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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.
This week’s episode of Euphoria gives us much to think about. Its third episode of the second season is titled, “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys”. As always, it is written and directed by the series creator, Sam Levinson.
In this review, I will be discussing this week’s episode of Euphoria. There will be no spoilers here, as the title of this article suggests. Although, I will discuss major themes present in the episode. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any possible reveals!
Plot Summary
Following last week’s episode of Euphoria Season 2, the characters chase after what could give each of them solace. However, some of these aspirations are mere fantasies clouding their visions of reality. As a result, they face the outcomes of their decisions even further.
The Cast of This Week’s Euphoria
As usual, Zendaya and Hunter Schafer play Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. Maude Apatow and Sydney Sweeney portray sisters, Lexi and Cassie Howard, respectively. Alexa Demie plays Maddy Perez.
Dominic Fike portrays Elliot, while Jacob Elordi appears as the series’ teenage antagonist, Nate Jacobs. Angus Cloud stars as Fezco, while Javon “Wanna” Walton portrays the character’s younger brother, Ashtray.
Barbie Ferreira and Austin Abrams play their respective characters, Kat Hernandez and Ethan Lewis.
Eric Dane plays Cal Jacobs, while Storm Reid and Nika King return to appear as Gia and Leslie Bennett, Rue’s respective sister and mother.
Supporting and Guest Cast Members
Chloe Cherry and Yukon Clement return as Faye and Theo, respectively. Rebecca Louie plays a 17-year-old Marsha, Cal’s soon-to-be wife and mother of their children.
Anouk Samuel, James C. Burns, and Joanne Baron appear as Lisa, Bud, and Judy, respectively. Veronica Taylor plays Bobbi, Lexi’s partner in her play. Melvin “Bonez” Estes makes an appearance as Bruce, while Jason Medwin plays Cal’s high school wrestling coach.
Christie Nicole Chaplin and Audrey Walters play Cal’s sister and mother, respectively, while Ernie Gonzalez Jr. plays the high school’s vice-principal. Suzanne Egertson plays Derek’s “new girlfriend”, while Bryan Charles Feldman plays Ethan’s dad. Joshua Hoyo Jr., Brooklyn Brailsford, and Marsha Gambles play a meathead jock, a “hot girl”, and Miss Marsha, respectively.
Lexi’s film crew includes Marlis Yurcisin, Nicole Thompson, Sally Brunski, Danny Durr, Steve Gehrke, and Euphoria series assistant costume designer, Angelina Vitto.
Guest stars include Paula Marshall as Marsha and Martha Kelly as Laurie. Alanna Ubach and Nick Blood make brief appearances as Suze and Gus Howard, Cassie and Lexi’s respective parents. Elias Kacavas portrays an 18-year-old Cal Jacobs, while Henry Eikenberry plays the character’s former teenage friend and lover, Derek. Zak Steiner appears as Aaron.
Colman Domingo appears as Ali.
Discussion
With just a few more minutes more than the previous episode, “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys” has much to unpack. For starters, I must commend the usual music curation, although I wish there was more presence from Labrinth. The cinematography is great for most parts but is not anything too glamorous. Although, I do like the backgrounding of Apatow’s Lexi in one of the more prominent scenes of the episode as well as how young Cal’s scenes were shot.
Bivens’s costume design — with the help of Vitto, Patterson, Elmo, Redman, and Reyes –, Davy, Shah, and French’s make-up, and Kimble, Vecchio, and Farrington’s work on hair are also what drove me to remain seated for the entirety of the episode. Most of the choices they went with were spot on, but I have to admit, I did feel some unease at the appearance of Sweeney’s character in some parts.
The episode enlists Laura Zempel and Kristin Valentine, who join Andrea Espinoza in the editing department. I would say that Levinson has gone beyond the basic narrative structure — that is, what we would usually see in film and television. Let me explain.
Understanding the Structure
The Euphoria creator/ writer begins with a first act dedicated to young Cal Jacobs (Kacavas). As the final scene closes, the following act begins with a dance performance from Zendaya’s Rue. (Ryan Heffington is credited as the choreographer for the episode, but I could not tell which scene(s) this was for.)
The second and third acts don’t even serve as two sole acts, and instead, break down further into four smaller acts. Levinson then focuses on Zendaya’s Rue, then examines another character, then another character, with the final small act breaking its focus even more on multiple characters.
If we had to analyze the structuralism/ formalism here, then what is the climax? The literary term is defined as the high point of the plot between the rising action and the falling. I can argue that the rising action is composed of the much-anticipated girls’ restroom scene, followed — albeit not immediately — by the scene as Fezco’s (Cloud) residence.
With this episode, in particular, I do believe that the issue is not Levinson’s use of narrative structure. There is no right way to present a set of events to an individual or group of individuals. Rather, I think the larger problem is how he writes the characters and their subplots within the narrative.
In fact, that is why the episode is titled “Ruminations”. Many characters are deep in their thought processes and psychoanalysis, and these can lead to reveries and fantasies about everything except what is real.
Performances and Character Developments
I do want to highlight a few major character performances and attempts at human progression. First, however, I want to bring up Domingo’s Ali and how important he has become as an adult character. I admire the actor’s transition from the background to the foreground of the series. Aside from Dane’s Cal Jacobs, most of the other adult characters are cast to the side, leaving the show to shine the spotlight on the teenagers. Domingo brings something to his character in this episode that is worthy of merit given his revealed milieu.
The Bigger Spotlights
Kacavas brings an interesting performance as a young Cal, and his scene with Eikenberry’s Derek at the bar just begs for more screentime set on these two characters. Perhaps it’s just the music, the cinematography, and/or the set that makes it appealing, but I do believe that we are not shown enough of Cal’s family life in juxtaposition with his son’s. Instead, as of now, whatever he has going on with his parents and sister can only be implied.
Zendaya’s Rue performs well in the middle act of the episode, especially when she dissects her scenes with Reid’s Gia and Fike’s Elliot. With the former, I had to commend what she brought to the table. Unfortunately, the character is so close to the table that by the end of the episode, she chooses to return to her place of origin (metaphorically and physically): her bedroom.
The episode’s highlighting of Apatow’s Lexi is crucial. It reveals her character role in Euphoria as an observer, much like how Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir is in NBC’s Community. This is something that Levinson should continue to work with, especially since she has moments where she breaks the fourth wall (albeit in her mind) and overall from her performance.
Lastly, there is Sweeney’s Cassie. At the beginning of this month, I said she performs so much differently than she does in The White Lotus. Again, I have to reiterate this statement. Her performance in the girls’ restroom is fantastic, although how Cassie wraps up that scene could (or should?) be done slightly better.
Final Thoughts
This third episode of Euphoria Season 2 facilitates the viewers’ following along of the narrative structure, whereas the premiere episode had some difficulties while the second episode is impossible. There is not much to say about the plot without revealing major spoilers. On the other hand, the character growth is nonexistent and is stagnant for all. No one has found success in this episode, not even in the slightest.
Levinson’s series has produced fine performers, but they can only do well with what he is giving them. If there is a way he can fortify the overall story, then I hope we can see it soon. With the halfway point coming next week, all we can do is hope…and hope for the best.
Euphoria Season 2 is now available to watch on HBO!
Have you seen the new season of Euphoria? If so, what are your thoughts? Let us know! For more drama-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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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