Television

Bennnnn said:
I’ve got to get a lot off of my chest with this terrible Euphoria show. Putting it all in spoilers just to keep it so you don’t have to read this lengthy post. I don’t expect anything out of this, other than to get my complaints and critiques out of my system.

Euphoria is a fucking mess. I truly cannot fathom how anyone finds enjoyment out of this, like actual happy enjoyment. It’s so miserably dramatic and awful. And the tone is confusing. Am I supposed to see a character as empowered even though she’s a 16 year old becoming a cam girl? That’s fucked up. Am I supposed to watch a montage of statutory rape scenes and just move on because it seems the characters do and they don’t even call it what it is? Is it supposed to look cool and visually appealing only? What’s the point of the storylines then? It seems to be in your face shocking and awful just because, with no real emotion or point put behind it.

People seem to love this thing but every episode I’ve watched (all of them), I just feel gross and very depressed. But the failure is on the writers to not adequately explore the heavy topics. You can’t throw these batshit insane tragic events at all these kids who are all in high school and then not call things as they are. The cam girl stuff is essentially child porn, and she goes on to hook up with a few older men - again this is statutory rape - but neither of those terms are used. And the show seems to be suggesting I should feel a “you go girl” sort of thing for her situation but I just can’t cause the implications are so fucking heavy and never touched upon.

Ditto to the trans character - who is actually one of the most interesting here, if the writers knew how to better handle her. But the fact that she’s had numerous one night stands with adult men and it’s never referred to as what it is makes me question the entire show. These are real issues and can’t be thrown together and not even touched upon, especially if the attitude from the creator is in essence patting themselves on the back for showing what teens are really like (again I call complete bullshit on that claim). It’s hitting you over the head with trauma in nearly every scene without saying anything close to something substantive.

Yes, I should just stop watching, but at the same time, I am interested to see how this thing progresses. There have got to be consequences for the characters, like the real world closing in on them or something. But I fear the creator/writer hasn’t thought that far. For now it’s just: look at how fucked up teens are, aren’t I edgy?

It’s so empty. No humor, no lightness anywhere, no cleverness, no commentary. Just misery and porn.

But I will say episode 4 provided some good stuff, with beautiful cinematography and camera movements all while this bombastic score plays nearly the full running time. And yet, all the characters and situations are so awful that I just wish all the good technical stuff was in a better show. It can’t be saved on looks alone, which they need to learn before the (ugh) second season.

Anyway...I have many problems with the show, but it’s kind of difficult to put into words why I feel this way. I hope it makes sense. I’m not trying to say “oh it’s so immoral, will someone think of the children?” It’s not like that. It’s more of a i can’t believe this shit is getting passed off as good tv.
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My wife loves this show. Ive watched most of it while also playing switch, and I dont think it's as bad as you make it seem. Im not crazy about it, but it's better than I expected, it's just an edgier Degrassi. There hasnt been anything on that show that I havent experienced myself or through friends stories in highschool/teenage years
 
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Woob_woob said:
My wife loves this show. Ive watched most of it while also playing switch, and I dont think it's as bad as you make it seem. Im not crazy about it, but it's better than I expected, it's just an edgier Degrassi. There hasnt been anything on that show that I havent experienced myself or through friends stories in highschool/teenage years
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I just have issues with it I can't shake. But why keep watching? I. Don't. Know.
 
Woob_woob said:
My wife loves this show. Ive watched most of it while also playing switch, and I dont think it's as bad as you make it seem. Im not crazy about it, but it's better than I expected, it's just an edgier Degrassi. There hasnt been anything on that show that I havent experienced myself or through friends stories in highschool/teenage years
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One thing "Euphoria" has reinforced for me is that I'm really glad that I didn't grow up with the internet and social media. My teen years were tough enough to navigate socially...I'm glad I didn't have to deal with the additional pressures those things can bring to the table.
 
Bennnnn said:
I just have issues with it I can't shake. But why keep watching? I. Don't. Know.
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Everyone loves a little trashy melodrama every now and again.
Aron said:
One thing "Euphoria" has reinforced for me is that I'm really glad that I didn't grow up with the internet and social media. My teen years were tough enough to navigate socially...I'm glad I didn't have to deal with the additional pressures those things can bring to the table.
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Yea I feel that. Even growing up with the birth of the internet brought some challenges (AIM caused quite a bit of drama in my teen years) but the amount its grown since then, there are just so many ways the internet can burn you as a teen nowadays.
 
Bennnnn said:
I’ve got to get a lot off of my chest with this terrible Euphoria show. Putting it all in spoilers just to keep it so you don’t have to read this lengthy post. I don’t expect anything out of this, other than to get my complaints and critiques out of my system.

Euphoria is a fucking mess. I truly cannot fathom how anyone finds enjoyment out of this, like actual happy enjoyment. It’s so miserably dramatic and awful. And the tone is confusing. Am I supposed to see a character as empowered even though she’s a 16 year old becoming a cam girl? That’s fucked up. Am I supposed to watch a montage of statutory rape scenes and just move on because it seems the characters do and they don’t even call it what it is? Is it supposed to look cool and visually appealing only? What’s the point of the storylines then? It seems to be in your face shocking and awful just because, with no real emotion or point put behind it.

People seem to love this thing but every episode I’ve watched (all of them), I just feel gross and very depressed. But the failure is on the writers to not adequately explore the heavy topics. You can’t throw these batshit insane tragic events at all these kids who are all in high school and then not call things as they are. The cam girl stuff is essentially child porn, and she goes on to hook up with a few older men - again this is statutory rape - but neither of those terms are used. And the show seems to be suggesting I should feel a “you go girl” sort of thing for her situation but I just can’t cause the implications are so fucking heavy and never touched upon.

Ditto to the trans character - who is actually one of the most interesting here, if the writers knew how to better handle her. But the fact that she’s had numerous one night stands with adult men and it’s never referred to as what it is makes me question the entire show. These are real issues and can’t be thrown together and not even touched upon, especially if the attitude from the creator is in essence patting themselves on the back for showing what teens are really like (again I call complete bullshit on that claim). It’s hitting you over the head with trauma in nearly every scene without saying anything close to something substantive.

Yes, I should just stop watching, but at the same time, I am interested to see how this thing progresses. There have got to be consequences for the characters, like the real world closing in on them or something. But I fear the creator/writer hasn’t thought that far. For now it’s just: look at how fucked up teens are, aren’t I edgy?

It’s so empty. No humor, no lightness anywhere, no cleverness, no commentary. Just misery and porn.

But I will say episode 4 provided some good stuff, with beautiful cinematography and camera movements all while this bombastic score plays nearly the full running time. And yet, all the characters and situations are so awful that I just wish all the good technical stuff was in a better show. It can’t be saved on looks alone, which they need to learn before the (ugh) second season.

Anyway...I have many problems with the show, but it’s kind of difficult to put into words why I feel this way. I hope it makes sense. I’m not trying to say “oh it’s so immoral, will someone think of the children?” It’s not like that. It’s more of a i can’t believe this shit is getting passed off as good tv.
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But why does "happy enjoyment" have to be the reason to watch anything? Maybe feeling "gross and depressed" is the draw of the show, not a flaw of it. Maybe you're having the exact reaction they hope for you to have.

I think they're doing a fantastic job of exploring all of the topics you list. All the more so Without having to rely on 7th heaven esque conversations. These characters don't realize how fucked up their current predicaments are because they are kids. Of course the scenes are depicting rape and abuse. We, as the audience, can see that, but they are too wrapped up in that teenage selfishness to come to terms with it. These are the stories they'll look back on in 10 years and wonder "what the hell was I thinking?".

In the case of Jules, she's instigating the hookups, not informing anyone she's underage, and (in her own unfortunate justifications) finds enjoyment (or at least an equivalent emotion that she is seeking) in it. Why would she weep on anyone's shoulder about all the times she's been raped, if she doesn't view it that way herself? We feel for her because we want to help and save her, but she doesn't want our help. I think that was addressed very well in episode 4 with her convo with Cal. It took that storyline in a more nuanced direction than I had been expecting.

Reading through a lot of online reactions to the show, it is interesting to see where the divide often falls for this show. People who had, in some way, similar stories spreading through their high school seem to be much more enthralled with the show than those that did not. I was taken aback by those that disparaged the show as laughably exaggerated and not remotely what high school was actually like. I had always assumed that I went to a pretty stereotypical suburban school, but I don't know. It's made me think that maybe it was more fucked up than others.

I'm with you that it's a very disconcerning show to watch. It keeps me up, thinking about the endless list of situations I pray my daughters never find themselves in. But I don't think it's a bad show because it's a depressing show.
 
I think this is where I'm at with "Euphoria". I like the way the stories are being told, even if a lot of the stories being told make me personally feel a bit uncomfortable. The episodes tend to stay with me...for better or worse. So there's that. I started watching with episode 3, and I actively chose to go back and watch the first 2 episodes I had missed. So I don't hate the show. There's a lot I actually really like. I think it is shot really well. I think the music is one of the strongest characters in the show. Most of the songs aren't the kind of thing I would ever really search for on my own, but it works really well in the context of the show and with the subject matters at hand. And, as I said before, I think the acting is, by and large, really good. Some of these young actors are working some really heavy scenes, and I find them pretty convincing in their respective roles. It's not a show that I have recommended that anyone else watch. But it's already been picked up for a second season, so it sounds like the show has found enough of an audience. I stand by my "needing to take a shower after watching" comment though. It can be a tough watch at times.
 
Aron said:
I think this is where I'm at with "Euphoria". I like the way the stories are being told, even if a lot of the stories being told make me personally feel a bit uncomfortable. The episodes tend to stay with me...for better or worse. So there's that. I started watching with episode 3, and I actively chose to go back and watch the first 2 episodes I had missed. So I don't hate the show. There's a lot I actually really like. I think it is shot really well. I think the music is one of the strongest characters in the show. Most of the songs aren't the kind of thing I would ever really search for on my own, but it works really well in the context of the show and with the subject matters at hand. And, as I said before, I think the acting is, by and large, really good. Some of these young actors are working some really heavy scenes, and I find them pretty convincing in their respective roles. It's not a show that I have recommended that anyone else watch. But it's already been picked up for a second season, so it sounds like the show has found enough of an audience. I stand by my "needing to take a shower after watching" comment though. It can be a tough watch at times.
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Agreed. For anyone looking for a lighter version of this show, I’d recommend Everything Sucks: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt7078710/

Only lasted a season but seems to mesh the best parts of Euphoria and Freaks and Geeks.
 
I started Euphoria last night - just the first episode so far. @Bennnnn - I see where you are coming from. It isn't bugging me as much though. I think it is a fairly accurate depiction of addiction and being a teenager in the time of social media. Yes, some of the scenes are hard to watch, but also, like Woob said, nothing new to me. Which is sad, but if it takes a TV show to wake up more people to that reality, then I'm for it.

Zendaya is killing it! I honestly can't think of anything else I've seen her in so I can't compare to her other performances, but she is very talented! The music is great too. I'll watch the next episode and decide after that if I'll keep going.
 
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