9 / 10. An immersive, visually stunning and euphoric tale of young adulthood

HBO’s Euphoria is an immersive, visually stunning and often brutally real tale of young adulthood. High School teenager Rue returns home from rehab and immediately struggles to stay clean. She befriends new girl, Jules, and together they, and their peers, navigate life and all that comes with it; drugs, alcohol, relationships and everything in between.

Zendaya is amazing as Rue. Her performance is raw and brilliant. Much of Rue’s behaviour is terrible, but we are shown events that led her to this point of her life - the same is true of the other characters - they are growing into adults and trying to understand themselves.

The show is funny and at times heart-breaking and really portrays the struggles of being a teenager in this world (granted, it’s been a while since I was one myself, but sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same).

All main characters get to share their past and current life struggles with focused episodes, which then interweave with each other’s stories. They all have their flaws and different issues/home lives, but are likeable and have layered personalities, dealing with life in their own way.

Hunter Schafer is compelling as Jules, I was invested in the developing friendship between her and Rue. I also loved Kat (Barbie Ferreira) AKA Kitty Kween. The Skype call with her biggest fan must be seen to be believed and her laugh was infectious, she had me howling at this scene 😊

Angus Cloud gave a subtle performance as Fezco, a man of few words but the conflicts he feels are apparent in his face and actions. Alexa Demie and Sydney Sweeney as Maddy and Cassie are great and put their all into the characters.

Written by Sam Levinson, Euphoria is fully engrossing with dreamy cinematography and a great soundtrack (good to hear Hometown Boy here, it fit so well in the house party scene). The end musical number, All For Us, (written by Labrinth who created the haunting score throughout the season) could have seemed out of place but not in Euphoria. The incredibly talented Zendaya putting her other skills to work here and the scene is very powerful showing her state of mind at the end, like a twisted fever dream.

Really hoping for a second season of this.