**Warning: Spoilers ahead!!
Ever since the first season of HBO’s Euphoria came out in June 2019, it’s been all anyone’s talking about. And when the long-anticipated Season 2 came out in January, fans were more excited than ever to be reunited with their favorite (really messed up) high schoolers. As an avid fan of the show myself, I couldn’t wait to see how Rue’s relapse had progressed, what was happening between Nate and Maddy, and if I was still mad at Jules after Season 1’s finale. And although Season 2 has tied up a lot of loose ends from the finale of Season 1, it’s opened a chasm of drama, love interests, and darkness – a lot heavier than the series’ first eight episodes. To be honest, I don’t even know which characters I like and don’t like anymore. But with the final episode of Season 2 approaching, I figured now would be a good time to air out some of my thoughts (and try not to freak out about what happens to Fez in Episode 8).
Rue has been going through it this season. Her relationship with Jules and her friendship with Elliot lasted only a few episodes before Jules cheated on Rue with Elliot (yet another reason why I’m not team Jules). Her addiction got progressively worse throughout the season and at the end of Episode 4 I’m pretty sure everyone thought she died. She was cruel to everyone who was trying to help her: Ali, her mom and sister, even Jules. I would go so far as to say Rue became unlikable at points during the season. But I think that’s why her character is so special: She’s deeply flawed yet we can’t help but want her to save herself. In the last few episodes, it seems like she’s going to get help and, for the sake of everyone who loves her, I hope she does.
I can’t talk about this season without talking about Nate Jacobs: everyone’s least favorite psychotic abusive boyfriend (to quote Kat in Season 1). Nate has continued to be the absolute worst when it comes to Maddy – sleeping with Cassie, threatening her with a gun, lying to her. But the real kicker about his storyline this season is his dad, Cal Jacobs. It’s revealed that Cal is not straight and hasn’t been since his high school years. In Episode 4, he goes off the rails, gets super drunk, pees in his house foyer, and confesses to his family that he’s not straight and leaves. He adds into his little speech that Nate is his biggest disappointment. Ouch. I think that was the only moment in the entire season that I felt bad for Nate Jacobs.
It wouldn’t be Euphoria if there wasn’t some drama with Cassie – this season it’s that she is “in love with Nate Jacobs” and he is (apparently) in love with her. Maddy finds out in Episode 5 from Rue, who’s trying to escape her mother and rehab, and gets as angry as you would expect Maddy to get. Cassie then moves in with Nate (???) and becomes, essentially, a blonde Maddy that is also somehow crazier. Cassie has been getting lower on my list of characters I like and while I do feel bad for her, she’s been doing way too much this season. Therapy would probably help.
And finally, Fez and Lexi started a little situationship this season and I am 100% here for it. Lexi has quickly become my favorite character because she is so relatable. Don’t lie and say you wouldn’t put on your best outfit and go out of your way to “spontaneously” run into a boy you like. We’re all Lexi, be proud of it. I’ve gained a lot of respect for Fez this season and his grandma is a bada**. If anything bad happens to him in next week’s episode I will be contacting the producers to complain. Lexi and Fez forever.