Euphoria season 2 episode 5 was perhaps one of the best episodes this season. The writing was airtight, the performances were incredible, and the season’s dangling narrative finally saw some solid foundation.
However, despite all this, is it too little, too late for the show? After a disappointing episode 4, which failed the Bechdel test, I did not have many hopes from this season.
The moment episode 4 threw away Cal’s significant arc merely as a 3-minute monologue, I was done.
To my surprise, the show came back stronger with episode 5. Right from frame one, I was hooked by Zendaya’s performance as Rue, who was going through withdrawal.
We see her give an Emmy-winning performance, and I just wished we had seen this earlier.
If you, too, are a fan of the show, you might be wondering why episode 5 was so good yet did so little for you? Well, I have an answer that might satisfy you.
Euphoria season 2 episode 5 finally finds some sort of footing in terms of the season’s main plot, but it seems a little too late.
A significant chunk of the first four episodes look unnecessary, and episode 5’s brilliance exposes just how weak the writing was so far.
A few things that made episode 5 so good, besides Zendaya’s performance, were:
- Creator Sam Levinson finally gave time to a character arc that was more significant than a love triangle.
- The show also set the stage for the upcoming episodes and how the lives of Laurie, Rue, and perhaps even Elliot intersect in future episodes.
- The episode was an exciting depiction of withdrawal symptoms and addiction problems. People suffering from it usually push everyone away and annihilate everything in their wake. The episode showcased this concept in the most literal and bleak sense.
These, to me, were the three things that made the episode so good.
In fact, I was unable to take my eyes off the screen, and by the time the episode finished, I didn’t realize I hadn’t shifted or turned, or even moved for a second. I guess that’s the kind of writing I was expecting from Euphoria, and we all finally got it.
However, the episode doesn’t redeem the season despite all these good things. Considering this episode has set the stage till the finale, it should’ve been a mid-season episode, i.e., episode 4.
Alternatively, it could’ve been the first or the second episode after establishing Laurie’s character and Rue’s interaction with her. This way, the show wouldn’t have wasted time on Kat’s arc or perhaps even on Cassie, Maddy, and Nate’s arc.
When I look back at all the five episodes, I see how such a great episode’s value is diminished because it’s merely a tiny piece of good writing that stands out amidst a mediocre season in the larger scheme of things.
It’s almost like a glimpse at what could’ve been and just further increases my disappointment as an audience.
Having said that, there are still three more episodes to go, and if the writers and creator Sam Levinson get those right, there’s still hope, and I’d look forward to season 3. Otherwise, it might all be a massive letdown, which I hope doesn’t happen.
About Euphoria
Euphoria is a teen drama on HBO that is loosely based on the Israeli series of the same name. The series is written by Sam Levinson and stars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and others.
The show revolves around Rue, a teen drug addict who is also suffering from Bipolar disorder. She meets Jules, a transwoman, and falls in love with her. Euphoria deals with themes of sexual violence, addiction, trauma, and self-identity.
The series was renewed for season 3 in February 2022.
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