Warning! SPOILERS for Euphoria season 2, episode 5.
Euphoria season 2 episode 5 is anchored by Zendaya's great acting performance, but it continues to show the cracks in the storytelling of the HBO show. After over two years off the air (save for two bottle episodes released mid-pandemic), Euphoria season 2 returned with a vengeance, doubling down on plenty of what audiences loved about its first season and much of what they didn't. While the aforementioned performance of Zendaya as Rue remains the beating heart of Sam Levinson's creation, it has also seemed like he is unsure what to do with the rest of the cast.
This includes characters like Kat, Maddy, and Jules, who have largely been relegated to the sidelines in favor of fleshing out Nate Jacobs and his father Cal, the latter of whom has become a surprisingly prominent character in Euphoria season 2. Still, there's plenty to love about the show, including the overall dynamic of the cast of characters at large and Euphoria's continued penchant for visual flair that makes some of the weaker elements of the plot go down just a little bit easier. In the show's latest episode, Euphoria encapsulates everything that's great about the show and everything that has made season 2 feel just a little less exciting than its freshman season.
Euphoria season 2 episode 5 closely follows Rue after her mother stages an intervention as the episode opens. What follows is a heartbreaking and gonzo breakdown as Rue reckons with her addiction and continues to fight off the people who want to care for her. After two episodes focused primarily on Cal and the Jacobs family, Zendaya's Rue taking center stage is what the show has been building up to and episode 5 lets the actress unleash another Emmy-worthy performance. Unfortunately, the nature of the bottle episode means the show doesn't get to check in with many other characters, highlighting the uneven plotting of the season overall.
The beginning of season 2 pointed to several prominent plots for Euphoria, including one featuring Maude Apatow's Lexi and a potential romance for her with Fez. The premiere also set up what could be one of the most toxic love triangles in television history in Maddy, Cassie, and Nate. Unfortunately, the Maddy, Cassie, and Nate affair was exposed in a way that did not allow for the full confrontation between the two best friends and, like season 1, Euphoria has once again sidelined Lexi.
Euphoria season 2 episode 5 also poses an interesting question for the future of the show, which was just renewed for season 3. Despite the lack of other characters appearing, the latest episode is almost thriller-esque in its structure as Rue runs from her mother and eventually the police in one of the most nail-biting sequences the show has ever crafted. With Rue hitting rock bottom, though, it's clear that the show can't rely on her cycle of sobriety, relapse, and then rock bottom forever - it must expand beyond this if it wants to have lasting appeal. This is where Euphoria's other characters should come into play, as Maddy, Cassie, Kat, Lexi, Jules, and Gia all deserve their own moments in the spotlight. With Euphoria season 2 doubling the show's viewership, it seems likely that the series will be around for quite some time. While episode 5 shows that Euphoria could have staying power, it also needs to learn from some of its weaker spots if it wishes to move beyond its current state.