We need to talk about Euphoria's crazy mid-season episode
Euphoria's fourth episode left viewers collectively asking "WTF?" – so let's try to answer that question. Beware, spoilers ahead!
You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can packed so much drama, it's hard to know where to start.
Did Rue die?
Why was Cal's penis out for more than 10 minutes during his brutally rough rant?
And was Cassie always this crazy?
All of these questions were circulating on social media following the trippy and somewhat confusing recent episode.
Zendaya's character, Rue, may have OD'd or worse.
Cal Jacobs, played by Eric Dane, decided to leave his "fake" family after criticizing them for not being receptive to his fluid sexuality.
Then there's Nate, whose messy love-triangle has now reached Fatal Attraction levels.
The teen's secret affair with Cassie, reprised by Sydney Sweeney, has driven the blonde beauty into a state of madness while Maddie, portrayed by Alexa Demie, continues to have a toxic hold over Nate.
The acclaimed teen drama is known for taking it there with its raw depiction of drugs, sex, and other mature content – but it has also drawn some accusations of glorifying addiction.
However, despite the show's risky mid-season episode, Euphoria is on the mark with aptly showing the dangers of addiction, whether it be a drug, a person, or a secret.
Euphoria may be hard to watch but it's brutally real
Let's start with Rue, who, since the debut of season two, has been trying to keep her relapse a secret from her family and friends.
The latest episode ended with the troubled teen hallucinating that she was reunited with her deceased father.
Rue's addiction stems from her inability to deal with father's untimely passing and it's clear that she hasn't properly healed from the loss.
This isn't a simple pass for Rue's destructive behavior, because let's be real, she does need to get it together. But dealing with grief is no an easy task. Those who have lost a loved one can relate to Rue's pain and desperation to make it all go away.
Then there's Cassie, who is evidently having an identity crisis. Her illicit affair with Nate has further exposed her issues, which came out in the worst possible way. Getting sloppy drunk at her BFF's party just to make Nate jealous only horrifically backfired.
Sure, it's easy to tear Cassie down for making a fool of herself, but heartbreak is also a real thing and everyone doesn't handle it all the same.
As for Cal, the father and husband finally had enough of pretending to be a good guy, as he so blatantly put in a speech delivered while he's peeing! Out come the confessions to sleeping with men, women, and trans people, to his shocked family.
But looking past his excessive tirade, Cal's decision to live in his truth rather than continuing his double life is an admirable release.
Again, this doesn't excuse Mr. Jacobs creepy actions in the past, but the episode gave us a deeper insight into the tormented father of Nate – who definitely should take a page from his dad's book.
Only four episodes remain in HBO Max's Euphoria.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Picturelux