Euphoria: The 10 Most Powerful Scenes, According To Reddit
As any fan of Euphoria knows, it's rare to make it through an episode without a mental breakdown from one of the characters, half the viewers, or both. So far, countless scenes have generated their own unique discourse, but a few have captivated everyone's attention and become the most talked-about TV moments of the past few years.
With Rue's (Zendaya) addiction hitting new extremes, the development of Cal's (Eric Dane) backstory, and a love triangle between three deeply troubled major characters, it is no wonder why there is so much conversation surrounding the series lately on Reddit.
In a post about this emotional scene between Ali (Colman Domingo) and Rue, user bondfall007 commented, "Honestly this is the scene that hurt the most." After sticking by Rue despite her relapse, and even going as far as to cover for her to her mother, Rue disrespects Ali to the point where he can no longer tolerate her treatment.
This scene marks a turning point for Rue, where she begins to truly alienate herself from everyone in her life, beginning with the one person who seems to have the capability to put her on the path towards sobriety. This would only continue in the following episodes, but it is notable that arguably her most important relationship in healing her dependency on drugs is the first that she ruins.
Following Euphoria's first season, askmenextyearifimok posted a thread that reads "Love or hate Nate as a character, Jacob Elordi’s performance during his meltdown scene with his dad was phenomenal acting." It's the moment when Nate becomes violent and is pinned down by his dad, Cal.
Seeing Nate's icy INTJ demeanor break to reveal unbridled aggression is not only terrifying for the viewer but also reveals a new layer of the character. Where the audience might have suspected Nate to become sensitive, he reacts instead with anger, and Cal also has an unexpected response. This moment reveals not just Nate's underlying emotions but also the complex relationship between him and his father.
This scene is an example of Euphoria's choice to break with convention really paying off. Reddit user aneurismas posted an image of Rue in Labrinth's arms with the caption, "This scene shattered me. I also lost my father to cancer."
The moment that Rue and her father share in this scene, using Labrinth, drugs, and her own mind as a vessel, could not have been possible if the creators of the show did not depart from a traditional narrative structure. Instead, the viewer is shown a surreal alternate universe where Rue accesses something close to the comfort of her late father. The experience of feeling the presence of a person emotionally instead of physically is moving to see in visual media.
Immediately following a graphic sexual assault, McKay (Algee Smith) gathers his emotions alone in a bathroom while his girlfriend Cassie waits for him in his bed. In the post-episode discussion thread, chemrec called the scene "powerful," adding that "it’s just an important storyline for a young black male character."
The fact that McKay chooses to process his emotions alone is a revealing moment for him. McKay's complex relationship to masculinity is pushed to the surface, a rather difficult task for a character who suppresses so much of his interior world.
When Rue is called onstage to speak to her class about a memory from her summer, she freezes up and is consumed by a montage of memories of overdosing and going to rehab. Her flashbacks, combined with the unsettling experience of reliving these traumatic moments in front of her peers, struck fans like sloanethomas33 as "hauntingly beautiful."
This moment reveals a lot about Rue's relationship with her family, drugs, and her classmates. That Lexi seems to be the only observer, the only one truly able to see what Rue is going through, is not an accident. This scene also demonstrates the way Rue forces Lexi to back down from her attempts to step in and help, a recurring pattern in the show.
This filmed re-enactment of sexting exchanges brings a very modern and parasocial interaction to life in a way that is rare to see onscreen. Many viewers found this portion of the episode particularly impactful. Samira118 called it "sooo haunting," while ultimateoptimist called it "absolutely phenomenal."
Jules describes the relationship as fulfilling due to the fact that it was "pure imagination ... because whoever I was talking to didn't exist." What is most striking about Jules' fantasy is the moments where it hits the boundaries of reality. The montage transitions to one of horror when she questions her lover about why there are no pictures of them. Even in her fantasies, she is haunted by his obfuscated identity.
Cassie reacts to Nate's proclamations of love for Maddie (as told by Maddie) by throwing up in a hot tub. This comical but intense moment was met with mixed reactions. Redditor helpiburntmybiscuits wrote that they "laughed so much during this scene that I cried." Others in the thread agreed that the scene was "relatable" and would motivate viewers to stop drinking.
This scene finds Cassie pink and exposed, squirming uncomfortably under Maddie's magnifying glass. She is vulnerable in her drunken and emotional state, so she only needs a slight push from Maddie and her toxic dynamic with Nate to arrive at the point of projectile vomiting. This scene strips what remains of Cassie's facade totally bare, leaving only her insecurities about herself, her feelings for Nate, and her guilt towards Maddie.
St704 said of this early Season 1 moment, "I love this scene. It’s so raw and the emotion just pours out." In this scene, Rue shows up at Fez's house and begs him for drugs. When he turns her away, she becomes aggressive.
Rue puts the uglier side of an addict's personality on display. When the manipulation tactics of persuasion are unsuccessful in obtaining what they want, they quickly resort to forceful, frantic means. Moments like these lead viewers to question whether or not they can truly sympathize with Rue. Her behavior towards Fez in this scene foreshadows the way she would go on to treat the other people in her life, successfully alienating them, following her relapse at the end of Season 1.
The climax of the season premiere, the scene in which Fez beats up Nate, might go down as one of the most talked-about scenes of the series. In the thread for the season's first episode started by the r/euphoria moderators, user Dismal-Public-730 commented "Fez at the end doing exactly what I wanted to happen all season 1, but yet I still audibly gasped when he just kept punching..."
To see the more violent side of Fez juxtaposed with his calm attitude moments prior and his flirtation with Lexi throughout the episode is jarring. His backstory earlier in the episode, wherein his grandmother beats up a man for scamming her, indicates where Fez developed the concept of personal justice that he doles out to Nate.
When Rue's mom confronts her about her drug use at the peak of her addiction, it ignites an argument that many recovering addicts on Reddit found to be harrowingly accurate. As WebScratch puts it, "Zendaya deserves an Emmy for that scene."
Rue's breakdowns in this scene are so moving because seconds from what appears to be a genuine emotional moment is more frustration about her pills. Just as powerfully, this scene also demonstrates the difficult position that people who love addicts are put in.