This show has been out for awhile and I am really late to the bandwagon, but when I first heard about it I wasn’t too interested in it. At the time I hadn’t explored film that much, so now was the best time for me to get into.
Euphoria is a coming of age tale of about various high schoolers who struggle with issues of drugs, sex, and violence. Now we have all seen these types of run of the mill genres before, but this series, much like every great coming of age film, is completely honest with itself. Nothing is sugar coated. I watch this show and I think about my time in high school and it isn’t completely different. Admittedly, this show may be hard to watch for some viewers, given the amount of sex, nudity, and violence. Those complaints towards the film are justified and logical, however it remains to be a brutally honest depiction of us as humans, especially during those trying times in high school.
What separates Euphoria from your average television series, with the exception of the performances and source material, is the overall look. The way the camera moves around, mimicking the feelings of the characters at hand. The series features beautiful editing techniques that are almost seamless, unnoticeable. It is also, at times, drenched in a nice luscious neon glaze. It’s a limited series, that never drags once. The characters are fleshed out and interesting, we are able to connect with them on an emotional level.
I asked myself in the beginning why is this show so popular, why is everybody raving about it? I think I know the answer now. It’s a relatable show that doesn’t seem fake or pretentious. The themes and ideas thrown in, and talked about, or shown via visual storytelling, feel very urgent and significant. It is a gorgeously looking film, that is always engaging, with different twists and turns. It is a show that is worth checking out.
Cedric Cinema 