With the release of the new season of Euphoria last month the story is unlike anything we have seen. The first two seasons took place while the cast was in high school and the main character Rue was often under the influence of drugs. With the timeskip and change in scenery, viewers think that the new season has made the show lose its spark, but I’d beg to differ. Euphoria is season three has made a seamless segway from the transition of the characters being minors to adults while providing a great story still.

The biggest “issue” that fans have is that many believe there is no direction in this season and that the aesthetic has changed from colorful to monochromatic. That is what Euphoria has always been, directionless. The entire plot of the first two seasons was Rue getting high and ruining her life by the decisions she made. It was never realistic, having overdramatized and overexaggerated situations, but that is what made the show good because you never knew what was going to happen. That’s exactly what is happening this season, with the only difference being the characters aren’t juniors and seniors in high school. This is why the aesthetic has changed, because there isn’t a euphoric undertone as everyone is going through the struggles of being an adult.

This season is a come down from the high that every character had, while still keeping that madness that viewers were drawn to previously. Especially when it comes to the problems that production has had to face with the loss of Angus Cloud playing Fezco and Eric Dane who plays as Cal Jacobs, who was at the time was sick from ALS, which greatly affected his acting. So to be able to still keep this series’ spark is incredible. Even now people say the message of the story has been skewed but I discredit that, Sam Levinson the director is still showing the ugly side of addiction and drugs, just from the viewpoint of the distributor rather than the consumer where our main character has been both. I love the parallel of shifting in the story as well as the consequences of everyone’s actions directly and indirectly. For example, Nate Jacobs, a central character, was sexist in the first two seasons and wanted a conforming woman partner, but now he is confined to a relationship with a woman who is defying that conformity which is subtly ruining his life.

I will not deny that Sam Levinson at times is questionable when it comes to certain scenes and it has gotten more unhinged now that the characters aren’t high schoolers. But he still is adding meaning to his chaotic story with subtle hints and interpretations. Euphoria isn’t directionless and is still just as good as the first two seasons, if not better. I have high hopes for the rest of the season because Euphoria has always been the show to constantly surprise its audience time and time again.