Julia Ross ’21, Editor in Chief: Euphoria (HBO Series)

If you enjoy gripping dramas that tackle complex themes, Euphoria is the show for you. Centered around a bipolar girl with an addiction to opioids named Rue (Zendaya), and a transgender teen, Jules (Hunter Schafer), who finds herself in dangerous situations when exploring her sexuality, the artistic visuals and acting take the viewer through an emotional experience of heartbreak, loss, betrayal, jealousy, love, and bliss. Euphoria, devoid of the usual one-dimensional romances and the glorification of drug and alcohol use that can often be found in modern teen shows, portrays the very real consequences of addiction and the difficulties of mental illnesses that plague many of the younger generation. 

Although the cast is exceptionally good looking and the teen characters are played by actors in their 20s, the show is able to capture the essence of highschool and the multifaceted ways that “love” takes form. Viewers will see themselves, regardless of whether they want to, in many of the characters portrayed: In Rue, who strives to find coping mechanisms and connections in a lonely world, in Jules, who just wants to fit in, in Nate (Jacob Eldori), who has a tenuous relationship with his father and struggles with his sexuality, in Chris (Algee Smith), who wishes he were still in highschool, in Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), who’s past haunts and informs her actions, and in Kat (Barbie Ferreira), who is on a mission to find her identity. With awe-inspiring makeup, visuals, and camerawork, Euphoria draws the viewer in to its disturbing yet realistic storylines, making this a show you will never forget.