Euphoria has finally returned with its long-awaited second season. Euphoria originally premiered in 2019, with its first season. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, season two was postponed for two years. To hold fans over while waiting, two special episodes were released last winter. They focused individually on series stars, Rue (played by Zendaya) and Jules (played by Hunter Schafer). Since premiering, Euphoria has become a massive success, taking over pop culture with its trendsetting fashion and makeup styling. The leading star, Zendaya, has become the youngest woman to win an Emmy for Best Actress in a drama series for her portrayal as Rue Bennett in Euphoria. Season one of Euphoria and the special episodes are available to stream on HBOMax. Before we get into all the drama that went down in the season two premiere let’s recap what you might forgotten from season one and the special episodes.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers from season one of Euphoria, the special episodes, and season two episode one.
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of abuse, abortion, addiction, drugs, and violence.
Euphoria Season 1 Recap
Last season, Euphoria left off on a heartbreaking finale with almost all the couples splitting up. Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and her boyfriend McKay (Algee Smith) break up after he pressures her into getting an abortion. Their relationship is left up in the air.
Maddy (Alexa Demie) struggles to break up with Nate (Jacob Elordi) after uncovering a dark secret about his sexuality. They come to terms with the abusive toxic nature of their relationship.
The only person in a healthy relationship at the end of season one is Kat (Barbie Ferreira) who confesses her feelings for Ethan (Austin Abrams). Meanwhile, Fezco “Fez” (Angus Cloud) robs a doctor to make up for the drugs lost in the police raid, which was triggered by Nate snitching on him.
The episode ends with Rue and Jules (Hunter Schafer) deciding to run away together. However, Rue changes her mind at the last minute and Jules abandons her at the train station. Subsequently, Rue relapses as a response to Jules’ abrupt departure.
Special Episode Part 1: “Trouble Don’t Last Always”
Rue’s special episode focuses on her conversation with Ali (Colman Domingo), at a local diner on Christmas Eve. They discuss heavy subject matter ranging from the struggles of sobriety, addiction, and religion. This special episode sets a different tone for Euphoria, steering away from the colorful aesthetic and glamorized drug use commonly portrayed on the show. Instead, the characters maturely discussed the struggles and impact of addiction on family members. The episode ends with Rue receiving a text from Jules saying “I miss you”.
Special Episode Part 2: “Fuck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob“
Jules’ special episode parallels Rue’s, following the aftermath of Jules running away to the city. Grounded and in therapy, Jules reflects on the past year since moving to town. She discusses meeting Rue and diving headfirst into their complicated relationship, falling in love with Nate who was cat-fishing her, struggling with her femininity, and questioning going off her hormones/de-transitioning. This special episode gives fans a much-needed perspective into the mind of Jules. We see how her complicated relationship with her drug addict mother impacted her relationship with Rue. The episode ends with Rue visiting Jules, after leaving the diner. Jules apologizes to Rue causing both to get emotional, followed by Rue’s abrupt exit.
Season Two Premiere: “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door”
Fez/Ashtray/Rue
Jumping right in, the episode gives fans Fez’s long-awaited backstory, explaining how he ended up taking care of his grandmother and running a drug business. Described by Rue as “a m*therf*ckin’ G”, that’s exactly who Fez’s grandma (Kathrine Narducci) was. Watching Fez’s childhood unfold right before our eyes, we see his grandma shoot his dad (for giving Fez a black eye), raise Fezco herself, and teach him about the drug business. Fez learns one major lesson from his grandma (amongst many): violence is the answer.
In one particular instance, Fez’s grandmother attacks a man who crossed her with a crowbar; when Fez tries to intervene, he is accidentally hit in the head and the narrator tells us that is Fez’s first “dark spot” (foreshadowing much?). If one adopted son wasn’t more responsibility than she could handle, grandma “adopts” baby Ashtray who was given to her as collateral on a drug deal. When his grandma falls sick, Fez is forced to take over the business while also taking care of Ashtray.
Fast forward to the present day, it’s New Year’s Eve. Fez and Ashtray are driving to a drug deal with a high Rue in the backseat. While Fez and Ash go handle business, Rue sits in the backseat with another drug dealer’s girlfriend Faye (Chloe Cherry). Faye starts shooting up heroin in the backseat while Rue rants about Jules leaving her at the train station. Out of nowhere, the two girls are kidnapped by thugs of the drug dealer Fez is doing business with. After surviving the dangerous drug deal, Rue is a chatterbox in the backseat on the way to a party with Fez and Ash.
Cassie/Nate/Maddy
At the New Year’s Eve party, Jules, Kat, and Maddy roll in together, with Maddy jetting off to find the bathroom. On the way there she runs into Lexi (Maude Apatow) trying to find her sister Cassie. Cut to Cassie sitting drunkenly outside a convenience store, where Nate finds her. Catching up, the two discover they are both recently single and Nate offers to drive Cassie to the party.
Nate and Cassie flirt on the way to the party and once they arrive, they end up hooking up inside the bathroom Maddy is waiting outside of. With Maddy yelling and banging on the door, Cassie quickly starts to freak out while Nate thinks of a solution. Deciding to hide inside the bathtub, Cassie is forced to think about her decision to hook up with her best friend’s ex-boyfriend. Once escaping, Cassie runs into Mckay, leading to the two of them have a conversation about officially breaking up.
Lexi/Fez
After giving up searching for Cassie, Lexi makes company on the couch with Fez. The two initially bond of their shared friendship with Rue, and continue to talk. Before leaving the party Fez asks Lexi for her phone number.
Rue/Elliot
Hiding from Jules at the party, Rue escapes to Fez’s car where she tries the heroin left by Faye. Returning back to the party, Rue accidentally walks in on Elliot (musician Dominic Fike) who is doing drugs in the laundry room. Soon, they’re getting high together and Rue starts to panic thinking she might be going into cardiac arrest. She instructs Elliot to crush up the Adderall in her sock so she can snort it. Somehow surviving, Rue and Elliot head off to smoke around the bonfire.
Jules/Rue
Looking for Rue the majority of the night, Jules spots her sitting next to Elliott around the bonfire. While talking, Jules finds out that Rue relapsed the night she left. Trying to avoid the conversation, Rue decides to leave with Fez and Ashtray before returning back to the party to share a midnight kiss with Jules.
Nate/Fez
After the countdown, Nate is approached by Fez at the bar who instantly provokes Fez reminding him that the last time they spoke, Fez threatened to kill Nate. Raising a toast to the New Year, Fez hits Nate over the head with a Titos vodka bottle and pulls him to the ground attacking him as payback for Nate snitching to the police last season about Fez’s drug business. Carried out by Maddy, Cassie, and Mckay, the episode with Nate being taken to the hospital.
This season on Euphoria
Following the season two premiere, Euphoria released a trailer for the remaining seven episodes in the weeks ahead. Nate wakes up in the hospital after getting beaten up by Fez. Jules, Rue, and Elliot met again after New Year’s on the first day back at school. Cassie stresses out about sleeping with Nate. Maddy contemplates getting back together with Nate. Lexi pursues her own passions getting closer to Fez and directing a play at school. Kat struggles with not knowing who she is. Rue hits rock bottom with her drug addiction. New Episodes of Euphoria are available to stream every Sunday on HBOMax at 9 PM EST, 8 PM CST, and 6 PM PST.
What were your thoughts on the season two premiere of Euphoria? Let us know in the comments.
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