In Defense of Euphoria’s Excess

At what point does art go overboard? At what point does shock value begin to deliver diminishing returns instead of dropped jaws? HBO’s Euphoria is in the middle of finding out. The high school drama just ended its second season, which was full of nudity, profanity, drug use, and debauchery. While all of these things have their place on television, the question remains: to what degree?

A Guardian review of the show’s second season stated that “there is so much nudity, so much sex, and so much violence; its characters batter each other senseless, mentally and physically, and the camera lingers on each and every mark.” The review went on to articulate what many viewers of the show have taken issue with: “At times, the most shocking thing about Euphoria is that there are still some scenes set at school. It is easy to forget that the characters are supposed to be 17; their lives are a joyless mess of affairs, hookups, drugs and drink-driving, all wrapped up in a gloomy bow of dread.”

What this criticism misses, however, is that Euphoria is more interested in sensationalizing what it means to be a modern teenager — tackling the anxieties of sex, drugs, social media, and adolescence — than it is in depicting the high school experience accurately. It wants to push the boundaries of the common depiction of high school to its breaking point.

“There are going to be parents who are going to be totally fucking freaked out,” director and creator Sam Levinson told The Hollywood Reporter of Euphoria in 2019. I think we’re authentic to the experience of being young.” In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, Levinson said, “We didn’t want to pull any punches. We didn’t want to make it feel like we were holding anything back or that we are hiding anything. We wanted to make it feel like it feels.”

But when does sensationalization become exploitation?

To the show’s credit, actors have spoken about the precautions taken on set to make them feel safe. Take the many sex scenes included in the show. Amanda Blumenthal, an intimacy coordinator, works closely with Levinson to keep the set safe and comfortable. “I think the wonderful part about having an intimacy coordinator is that if an actor doesn’t feel comfortable doing something, no matter what they agreed to do before, they have the right to not do it,” Levinson also told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019.

Critics have also noted that many female characters are frequently nude on the show, especially Cassie Howard, played by Sydney Sweeney. It would make sense then that the performer who is asked to be nude the most would have some authority when talking about the nudity on Euphoria. As Sweeney describes it, director Sam Levinson’s set is built for comfort. In an interview with the Independent, Sweeney, 24, said that she’s never felt uncomfortable on set. “There are moments where Cassie was supposed to be shirtless, and I would tell Sam, ‘I don’t really think that’s necessary here,’” she explained. “[Levinson] was like, ‘OK, we don’t need it.’ I’ve never felt like Sam has pushed it on me or was trying to get a nude scene into an HBO show. When I didn’t want to do it, he didn’t make me.”

Actress Martha Kelly, who plays a frigid drug lord and human trafficker named Laurie, told Variety that she has also felt heard by Levinson when it comes to crossing boundaries. In one scene, Kelly would’ve had to disrobe a teenager, which, she noted, “in the script, it is even creepier, because Laurie is helping her undress and get in the tub, and it is approaching this gross pedophilia vibe. Initially, I was just like, ‘I can’t do this.’ … It’s difficult to want to play a character that hurts kids.” After chatting with Levinson, they ultimately decided to change the scene, shooting the entire scene with an obscured or out-of-focus camera, thereby sparing Kelly any discomfort.

Minka Kelly, a new addition to season 2, described her character to Vanity Fair as originally “so vague.” After Kelly worked with Levinson, however, her character was developed. “I actually trust and feel safe with a director who’s not afraid to change his mind,” she said. “At the end of the day, the goal is what ends up on screen. We’re all here to facilitate his vision.” Kelly also voiced her concerns with a would-be nude scene that was ultimately cut. In fact, it was her introduction scene, in which her dress was supposed to fall to the floor. “That was my first day as a guest on this new show, and I just didn’t feel comfortable standing there naked,” she revealed. “I said, ‘I’d love to do this scene, but I think we can keep my dress on,’” she continued. “He was like, OK!’ He didn’t even hesitate.”

Make whatever you will of the abundance of nudity and vulgarity throughout the series, but it’s not gratuitous — it’s essential to the foundation of the show. While the audience may not always feel comfortable watching Euphoria, they’re not supposed to. Given that everyone creating the show appears to have consented to their contributions to this show, it seems that the content is not inherently exploitative but perhaps too much for certain viewers. Euphoria may not be chaste or easy to view, but it is effective in its intent.