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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.
If you thought it was bad before, think again… It’s just gotten worse.
This week’s episode of Euphoria gives us much to think about. Its fourth episode of the second season is titled, “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can”. As always, it is written and directed by the series creator, Sam Levinson.
In this review, I will be discussing Euphoria Season 2 Episode 4.
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 series’ characters cope with the choices that they have made in the past — either recently, or far long ago.
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, while Barbie Ferreira plays Kat Hernandez.
Dominic Fike portrays Elliot, while Jacob Elordi appears as the series’ teenage antagonist, Nate Jacobs. Angus Cloud and Javon “Wanna” Walton appear as Fezco and Ashtray, respectively. Austin Abrams appears as Ethan Lewis.
Eric Dane plays Cal Jacobs.
Supporting and Guest Cast Members
Sophia Rose Wilson, Chloe Cherry, Yukon Clement, and Veronica Taylor return as Barbara “BB” Brooks, Faye, Theo, and Bobbi, respectively.
Series music composer Labrinth stars as a gospel singer, with Herman Jackson and Lafayette R. Dorsey playing an organist and a minister, respectively. Fernando Belo plays Theo’s dad, while Saxon Anderson plays an Outskirts bartender. Michael Hilow and Eric Barron play a clerk and a skinny guy, respectively.
Coco Lloyd, Elise Luthman, Elle Alexander, and Winter Bassett play Tammy, Sandy, Molly, and Stacey, respectively — girls who audition for Lexia and Bobbi’s high school play.
Guest stars include Paula Marshall as Marsha Jacobs, the matriarchal figure of the Jacobs family; and Alanna Ubach as Suze Howard, Cassie and Lexi’s mother.
Henry Eikenberry appears as Cal Jacobs’s former teenage friend and lover, Derek, while Zak Steiner plays Aaron Jacobs. Minka Kelly appears as Samantha, a woman whose son Maddy babysits; and Tyler Chase appears as Custer — the former assistant to Mouse, Fezco’s supplier.
Bruce Wexler appears as Robert Bennett, Rue’s father.
Discussion
This week’s episode of Euphoria departs from the basic plot structure, as it has with the second season premiere and its following episode. Series co-producer Julio C. Perez IV returns as the editor of the episode, with Aaron I. Butler joining Nikola Boyanov as the co-editors. At 62 minutes, the narrative divides its time between Rue (Zendaya), Jules (Schafer), Elliot (Fike); Nate (Elordi) at Maddy’s (Demie) birthday party; and Cal (Dane), who is out and about.
Rév’s cinematography, Bivens’s costume design, Davy, Shah, and French’s make-up, and Kimble and Vecchio’s hairstyling make for a physically phenomenal story for the midseason finale. Joining the crew this week are Lauren Ron Penizotto as the on-set dresser as well as Kendra Garvey as the assistant on hair.
We begin with Rue’s fantasy — a realm that Euphoria often dives into — of her and Jules together. This sequence is well-made with references to a few popular romantic films of all time. Every shot is framed just right, and the entire scene is lovely overall. It neatly sets up the other great scenes that the episode has in store. Each scene alone do well on their own, making it difficult to determine which is the best. Rather, they just compete for greatness.
Blindness and Sight
It is difficult to make out what the theme is just by watching the episode. However, if you think about its title, we can think about the blind and the fortunate. At this point, nearly everyone is at a low point; all the viewers who have tuned into this show believe they are insufferable, with the exception of Lexi and Fezco.
If we look at Alexandre Kojève’s 1947 book on Hegel, then we can say that the show’s focal protagonists are slaves to desire, yet they are not masters or rather are not ready to be. Meanwhile, it could be argued that Lexi and Fezco are only masters because they have once been slaves but transcended this status by means of work and fear.
In other words, most of Euphoria‘s characters lack development in their respective stories. While we did get some promise of progress in Season 1, instead they are pretty much stagnant, plunged into the opposite direction. Lexi desires company but is seldom recognized by her friends. She works hard and prepares for herself a script so that other peers can notice her existence. As for our favorite drug dealer, he becomes master by honing his craft and trying his best (as much or more than his grandmother) to be the better person. He desires to control, which he does by never resorting to murder — yes, we are looking at Nate — and always knowing how to handle a situation.
Performances
Sydney Sweeney has outdone herself in this week’s episode. Whether she shares a scene with Elordi or she is depicted as inebriated at the house party, the actress proves that — as Cassie — she is completely different from the character we’ve seen in The White Lotus. She puts on as tense a performance as Zendaya has given in Levinson’s 2021 film, Malcolm & Marie. The only thing that Cassie needs to do is come to her senses. She must realize that the conditions of her circumstances cannot suit her and that she must go beyond them.
Then, there is Eric Dane’s Cal Jacobs, who finally comes clean to his family about his sexuality and his feelings towards these people in his household. He is just as “tragic” as Cassie is, but at least he chooses a somewhat proper option out.
Thank goodness there is Demie’s Maddy Perez, who is lightyears different from whom we have seen in Season 1 — for the most part. The character has become kinder and more compassionate. Let’s hope she stays that way.
Final Thoughts
Not even Rue’s scene with her late father can save these characters from certain fates. Although, I hope that I am wrong. There are myriad memorable moments throughout this episode of Euphoria, but they don’t really drive these characters’ arcs forward. Now that we are halfway through the second season, we can hope for the best. However, that can be hard with the constant ironies that we have been witnessing in the past four episodes.
Overall, “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can” features some of the most pivotal scenes of the season, but that isn’t enough. Characters are either backgrounded or written to a point where we sympathize with them more than we do empathize. Levinson needs too write up escape routes out of their harsh spots, or this mess will only get worse.
Euphoria Season 2 is now available to watch on HBO!
Have you seen Euphoria Season 2? 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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