Euphoria HBO: How realistic is it? What real teenagers make of the controversial Zendaya show

'Sending nudes is a dating expectation these days'  
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Margaret Abrams6 September 2019

Even before Euphoria premiered it was controversial. The Hollywood Reporter asked, “How much teen sex and drugs is too much?” while IndieWire called it a “teens-in-crisis horror show.”

The premiere episode famously featured thirty shots of male genitalia in a single episode.

In Euphoria, Zendaya steps away from her Disney roots in a star-turning performance as Rue, a sometimes-in-recovery drug addict.

Plus-size model Barbie Ferreira plays Kat, an insecure high schooler by day and dominatrix in training cam-girl at night. Transgender model Hunter Schafer is Jules, the object of Rue’s friendship and obsession, who has a penchant for Grindr and glitter.

Zendaya as Rue in Euphoria (HBO)

Unlike other teen television shows, there is no big virginity loss episode (see: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, any noughties dramedy) and there are very few lessons to be learned. Instead, the teens in question mess up repeatedly and publicly.

Euphoria is what would happen if Skins and Degrassi had a baby born into Generation Z, who came out of the womb with eye glitter on and a craving for Fentanyl. The parties are wild, the drug dealers are face-tattooed tweens and the sex is rough and plentiful.

The HBO show quickly became a hit, with many wondering how true the storylines are to the modern teen experience. So who better to ask than teenagers themselves? We asked seven to tell us how the show squares with their own lives.

Hunter Schafer as Jules in Euphoria (HBO)

Anna Walsh 19, student

"While the stories aren’t necessarily directly applicable to my life, the emotions the characters feel and the way they handle those feelings is very relatable.

The portrayal of technology is definitely accurate as far as it being used a lot for bullying and spreading around nude photos of girls. The portrayal of the parties themselves is a little exaggerated and dramatized, but the culture of partying is very accurately represented as far as seeing 16 and 17-year-old kids drinking and going out every weekend. The portrayal of teens having sex is a little dramatized for the show but is overall pretty true to a lot of people’s lives.

One of the things that the show does best is showing how different teenage girls experience sex and what it means to them: freedom for Jules, power for Maddy, love for Cassie, and confidence for Kat. I can honestly say I haven’t seen a show I felt was as genuine of a reflection of what it feels like to be growing up and going through high school right now. [I think it's] the most accurate and honest reflection I’ve seen so far in a teen show about this generation."

Jules and rue (HBO)

Lydia Night, 18, musician, The Regrettes

"I heard the show was filled with a lot of sex and drugs. I also heard from my best friend that she loved it, but from others that they thought they used sex as a way of attracting attention instead of for the plot. I decided to watch it because I felt the need to form my own opinion. I love it.

People in high school constantly send photos around that are essentially child pornography. I’m so happy there’s a show out there calling it like it is. They obviously showcase an extreme version of it, but that’s important to show how bad it can get and how bad it is in certain places. I personally haven’t been around this extreme of a teenage environment however I do have many friends who have been. Drug addiction is a real thing that can start in high school and even younger and I’m grateful that someone is representing it.

It’s the most realistic representation on television of how teens actually dress and do their makeup in this time period. I want so many of the outfits Maddie wears."

Catherine Hodge, 19, student

"The show is very realistic on what high school is like for a lot of people. A lot of it is also very realistic to what college is like too. It speaks to the broader story of being a teenager and young adult very well. The levels of depth in each character and the actions they take regarding drugs, love, sex or partying aren't one dimensional.

I think Euphoria represents the inner workings of a teenager's life very well. People may not relate fully to one character, but pieces of yourself can be found in each character."

The women of Euphoria (HBO)

Carlie Hanson, 19, musician

"It was really interesting to me that Zendaya would play a role like that, especially since I had only known her from Disney and Spider-Man. After finishing the first season, I made all my close friends watch it.

A lot of Euphoria is very very realistic - that’s why I was so captivated by it! The drug abuse, the use of social media, the partying, the pressure of losing your virginity. Nate and Maddie’s relationship portrays an abusive relationship realistically, as well as Rue’s depression that she goes through when she and Jules are in a rough patch.

It’s so realistic and it is what some people my age should watch. Euphoria is definitely not just for girls, boys should get educated on this s***t too... Euphoria is one of the best, if not the best show I’ve seen about life as a teenager that is being produced. Sending nudes is super, super real in my generation."

Barbie Ferreira as Kat (HBO)

*Emily Smith, 19, student

“Personally, I was rather innocent in high school, but I was never oblivious. I notice many similarities in the experiences of my peers and the experiences of the euphoria characters - such as feeling pressured to send nudes, changing themselves for the sake of their partners and friends, and staying in toxic relationships for the sake of their pride or fear of being the only single friend.

I downloaded Tinder when I was 17 and a senior, and I knew sophomores and juniors who were on Tinder as well. Sending nudes is a dating expectation these days.

I think that in certain areas, that 'baddie' style is the norm. I come from a suburb in western Pennsylvania, so normally teens don’t get quite that glam."

Lukas James, 17, musician

"I’ve had really good experiences connecting with people on social media that I never would have met otherwise. It can really connect you with people all over the world and any type of community. Of course, there are going to be instances of bullying but didn’t that happen before social media as well?

I don’t feel as though my generation is as crazy as the ones before us. We’re much more chill.

I’m not sure there really is a high school show that's realistic. It would probably be too boring, which is why they need to spice things up."

Kat (HBO)

Emma Lusk, 17, student

"Euphoria exaggerates high school. The relationship between Jules and Rue is highly realistic and common. Abusive boyfriends are not common, but they’re not rare in high school. Euphoria does a great job exposing realistic problems of high schoolers while being entertaining [to watch].”

*Name has been changed

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