Euphoria
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c’mon indulge me in my bitterness about the Cal cold open.
A good quarter(!)
But before he can soak in the joy, Marsha tells him shes pregnant.
Just as he gets a taste of the life he could have, his trajectory is irrevocably shifted.
But by observing Cal, theres something to be said about how adolescence today isnt wholly unique.
Cal and Nate are actually a lot alike as broken men weighed down by whats expected of them.
Now that the framework is gone, the show is a meandering mess.
But part of me just also really misses Jules, who only functions now as Rues girlfriend.
Despite the awkwardness, its a moment that lays the foundation for this trios new friendship.
KnowingEuphoria, it wont be long before this friendship stops being platonic.
Meanwhile, Lexi has an epiphany after the run-in with Cal at Fezs work.
Lexi realized there was a reason she never tried to intervene before, Rues voiceover says.
She was an observer; thats who she was.
Its a ridiculously fun reprieve from her angst, but the issue is … we saw this last week.
The scenes are different, but the message is the same: shes passive and wants to change.
Cassie is too occupied with getting Nate to like her to notice Lexis play.
She starts waking up at 4 a.m. to shower, shave, and gua sha herself to doll-like perfection.
What was first a careful, intricate routine escalates to pure desperation.
But Rues scenes are the saving grace of this episode.
What we actually see is remorseless manipulation, as Rue tries to hide her relapse from Gia.
The cutting back and forth between her imagination and reality highlights what a charismatic but unreliable narrator Rue is.
(Martha Kellys inscrutable deadpan continues to be a highlight.)
Played out through Domingos expressive countenance, his anger gives way to confusion and unspeakable pain.
Ali can threaten with fatherly concern, but its Rues indifference that stings the most.
With Jules still in the dark about the relapse, the only person Rue has now is Elliot.
Things can only go terribly wrong from here.
Im also starting to thinkEuphoriahas no idea what to do with Jules anymore.
(Note that every major character except Jules and Elliot has had a scene from their perspective.)
But there is so much more that can be interrogated.
Surely, Jules deserves better than that.
Some crumbs, kindly, I beg!
Very poorly thought-out plans by both Jacobs men.
Cal now has a nasty head injury, and Nate has been caught in his lies.
This week, she meets Ethans condescending parents and stumbles when asked to talk about herself.
But Im sure Rue told you all that, he adds.
You guys are in love, right?
Juless silence and dejected look in response say it all.
If this is supposed to be a reference to Cal … Rauschenberg, sweetie, Im so sorry.
