It’s no secret to Euphoria viewers that East Highland High School is full of teenage drug addicts and toxic relationships. However, there are still a lot of questions to be answered as the HBO show’s second season comes to an end.
Created by Sam Levinson and produced by Drake and Future, the series premiered its first season in June 2019. Fans were immediately introduced to the life of teenager Rue Bennett (Zendaya) and her group of friends as they deal with addiction, mental health, sexuality and love, among other issues. From the start, viewers praised the series for its poignant portrayal of real-world topics.
“It’s been very, very special,” Zendaya told Vogue Australia in February 2020, about the fan reaction to the show. “I think the most special thing is when people come up and say: ‘Hey, I really needed that.’ Or: ‘That was my story and I just want to say thank you.’ The fact that the story was so personal and that it couldn’t have been written by anyone who hadn’t lived it, people are going to respond to it.”
The Disney Channel alum went on to praise Levinson for creating a show that “put words to feelings that people have a tough time being able to articulate.”
She added: “I’m just extremely lucky that I was able to be a part of that story and really humanize what Rue is going through, which is what I think a lot of people have gone through or are going through. For every person who says something to me about what the show meant to them, it warms my heart — and it means we’re doing something right.”
Throughout season 1, viewers watched Rue grapple with her sobriety after falling in love with Jules (Hunter Schafer). Following two special episodes that were released among the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Euphoria premiered its second season on January 9.
Earlier this month, Zendaya told The Cut that filming season 2 was “f–king brutal,” but that she can “mostly shake it off,” appearing to refer to the hardships of her character.
Rue fully spirals in season 2 — she stops herself from having a heart attack in the first episode and at one point runs away from an intervention. “There are days where you’re just in it, and even if your brain knows it’s not real, your body takes on this anxiousness and anger,” Zendaya told the publication, noting that what fans will see at the end of season 2 was originally “very different.”
She teased: “Episode eight is where we’ll get that sense of redemption. That you aren’t the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life. I think Rue deserves it, and I think anyone who suffers with the same thing she does deserves it.”
Euphoria was renewed for a third season in early February.
Keep scrolling to read fan theories about Euphoria season 2:
If you or anyone you know is facing substance abuse issues, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free and confidential information 24/7.
With the theme of drug addiction looming over all the characters’ heads, various fan theories speculate that someone will die before the end of season 2. Some Twitter users have theorized that Rue’s sponsor-turned-friend Ali (Coleman Domingo) will die while some Reddit users have named Fezco (Angus Cloud) and Elliot (Dominic Fike) in their speculation. Courtesy of HBO
Elliot remains a mystery since being introduced this season. One theory from a Reddit user broke down the parallels between his character and Rue’s late father (Bruce Wexler). Specifically, they compared the dancing scenes of Rue with Elliot and Rue with her dad to point out how similar they look. Eddy Chen/HBO
This theory seems inevitable, especially after Ashtray (Javon “Wanna” Walton) murdered Mouse (Meeko Gattuso) and someone from the drug dealer’s past is now looking for him. Fans have theorized that Fez will be the one to take the fall for his adopted brother, therefore, making him miss Lexi’s (Maude Apatow) play. Eddy Chen/HBO
“Wait, is this f--king play about us?” Maddy (Alexa Demie) asked in the episode 7 promo, making fans think that Lexi’s play will set up the plot for the impending season finale. Eddy Chen/HBO
Another plot point is the confrontation between former BFFs Maddy and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) — who “ruined” her life to be with her best friends’ ex, Nate (Jacob Elordi). The biggest question looming over their face-to-face is: How will things play out? Eddy Chen/HBO
Since season 1, fans have been wondering about the identity of the third son in the Jacobs’ family photo. After Ashtray’s backstory was revealed in the first episode this season, some have theorized that he’s the missing kid. Others have made a case for it being Elliot. Eddy Chen/HBO
Two possible pregnancies may have been foreshadowed. The first being Cassie. After Nate was beaten up on New Year’s Eve, the teen fantasized about living a life and raising a child with Cassie. The second is Maddy. During episode 3, the character looked at herself in the mirror and said, “I feel like I would look so sexy pregnant.” Later, in episode 6, when Nate was in her room, he put his hand on her stomach after having a conversation with his mom (Rebecca Louise) about not getting her pregnant while they were together. Eddy Chen/HBO
A running theory among the fandom is that Rue has actually been dead for the entire show. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly earlier this month, Zendaya even referred to her character as “an unreliable narrator.” One Twitter user doubled down on the death theory, writing, “I feel like Rue has actually been dead this whole time by the way she narrates this whole show, it’s all a recap leading up to her own faults which lead to her death in the very end.” Eddy Chen/HBO
Faye (Chloe Cherry) has been staying with Fez and Ashtray for the duration of season 2 instead of with her boyfriend Custer (Tyler Chase). At the end of episode 6, Faye meets with Custer who tells her that the police are looking at Fez and Ashtray for Mouse’s death. Some Reddit users believe that she will stay quiet and not warn her roommates about a possible arrest. Eddy Chen/HBO
The sketchy demeanor of drug dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly) came to a head in season 5 when she administered morphine to Rue as the teen was detoxing. Some Twitter users have shared some pretty dark theories about Laurie’s true motives, which have yet to be revealed. Eddy Chen/HBO
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