Euphoria has given its viewers a bleak, heart-wrenchingly honest display of the trials and pains of everyday life—from drug addiction to abuse to childhood traumas. While each character navigates their own problems and insecurities, some characters have similar pains and ways of coping—like Maddy and Cassie.
Maddy and Cassie were such tight-knit friends that were constantly there for each other through the ups and downs of their lives, but fans have slowly seen how that friendship turned into something darker. They share many similarities and differences that make for a tragic drifting of friendship into a true rivalry.
Alike
They Both Crave Attention
Maddy and Cassie both strive to be the center of attention whenever possible. They have no problem overshadowing others or pushing them to the side to be the ones standing in the spotlight. Their fashion sense, actions, and activities—such as joining the cheer squad—stem from the craving for attention.
There's no doubt that the outfits and styles Maddy and Cassie choose to wear turn heads. They know how to stand out—from the bright colored two-pieces to the eccentric makeup. They love to stride down the hall holding hands with the most notorious boy in school, and they will complain and cry to a friend for sympathy. This longing to be seen probably stems from their traumatic pasts where they were often forgotten behind their parents' constant bickering.
They Have Unrealistic Expectations Of Love
Both Cassie and Maddy wanted to believe love was simple and real, despite watching their parents fight and drift apart. This made them imagine love as a fantastical experience and built up unrealistic expectations. Their relationships were not as lovely as they wanted to believe. In fact, quite the opposite.
Cassie and Maddy imagined they were in some of the best couples on Euphoria when their relationships were actually built on fake values—physical attraction and popularity. The girls wanted their boyfriends to love them unconditionally and treat them like princesses, but unfortunately, that was an unrealistic expectation, especially considering how toxic their relationships actually were. Maddy and Cassie wanted to believe they were in love but did they even know what love was?
Their Shared Past Trauma
Cassie and Maddy were not friends without reason. They could connect on a level deeper than fashion and boys, which would be their shared trauma experiences they went through in the past. They both have probably had some of the most traumatic and tragic pasts—with aspects like abuse and pressure.
Viewers are told that Cassie and Maddy grew close because they could relate to each other regarding issues with their parents. When Maddy's parents started to fight, Cassie was there to comfort her because she had already experienced situations like that before. They both have had ups and downs in relationships, mistreated by the guys they are with, and oversexualized as females in general. They made such good friends because they could relate and share their painful pasts.
They Settle For Less Than They Deserve
Maddy and Cassie have both settled in their toxic relationships because they don't want to be alone and they don't truly know their own self-worth. They both have convinced themselves they were in love with Nate even though he treated them both terribly, and they could do much better.
Maddy put up with Nate's mistreatment of her for a while before finally deciding to break up with him, but even so, she still believed she was in love with him. Cassie did the same thing, believing Nate was the best she could get. This stems back to their unrealistic love expectations and clouded interpretation of what love is and should look like. They both settled for Nate's moody personality and flaws rather than find someone who would actually treat them right.
They Rely On Others For Their Happiness
The girls both are dependent on others for their happiness and security, which is why Cassie doesn't like to be single and why Maddy will find anyone she can to please her physically or with possessions.
Throughout the show, Maddy and Cassie lean on others like a crutch, especially their questionable relationships. Maddy feels happiest when she has someone who will meet her needs and get her the things she loves. Cassie feels vulnerable and alone when she's single, which is why she also settled for toxic relationships. Both girls appear depressed and purposeless outside of relationships, which is proof that they need someone else to fuel their happiness.
Different
Confident vs. Insecure
There's a big difference between the two regarding confidence levels. Even though they both long to be in the spotlight, Maddy knows how to own it, while Cassie struggles to fake her way through, proving she isn't as confident as she pretends to be.
Rue's narration tells the viewers that Maddy was always sure of herself. She liked what she saw in the mirror and wasn't afraid to shine for all to see. Though Cassie tries to keep up with Maddy, she will never be on the same level regarding confidence. Cassie longs for attention, but she is also constantly worried about what others think of her, proving how insecure she actually is compared to Maddy.
Aggressive vs. Passive
Maddy and Cassie have two very different responses when in the midst of conflict and confrontation. While Cassie tends to shell up and stay quiet, Maddy isn't afraid to defend herself and will raise her voice to match her accuser.
Viewers have seen Nate and Maddy's relationship reach the peak of toxicity, leading to many arguments and physical altercations. Most of the time, Maddy holds her ground and yells right back at him, and on at least one occasion, fans saw her push him back when he got physical—which perhaps proves how perfect the two are for each other. On the other hand, Cassie is too afraid to defend herself and easily falls victim to over-apologizing and abuse.
Tough-skinned vs. Emotional
Both Maddy and Cassie have been in a situation that warranted breaking down and sobbing, but the two handle those situations differently, especially when others are around. While Cassie has no problem showing her emotions, perhaps unintentionally, Maddy tends to hide her emotions away.
When Cassie is upset about something, she has a hard time holding back the emotions attached and will cry and scream in front of anyone who happens to be around. Although she has a more emotional side, Maddy tends to hold back in certain situations to avoid appearing vulnerable. Perhaps she was filling something deeper under the surface, but she wasn't going to show her cards to everyone around unless she felt comfortable. This is what makes Maddy appear more tough-skinned than Cassie's heart-on-her-sleeve emotions.
Secretive vs. Honest
Maddy and Cassie approached certain situations differently due to their insecurities and confidence. While Maddy was always outward and brutally honest with everyone, Cassie tended to keep things secretive because of her fear of what others would think.
Maddy does not have a filter whatsoever. She will say what's on her mind no matter who she is talking to, which sometimes comes across as way too harsh or brutally honest. Cassie, however, prefers to stay quiet about things so she can remain in good standing with everyone and not risk her image. Maddy's outspokenness and Cassie's secrecy are why the two clash and are the reasons for a lot of their problems in general.
Finding A Solution vs. Wallowing In The Problem
Maddy and Cassie handle adversaries very differently. While Cassie tends to wallow in the problem and drown in her own self-pity, Maddy will scheme a way to solve the problem or get her revenge.
When Cassie is going through a tough time, such as her situation with Nate, she lays around moping in her sadness rather than attempting to fix things. She relies on substances to make her forget about the problems and attempts to escape them altogether. Although upset about the situation, Maddy chooses to find a way to change things and, if possible, get her revenge on those who wronged her. While she does like to complain about her problems to others, she never expects them to solve them for her.