have ascended to become major film stars. While their return to their characters feels comfortable, the show’s initial zeitgeist has faded.

The series now feels like a strained attempt to maintain the intimacy of its core group of friends, now in their early 20s, while simultaneously attempting to reinvent them. Zendaya’s performance as Rue remains a standout, earning her two well-deserved Emmys. Her portrayal is even more compelling now, contrasting sharply with the polished image she often presents in public.

Rue continues her struggle with sobriety in Mexico, working off a debt to Laurie (Martha Kelly), a familiar face from the previous season. Zendaya navigates these preposterous turns with remarkable conviction, delivering lines like “And that’s how I became a drug mule” with wry credibility.

Meanwhile, Cassie (Sweeney) and Nate’s (Elordi) storyline feels stagnant, despite the time jump. They are engaged and residing in a lavish mansion, but Nate remains duplicitous, grappling with his father’s construction business, and his character feels underdeveloped. Cassie, on the other hand, is even more spoiled and shallow, spending a staggering $50,000 on wedding flowers.

Her ambition is to be both a “tradwife” and a successful influencer, dedicating her days to creating online content. The season briefly touches upon the growing mainstream acceptance of platforms like OnlyFans, with Cassie proclaiming, “It’s not porn, it’s erotica.” However, this theme is explored with less nuance than in Elle Fanning’s *Margot’s Got Money Troubles*.

Lexi (Maude Apatow) works as an assistant to a showrunner played by Sharon Stone, while Colman Domingo reprises his role as Rue’s AA sponsor, Ali. A poignant moment comes with the appearance of Eric Dane as Nate’s father, in one of his final roles before his passing. Jules (Hunter Schafer) has pursued art school and now supports a luxurious lifestyle. While her intense relationship with Rue is over, their paths may cross again.

Ultimately, *Euphoria* Season 3 feels like a holding pattern. While catching up with familiar characters may satisfy fans, the show’s stars have undoubtedly outgrown it. As the BBC notes, these talented actors have “much better things to do.”

★★☆☆☆

*Euphoria* Season 3 premiered on April 12th in the US on HBO Max, and on April 13th in the UK on NOW and Sky Atlantic.