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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Sam Levinson (Assassination Nation, Malcolm & Marie) is back with another lovely installment of HBO‘s hit teen drama, Euphoria. This former half of the holiday special is titled “Part I: Rue,” also known as “Trouble Don’t Last Always.” The episode follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya) as she shares a conversation with Ali (Colman Domingo) — a friend from her Narcotics Anonymous meetings — over pancakes at a diner on Christmas Eve.
Emmy Award-winner Zendaya continues to perform her best in this episode as the series protagonist. The character exhibits herself as emotional, having relapsed back into her pill addiction at the end of the show’s first season finale. Ali psychoanalyzes the young girl by delving into topics about “life, addiction, loss,” specifically the act of bullshitting/lying (about achieving an emotional balance), God and the fates of human beings, the art of revolutions, sacrificing relationships for the sake of sobriety.
The episode takes a My Dinner with Andre approach, concentrating on Rue’s character development through conversation rather than a plot-driven narrative filled with conflict and action. Ali reaches deep into Rue and makes their dialogue a lot more personal than it has to be. Rue speaks up about her father’s death and relates this topic to that of mass shootings. She confronts the anger and ugliness of what the world has to offer her, and Ali tells her how substance abuse can prove harmful to the user along with those loved ones around them. At one point, he states, “Drugs change who you are as a person.”
Additionally, the episode’s cinematography is eye-candy for the soul, and Labrinth scores a lovely musical soundtrack as usual. If you haven’t seen the series yet, then you have got to get to that to agree.
Overall, this first part of the Euphoria holiday special provides a great lens into Rue’s milieu, comprising her “disease of addiction” and the forgiveness that comes along with it. We didn’t see too much of Colman Domingo’s character Ali (formerly Martin) in this past season, so it was fitting to see him appear and give advice that is worth ruminating on. His monologues are worth a listen to, especially if you are a person who is going through a troublesome situation. What we learn in the end, then, is to be honest with ourselves and make the right decisions toward proper health.
Now we just wait for Season 2, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. confirmed to appear. When the release date is announced, we will be ready!
What do you think of this first special episode? Have you seen the series yet? Let us know! For more drama, Euphoria, and HBO-related news and reviews follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_).
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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