The popular HBO series Euphoria has returned after a four-plus-year hiatus for season 3. With the unfortunate passing of Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, along with Eric Dane, who played Nate Jacobs’ dad, Cal, this new season has premiered with heavy hearts. The series has its familiar cast members— Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, Coleman Domingo, Chloe Cherry, and Maude Apatow. Now that the group has finished high school, the new season follows their lives five years later.
The episode begins with Rue driving fast in the desert in Mexico. She drives on a ramp to cross the border to Texas, but the vehicle gets stuck at the top, so she tries to walk off the ramp. She successfully makes it across and ends up staying with a family in their farmhouse until it’s time for her to go home to California.
We learn that Laurie is still making Rue do her dirty work to pay her debt. Rue owes her over 43 million dollars. So now, she’s a drug mule with the help of Faye. Rue ends up in Mexico again and brings Faye with her for a drug deal. After the two girls get the drugs into their system, they leave the country, coming back to Laurie’s house.
Rue also spends her time making extra money as an Uber driver. After dropping a client off, she visits Lexie. The two of them talk about Fezco, who’s in prison. Lexie is a personal assistant for a Hollywood soap opera.
Next, we see Cassie in her mansion making content. She married Nate, who comes into the house to find her dressed up as a dog, making their housemaid record her. Nate yells at her, telling her to act like a woman. We learn that Nate is now the boss of Cal’s construction business.
Maddy works in management, representing actors and influencers. One of her clients is Dylan Reed, a popular actor, whom Lexie has a crush on.
Rue meets with Ali for dinner. He gives her advice on religion, as she’s curious about becoming a Christian. She chooses to start reading the Bible.
The next day, Rue delivers a package. When asked to use the restroom, the handler tells her to come straight back. But Rue gets sidetracked dancing with party guests. The handler pulls her aside to meet his client, Alamo. The two of them get along as she finds out Alamo runs a brothel a little while later, Alamo finds out that Laurie’s drugs are laced with Fentanyl after a girl dies. He questions Rue. She tells him her situation with Laurie goes all the way back to high school.
After stalking Maddy’s Instagram profile, Cassie makes a candlelit dinner for her and Nate. The two of them discuss wedding planning. She tells him that she wants to create an OnlyFans so she can start earning money to help with the funds. She gives him a proposition— no wedding, or she makes her own money.
After Alamo and Rue talk about her past, he learns that she believes in God. But he questions whether God believes in her. Alamo tests her faith by shooting an apple off the top of Rue’s head. The bullet hits the apple, and in that moment, his question is answered— she’s lucky.
Overall, this was a good first episode. We got to see everyone in their new lives, aside from Jules, and see if they had changed or not. One scene that stood out was Rue and Alamo talking about his career as a boss. It’s clear that the two of them will have an interesting friendship throughout the season. It’s also nice to see that Rue still goes to Ali and communicates with him, seeing as he was always there to support and help her as her sponsor. What’s next to come in episode 2?
Rating: 9/10