The show “Euphoria’s” protagonist, Rue, played by Zendaya, stares intensely into the barren dessert surrounded by characters from the show. “Euphoria” has had a tremendous influence on current media but has run into controversy with its latest season. (Promotional image from HBO)

“Euphoria” Season 3 is, to put it lightly, a hot mess.

As an avid “Euphoria” fan since 2022, believe me when I say that I was shocked when I first saw the premiere of the newest season. The show I once admired for its experimental plot and excellent humor is now a … psychological drama? I am not the only one confused by this sudden shift, as the once Emmy-winning HBO original series is now being called lazy and disappointing by critics. 

Created in 2019 by director Sam Levinson, “Euphoria” follows Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, a 17-year-old high school student struggling with drug addiction while trying to navigate the complexities and hardships of being a teenager. Known for its dream-like visuals and raw portrayals of addiction, the show has had a major influence on beauty trends through makeup and fashion. However, with Season 3, the magical aesthetic has been ditched for a more Western one, following a five-year time jump from the events of Season 2, symbolizing the characters’ maturing from high school. 

This shift in tone has caused many people to criticize the shows’s creative direction. One major change within the show is the removal of composer and primary musical architect Labrinth. Season 3 instead features Hans Zimmer, and it has resulted in “Euphoria’s” unique sound being substituted for a more generic one with the removal of Labrinth’s original scores. I acknowledge that these changes could have been made to represent the growth of Rue and other characters during their transition into adulthood, but it causes the show to lose what made it stand out in the first place.

This season was also marked with uncertainty before it began, as four years passed between the premiere of Season 2 in January 2022 and the premiere of Season 3 in April 2026. Primarily due to the passing of cast members Angus Cloud and Eric Dane, production was significantly slowed, which affected the perception of the show. Many of the original viewers of the show who could relate to the high school experience grew up during that time gap, begging the question of if the show is even relevant anymore. Due to this break, many characters previously featured in the show are also no longer returning. Most notably, Barbie Ferrera, who plays Kat, announced her departure in August 2022, which led to much uproar within the fandom.

While I will forever hold a special place in my heart for “Euphoria,” it seems as if Levinson dropped the ball when it comes to this season. With the heavy buildup before the release, I expected that more could have been done regarding character development and moving the series forward. 

Overall, it seems that “Euphoria” is starting to lose its originality that made the show great in the first place. In an age where new ideas are pushed away, “Euphoria” was able to offer a new take on teen drama and revolutionized how teens are portrayed on television. If there continues to be an erasure of shows that are able to properly represent teens, we may increasingly see a dying industry that could be forgotten in time.