☛ Cette critique est aussi disponible en français [➦].

Translated by Gabrielle Baillargeon-Michaud. 

Euphoria, now HBO's most-watched program following Game of Thrones, is a teen drama centered around issues of drug addiction and sexuality. The first season, written and produced by Sam Levinson, premiered on television in June 2019. Levinson drew from an Israeli mini-series of the same name by director Ron Leshem to craft the character of Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a neurodivergent teen grappling with drug addiction issues. The series kicks off as Rue exits a drug rehabilitation center after a life-threatening overdose. As she starts the new school year, she forms a bond with Jules (Hunter Schafer), a young transgender woman new to the suburban U.S. setting that backdrops the entire series.

While the series primarily delves into the effects of drug addiction on familial and personal relationships, akin to Mae Martin’s Feel Good, its narrative also closely follows several other characters. Centered around Rue and Jules, the show addresses a variety of issues concerning sexuality and technology. For instance, nudes and sexually explicit videos are a central, recurring theme in Euphoria. Rue gives an explicit tutorial on rating penis photos (sent consensually, of course); we witness Jules' nude photo shoot, where she seeks Rue’s assistance; we observe how the illicit spread of sexual content prompts male characters to objectify and slut-shame their female peers. As episodes unfold, sextortion emerges as a significant manipulative force among the characters.

Thankfully, Euphoria maintains a critical, sex-positive perspective. It portrays the dynamics that foster sexual violence but also shows how characters can reclaim certain situations. For example, after a non-consensual video of her appears on porn sites, Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira) discovers the world of online sex work, and her storyline depicts her transformation into a dominatrix (a feminine dominant role in BDSM) and her growth in dealing with the fatphobia she faces at school. While the series often addresses sexual issues in an informed and critical manner, at other times, the narrative overlooks the consequences of certain behaviours, therefore downplaying their severity.

Lastly, Euphoria is a visually and aesthetically compelling experience. The direction features a narrative style that includes flashbacks and sudden digressions, alongside sophisticated camera work that adeptly reflects drug use and mental health issues. Two special episodes and a second season are also available online.

Reference :

Director/Creator: Sam Levinson
Title: Euphoria
Release Date: 2019
This TV show is available on Crave.