Euphoria has set the world on fire and amassed a great fan following since its initial release in 2019. Its fashion, storyline, plot and how it handles addiction are just a few of the show’s acclaims. After its first season ended, it quickly got picked up again by HBO Max for a second season. The show has many twists and turns and a great leading cast from Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Angus Cloud and more. It can make the audience laugh, cry and question what comes next. With the first season ending on a high and curious note as to what happened to the protagonist, many expected that the second season would follow and exceed the expectations of the previous season. But on February 27, when the last episode of season two aired, many fans were left disappointed and confused. What went wrong in the second season finale? And how was the first season finale better than the second?
The season one finale begins with Rue recovering from a kidney issue after having a depressive episode brought on by troubles with her best friend and twisted lover Jules. She was in the hospital seeking treatment. Afterward, we see her and Jules preparing for the Eastwood High School dance. Once at the dance, drama ensues, leading Rue and Jules to leave and think of bigger plans for themselves in the city. The entire episode works linearly, with no unnecessary scenes, and everyone gets time to shine. The episode ends with an impactful musical and dance scene done by Zendaya and a choir after her character relapses for the final time that season when Jules departs to the city, leaving Rue for good. The song emphasizes and shows the trials of being an addict and what is going through the character’s mind as she struggles and gives into darkness and falls. Moreover, showing the guilt and shame that boils into the character’s struggle with addiction.
This ending initially left many fans wondering what happened to Rue after the fall. Did it symbolize something of a higher power? They wondered if she would still be able to tell her story and narrate no matter how unreliable she could be. They also wondered about the relationship statuses of Maddy and Nate, a toxic cycle that kept replaying and ending worse each time. They wondered about Jules and what would become of her now that she was “freed” of that town and high school drama. They also wondered for Cassie and thought that she would finally develop as a person and get herself together. Those summarize a few of the great characters and arcs of that season. The season one finale devoted time to all those that needed it and didn’t skip or jump around too much. It made viewers develop the right questions and maintained interest for the two years between the two seasons.
In season two, the tone is darker and more violent than before. From the very start of the season, it showed that something different was going to happen throughout that season and it delivered in most ways, except for the finale. The development of the characters has some characters choose and reveal the darkest parts of themselves, from Cassie’s betrayal of Maddy and obsession with Nate, from Rue’s fall into drugs worse than ever before and Nate’s more abusive and violent tendencies to all those around him, to name a few. The season also brought some characters who were wrongfully neglected the season prior, such as Lexi and Ethan. At the end of the season, some aspects felt rushed and unnecessary, such as Elliot’s song and the overall fight between Cassie and Maddy that was teased throughout the entire season and underdelivered when it finally came. Moreover, the dismissal of the Jules and Rue relationship didn’t have the impact that the relationship deserved. In addition, some fans question that the actions of Ashtray in the finale were somewhat out of character for him. They believe that he would’ve found a smarter solution to the problem in his cunning and observant nature instead of behaving impulsively. Many fans have also reported that the scene between Rue and Elliot was in some ways too awkward and could’ve been devoted to other characters. In addition, Elliot’s song is incomparable to the previous season finale, All for Us, and didn’t have the emotion or emphasis that was expected or needed in the finale or match the episode’s tone.
In the end, season two left way too many questions unanswered and left many fans confused and disappointed. In addition, it sidetracked storylines and characters that needed more time on the screen.