The Euphoria Effect

If you’re in Generation Z, we are willing to bet you have seen or at least heard of the hit TV show “Euphoria” on HBO. In recent years, there has never been a TV show so impactful on our generation. Everyone is talking about it, and our generation is using it to connect with both our peers and ourselves.

People are talking about “Euphoria” everywhere. Our Tik Tok feeds are flooded with “Euphoria” edits, theories and discussions. Our Instagrams, Snapchats and Yik Yaks are filled with “Euphoria” posts, so many of us can’t even go onto our social media accounts until after we’ve watched the latest episode for fear of spoilers. This isn’t surprising, as social media tends to be a place to discuss popular shows and movies.

What is surprising, however, is how many people are having conversations about "Euphoria" face to face. There has never been a TV show in recent years that people in Gen Z are talking about this much. In any awkward conversation, you can bring up "Euphoria" and, in an instant, an uncomfortable lunch with someone you don’t know can turn into an hour-long conversation about the show. The plot is fascinating, and it’s so easy to talk about what each of the characters are going through.

“I love ‘Euphoria’ because it brings my friend group closer together; we have watch parties every Sunday and for the rest of the week we talk about it all the time,” said Wil Eberhart, a sophomore at Elon University.

But why are we talking about it so much? Some could argue "Euphoria" is just another basic teen drama.

"Euphoria" is truly a show unlike any other. Yes, "Euphoria" is very dramatic, and most other teen shows do a good job of depicting classic teen drama; think “The Vampire Diaries” and “Degrassi.” So, What makes "Euphoria" so different? It’s the raw emotions portrayed by the characters. The drama is entertaining, but Sam Levinson directs "Euphoria" in a way that allows the viewers to really experience what each and every character is going through, which is why it’s so captivating to our generation.

Even though some of the events these characters deal with might not be relatable to everyone, how they handle and react to these situations is something we can relate to, allowing us to understand ourselves even better.

Rue perfectly portrays what it’s like to struggle with anxiety and depression. Cassie represents what it feels like to crave validation. Fez shows someone who was forced to grow up too quickly. And Lexi gives insight as to what it feels like to be constantly taken advantage of.

Even if you might not know what it feels like to struggle with a drug addiction or to have your best friend sleep with your ex, the emotions these characters have are real and they are relatable. This relatability allows our conversations surrounding the show to be open and vulnerable, which is so significant in connecting our generation.

"Euphoria” brings awareness to issues we might not be extremely familiar with. Addiction is one of the most pressing issues in today’s society, but one that is not talked about and recognized enough. Zendaya portrays drug addiction and withdrawal extremely well, ultimately drawing the audience in and making them want to watch more. It also allows the viewer to experience drug addiction from the perspective of the drug addict themselves, as well as the people surrounding and supporting them. Rue’s character is deeply flawed and if portrayed in a different light, she could be seen as a villain. In "Euphoria," Rue is written as someone who is worthy of love and support despite her flaws. As we’ve watched, Gen Z has grown a soft spot for Rue. We want her to succeed and be the best person she can be, even though she has hurt so many people in the process to get there.

This show is teaching our generation to look for the whole story and be empathetic towards things we might not understand. This is such an important lesson to learn, and a lesson that is often hard to teach, but "Euphoria" does an amazing job of emphasizing how important it is to see the whole picture and not define someone only by their flaws.

This is what so many of us love about "Euphoria"; it shows the audience that even though these characters are flawed, and sometimes their actions are indefensible, they are all worthy of love. It shows us for every action these characters make, good or bad, they have a reason for it. Our generation is at an age where we are still trying to figure ourselves out, and that comes with making mistakes. But despite our mistakes, we are always worthy of love and forgiveness.