Culture

Do We Really Want Another Season Of ‘Euphoria’?

by Ky Stewart  22 January 2024
euphoria season 3 sam levinson jacob elordi zendaya sydney sweeney Hunter Schafer

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According to HBO executives, Sam Levinson is “busy writing” the third season of Euphoria. But does anyone actually want another Euphoria season now? Junkee writer Ky Stewart ponders the awkward state of play for one of the most popular TV series in recent memory. 

Euphoria was renewed for a third season way back in February 2022, which now feels like at least 10 years ago. Since then, we’ve been left in the dark about what Season 3 will look like or who will return. Following the SAG-AFTRA strikes last year and accusations of Sam’s toxic directing style, many assumed a third season wouldn’t happen at all. 

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Euphoria’s first season. Season 2 brought iconic moments like Cassie and Maddy’s fight, Lexi’s play, and Nate Jacobs getting the shit beat out of him by Fez. By the end of the season, though, I just felt disappointed and confused.  

Accusations that Sam had disagreements and arguments with Barbie Ferreira over her character, Kat, also didn’t help. Eventually it was reported that Sam cut many of Barbie’s lines and turned Kat into a god awful character. Barbie then announced she was leaving the show because she didn’t want to be the “fat best friend”. 

And then came The Idol. Sam’s newest project as creator-director is without a doubt one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen. (I’m not alone — it’s since been canned.) Riddled with its own controversies, people started to realise that much of Sam’s work heavily revolves around trauma, porn, nudity, and violence. On The Idol, Sam was accused of taking a woman’s work and turning it into his own fantasy show. 

Amid The Idol’s controversy, accusations surfaced that Sam had ripped off the famous Euphoria aesthetic from Petra Collins. Basically, Sam was facing a lot of shit alongside the strikes delaying Euphoria’s third season. By that point, it seemed less viable it would even happen at all. 

What Have The Euphoria Cast Been Up To Since Season 2? 

While Sam Levinson was being dragged every which way, the cast of Euphoria were finding success elsewhere. Jacob Elordi has become the ‘it boy’ of the moment, Sydney Sweeney just starred in a $100 million movie, and Zendaya is one of the biggest actors on the planet. Although the show brought many of the cast to the forefront of Hollywood, and gave Zendaya an Emmy, would going back to Euphoria after a good few years away seem like a step back – especially when the actors have moved onto bigger and better things. 

Take Jacob Elordi. On his recent The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon appearance, Jacob joked that the show would have to start filming soon. “I’m going to have a bad back walking down the hallway,” he said. Since Euphoria, Jacob has been booked and busy — is this joke code that he doesn’t necessarily want to go back..? The notoriously hated Nate Jacobs is at odds with his sweetie pie brand he’s been pushing. Jacob had said the show needed to have a time jump (which had already been rumoured) otherwise it would be a “bit weird”. “I hope it’s soon, or they’re going to have to Benjamin Button me or something.”

Dominic Fike, who played Elliot in the show’s second season said he’s doubtful of his return to Season 3 as he isn’t in touch with “them anymore”. 

He also said the sober coach on set which Sam Levinson had organised for him failed him. He said “a random lady that I’d never relate to. We had nothing in common … It was hard to take advice from someone like that or give a shit”. 

And as for Euphoria fans? It seems like they’re kinda lukewarm on Season 3, too. 

Now, I write all this, but if Season 3 does go ahead, I’ll probably eat it up. We are fickle humans, okay? 

Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on Instagram or on X.

Image: HBO