The highly anticipated return of Euphoria for its third season has been met with mixed reactions from both fans and critics. Following a five-year break, the HBO series dives back into the lives of former students from East Highland High School, charting their evolution into adulthood. However, despite the star power of Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, the show’s new season has sparked intense debate and criticism, particularly regarding its portrayal of its characters and the show’s provocative content.
One of the key areas of concern from viewers is the direction of the show’s storyline, which some fans have found to be disturbing and overly reliant on shock value. While Euphoria has long been known for its raw and explicit depictions of teen life, drug use, and sexuality, many feel that the series has crossed a line in season 3, especially with Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard.
In the latest episode, titled “America My Dream,” fans were confronted with some of the most graphic and uncomfortable scenes of Sweeney’s career. Cassie is depicted in a variety of provocative and degrading situations, including posing for explicit photos for her OnlyFans account. These scenes include images of Cassie with ice cream dripping down her nude body, wearing a soaking wet, see-through American flag, and engaging in a baseball-themed photo shoot in only a thong. However, it doesn’t stop there—Cassie is also shown in a position where she is dressed as an “adult baby,” sucking on a pacifier while having her legs up in the air for the camera.
These scenes have left many fans appalled, with some even calling for the show to be canceled. The portrayal of Cassie’s character has been seen as humiliating, and many viewers have expressed concern over the extent to which the character is being degraded for the sake of sensationalism. The scenes in question have been criticized for being gratuitous and exploitative, leading some fans to question why Sweeney, an accomplished actress, would agree to take part in such explicit content. “How is Sydney even agreeing to do this season of Euphoria?” one viewer questioned on social media, with others expressing frustration over the portrayal of women on the show.
In the aftermath of these controversial scenes, show creator Sam Levinson has found himself defending the series, particularly Cassie’s storyline. He explained to The Hollywood Reporter that the “puppy play” scenes, where Cassie is seen dressed as a dog, were meant to show the absurdity of her behavior and were filmed with a layer of humor to avoid being too serious about her fantasies. Levinson said, “The gag is to jump out, to break the wall,” referring to the absurdity of Cassie’s character and the ways in which the show wanted to highlight the dangers of living in a fantasy world.
Levinson’s defense of the scenes has done little to quell the backlash. Critics have argued that the show’s heavy reliance on shock tactics—like nudity, explicit scenes, and disturbing content—has detracted from its original focus, which was to explore the complexities of adolescence and the darker sides of young adulthood. Instead of offering depth to its characters and their emotional struggles, many critics argue that the show has now become a platform for pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, especially when it comes to its sexual content.
The critical response to Euphoria has been particularly harsh, with several outlets giving the new season low ratings. The New York Post’s Lauren Samer labeled the third season as “Breaking Bad meets Looney Tunes,” stating that the show has lost its emotional core. She explained that in the earlier seasons, the series thrived on its portrayal of flawed yet relatable characters. However, in season 3, it seems to have veered too far into chaotic, unpredictable storytelling that feels detached from the grounded struggles that made the show so impactful in the first place.
The BBC’s Caryn James also criticized the new season, giving the first three episodes just two out of five stars. She noted that Euphoria had become a series with “very little to say,” and that its attempts to explore the characters’ transitions into adulthood felt forced and uninspired. According to James, the show’s shift away from its deep exploration of character development to focus on outlandish and extreme scenarios has left it feeling “strained” and “uncompelling.”
The backlash against Euphoria’s new direction is not limited to the public; even prominent figures in the media have weighed in on the controversial content. Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly publicly criticized the series, accusing Levinson of “sexualizing infancy” with the scenes featuring Cassie dressed as a baby. Kelly called the content “sick,” adding that the excessive nudity and sexualized imagery were a clear example of Hollywood’s inability to recognize when they’ve crossed the line. Kelly further speculated that the actresses in the show, particularly Sweeney, might be uncomfortable with the explicit scenes but were likely participating in them for the sake of their careers.
On the other hand, Sydney Sweeney has defended her participation in the show’s more controversial scenes. In interviews, she explained that she has always been open to discussing the material with Levinson and that there were moments when she felt certain scenes were unnecessary. “There are moments where Cassie was supposed to be shirtless, and I would tell Sam, ‘I don’t really think that’s necessary here.’ He was like, ‘Okay, we don’t need it,’” Sweeney told The Independent in 2022. Her willingness to give feedback during filming highlights the complex relationship between an actor and a director when working on highly explicit content.
Despite the controversy surrounding the season, Euphoria continues to draw attention and maintain a large fanbase, with the show’s social media presence as active as ever. For some viewers, the raw and explicit portrayal of its characters remains a central aspect of the show’s appeal, while others are increasingly questioning its impact on both the actors involved and the audience watching. As the season progresses, fans will continue to debate whether the show has gone too far or if it still has the power to captivate and challenge its viewers.
For now, Euphoria’s third season remains a talking point, sparking conversation across social media platforms and media outlets alike. Whether the show can recover from the criticisms or whether it will continue to push the boundaries of what is acceptable on television remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the impact of its shocking content has left an indelible mark on its audience.
