By Melissa Morales
HBO’s “Euphoria” is currently one of the hottest, trending shows on television right now. From its makeup, fashion, cinematography, iconic lines, and memorable characters, it’s been a hit with people worldwide, especially with younger audiences. Nonetheless, the question of whether the show crosses the line from awareness to glamorization often comes up. This is understandable; with the show’s aesthetically pleasing visuals and popular soundtrack, some aspects can in fact fall into glamorization if we’re looking at the display from the surface alone. However, I believe that analyzed within a deeper scope, “Euphoria” raises awareness on subject matters of life such as drug use, abusive relationships, and toxic positivity.
Far from a subtle addition to the show’s material, the protagonist, Rue, is a struggling addict in both seasons one and two. During times when Rue takes drugs, it is true that scenes are euphoric with flashy visuals and the “glitz and glam” of when Rue is using. This may seem as if it’s glamorizing drug abuse, however, I believe that this is to get into the protagonist’s mental state of when she is using, what she thinks it’s doing for her, and how it feels internally. We really find out the brutal reality of drug addiction through Rue’s screaming matches with her mother and sister, fights, emotional distress, temporary relief soon becoming devastating relapses, and near-fatal overdoses. It is messy, it is emotional, but it is honest and raises awareness of Rue’s mental and physical submission to drug addiction along with the negative effects it has on her and the people she loves.
Another subject matter that is presented in “Euphoria” is the impact of abusive relationships. While this aspect is more often romanticized rather than glamorized, we discover the harsh truth of Maddy’s and Nate’s abusive, toxic relationship halfway through season one where it then falls into a downward spiral. There is nothing appealing or desirable about this; from the violent choking scene in season one and the emotional trauma and gaslighting Maddy faces throughout. In season two, this cycle repeats with her best friend, Cassie, who is unable to perceive the danger and toxicity of her relationship with Nate. Not only does Nate’s character bring toxic masculinity to the surface, but also raises awareness on how abusive relationships are both especially normalized and often overlooked because of how other people can easily just see what appears to be a healthy romance taking place in public.
On a reverse note, what “Euphoria” does not glamorize is toxic positivity, or the idea that no matter how dire a situation, one should always maintain a positive mindset. In a scene from season two, Kat is overwhelmed with the amount of body-positivity, self-love, and mental health advocates that suddenly appear in her room during a personal nightmare. They shout positive mantras in her face, telling her to “love herself” and break all beauty standards. Of course, many times the message at the root of these self-love positivity mantras aren’t meant with ill intent, but what “Euphoria” manages to shed light on is that sometimes, an uplifting message on social media isn’t enough. Especially for young girls growing up and struggling with body image, the show expresses that self-love is a slow development and should be normalized that way. In other words, humans aren’t only accustomed to feeling happy all the time and are allowed to feel unhappy at certain moments, which helps them in their overall growth.
“Euphoria’s” approach in presenting serious subject matters manages to not only create engaging storylines but can also guide viewers to understand the severity of these situations and their negative influences on people. I believe TV show writers should continue to portray these sensitive, but important, themes in a manner that avoids glamorization and instead raises awareness.