Euphoria
Sam Levinson
This is like if The Wire was more of a comedy and with less lofty, but equally poignant, ambitions.
This is not always an easy watch, but it is a great one.
It's funny, it's heartfelt, and it's always unique. You never quite know where the plot will take you, which is incredibly rare in the over-explained-because-everyone-is-on-their-phones strategy that most shows must take.
Euphoria explores the terrible highs and horrifying lows of high school and beyond in its first season before departing for greater highs and lows that take you unbelievable places in the final season.
The characters are all multi-faceted and great explorations of different walks of life.
The show’s end was a teeny bit unceremonious but still excellent and wrapped everything up beautifully. There were some simplifications due to Euphoria-fueled stardom and COVID, but nothing to warrant the braindead critical takes I saw prior to finishing the series out.
If you have thin skin, unhealed drug trauma, are prudish, or want something simple, then please steer clear. This has a rich story dealing with tough topics taken on by amazing actors, powerful shots, good writing, and everything else you can ever ask for from a show. I strongly recommend this one for people with fully functioning brains.
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