After almost four years off the air, I wasn’t even interested in revisiting Euphoria.
The series has a habit of long gaps between seasons, but nothing about Euphoria Season 3 sounded appealing.
On paper, the storylines felt contrived and like a big departure from what made the first two seasons work.
Now that I’ve actually sat down to watch the opening episodes of this controversy-ridden third season, I’m surprised to say it’s strangely compelling.
But more than that, something about it feels off in a way I can’t quite shake.
The time jump was my biggest concern going in. I couldn’t work out how characters like Cassie, Maddie, and Rue would still be in each other’s lives years after high school.
That connection was such a big part of what made the earlier seasons of Euphoria tick. Now, that structure is gone, and in its place is something much looser.
The characters all have their own reasons for being in California. Still, they feel more disconnected than ever, like they’re drifting in and out of each other’s stories rather than actually sharing one.
That uneasy feeling carries over into Rue’s storyline.
Rue Remains The Focal Character on Euphoria
She’s as chaotic as ever. Trouble follows her everywhere, even when she’s trying to do the right thing. But it’s not just that she’s making bad decisions.
It’s that she seems to be operating as if the normal rules no longer apply to her.
Telling Angel the truth about Tish is a perfect example. It’s hard to understand what she thought she would gain from that, and it immediately puts her in a more dangerous position.
Then there’s Alamo and Laurie.
Rue might see Alamo as the lesser of two evils, but that doesn’t make him safe. Neither of them has anyone’s best interests at heart.
Everything they do is about control and money, and anyone caught in the middle is expendable.
That’s why the rehab situation feels so disturbing.
Nothing about that place looked legitimate. There was no paperwork, no real process, just Rue dropping Angel off and leaving. It didn’t feel like help.
It felt like something much darker, like people could disappear there and no one would ask questions.
And if that’s the case, Rue may have just put herself right in the middle of it. If anything happens to Angel, she’s the last person to have seen her.
It’s not hard to imagine that coming back to haunt her, especially if law enforcement is already circling and building a case against Alamo and Laurie.
Away from Rue, the rest of the characters only add to that sense that everything is slightly out of sync.
Cassie is still chasing validation, now through fame and attention, even if it means people talking about her OnlyFans behind her back.
It feels like a continuation of who she’s always been, but also a reminder that she hasn’t really grown.
Maddie, on the other hand, feels like the most natural progression from the earlier seasons. She’s more calculated now, more aware of how to play the long game.
Out of everyone, she’s the one who seems most in control, which makes her the most interesting to watch.
Nate Doesn’t Deserve Redemption
Nate is a harder sell. His financial problems and personal life suggest a different version of the character, but it’s difficult to invest in any redemption arc after everything he’s done.
If the show is trying to position him as an underdog, it’s a risky move.
And then there’s Jules.
So far, her storyline feels the most disconnected. There hasn’t been enough time spent exploring how she got here, and her scenes feel more like they’re there to tick a box than to move anything forward.
It’s a step back, especially considering how strong her material was on Euphoria Season 2.
That disconnect across the board might be the point.
Without the school setting tying everyone together, the show feels more fragmented, as if these characters exist in the same world but not really in the same story.
It makes everything feel less stable, less predictable, and, at times, more unsettling.
Right now, Euphoria Season 3 feels like a version of this world where anything could happen, and no one is really safe.
And as uncomfortable as that is, it’s also what makes it so hard to stop watching.
What are your thoughts on Euphoria Season 3 so far? Do you think there’s a way for all of these storylines to come together?
Do you even care? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
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