Euphoria Season Three Divides Gen Z Fans and Critics
Euphoria's third season has polarized audiences, with some viewers finding its storylines—Cassie's OnlyFans content, Nate's revenge scenes, Rue's drug smuggling—too extreme and detached from reality. The series, which premiered in 2019 as a defining Gen Z show, returned after a five-year hiatus to a 56% Metacritic score but record viewership: 12.3 million US viewers for the premiere, a 68% increase over season two. Critics like Jess Bacon call it 'almost rage bait,' while others praise its acting and addiction portrayal. Showrunner Sam Levinson defended the season as 'our best yet.' The finale airs Monday, with speculation that cast members have outgrown the roles.
Key facts
- Season three premiered in December 2024 after a five-year break
- First episode drew 12.3 million US viewers, 20 million globally
- Metacritic score of 56%
- Showrunner Sam Levinson called it 'our best season yet'
- Critics accuse the show of prioritizing viral moments over character development
- Addiction therapist Gonzalo Sanchez praised the series' deeper portrayal of addiction
- Brand strategist James Kirkham cited the four-year gap as the main reason for cultural disconnect
- Comparisons drawn to Skins, which also struggled to maintain relevance
Entities
Artists
- Zendaya
- Sydney Sweeney
- Jacob Elordi
- Alexa Demie
- Barbie Ferreira
- Sam Levinson
- Jess Bacon
- Eve Rigby
- Daisy Jones
- Noah Ives
- Gonzalo Sanchez
- James Kirkham
Institutions
- BBC
- Vogue
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Metacritic
- Chicks in the Office podcast
- The Guardian
- Time
Locations
- America
- Mexico