The relentlessly explicit drama seems to have taken one look at its former self and thought: not shocking enough, try this instead! Can it get its heart back?
It has been two and a half years since Euphoria (Sky Atlantic) arrived, busily and noisily, its teenage dramas rendered boldly in bleak stories of sex, drugs and smartphones. But, despite its attention-grabbing showiness, it had a big heart – and the two standalone specials that came after season one followed it down an emotionally astute path.
Each focused on a single character as they wrestled with trauma and heartbreak. Rue (Zendaya) met her sponsor as she was relapsing; Jules (Hunter Schafer) met her therapist as she struggled with her mental health. The episodes showed the series at its best – a combination of gutsy writing and brilliant performances.
