At long freaking last, the wait is almost over. The season 3 trailer just dropped, and Euphoria is finally returning. Devoted fans may have aged, graduated, cycled through multiple situationships, and have a much more fully developed prefrontal cortex than they did for the first 2 seasons, but that’s ok. That maturity will only make the April 12th season premiere that much sweeter.
For the approximately three people out there who don’t know what Euphoria is, it’s an HBO teen drama that has been wildly missed for the last four years. To get an understanding of the vibe, think: drugs, trauma, glitter, and bad decisions (with more glitter). The show follows a group of high school students in suburban America, featuring unflinching portrayals of addiction, and outfits that look like someone’s sleep paralysis demon had discovered fashion. The visuals are absolutely cinematic, and this is… not your average after-school special. The show has inspired everyone in some form or fashion, whether those someones are part of the newest generation of high-fashion designers, or OnlyFans Girls hustling for their subscribers online; the cultural reach is absolutely insane.
Critics loved Euphoria, viewers were obsessed, and pretty much everyone had an opinion, even if it took them a minute to fully form it. Season 1 aired in 2019, and it seemed to be a bit of a slow-burn critical darling, but then Season 2! Airing in 2022, it broke HBO streaming records, and exploded on social media. The four-year gap since season 2 wrapped didn’t make the hype die down at all, but rather amplified it. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder, and Reddit threads grow (somehow) even longer.
Why is the show still such a hit despite being quiet for four years after only airing two seasons? Well, other than it just being really freaking well done, let’s talk star power. Zendaya— the woman, the myth, the multi-Emmy winning actress whose face you are required to watch anytime her hubby’s old Celebrity Lip-Sync Battle comes across your feed— she plays the role of Rue Bennett. Rue is a teen in recovery from drug addiction, and Zendaya nails it. Those two Emmy awards she’s got? Both were for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance in Euphoria (awarded in 2020 and 2022), and she’s the youngest two-time winner in that category. Zendaya didn’t just carry Euphoria, she is Euphoria.
There was one bittersweet moment in the Season 3 trailer that had me asking who was cutting onions in my one-person apartment. Eric Dane passed away in January of this year, and his portrayal of Cal Mead in the upcoming season was one of his final filmed performances. Dane was best known for his role of Dr. Mark Sloan (“McSteamy”) on Grey’s Anatomy, and his presence in Season 3 as the deeply complicated patriarch of the Mead family… well. It’s safe to say that it will carry more than a little weight for viewers.
So do you think Euphoria Season 3 is going to prove to be worth the wait? If fan response to the trailer is any indication, then absolutely. The new season premieres April 12th, on HBO/Max, at which point we can all openly wail at the production company about the emotional damage they’ll no doubt be wreaking upon us all. The fact that we’re watching voluntarily is beside the point. A few suggestions as you prepare, fans? Have a stash of your comfort snacks handy, make sure your preferred sadness blanket is clean and ready, and what the hell. Go ahead and book a session with your therapist for April 13th.
