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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.
In sciences regarding the human body, this is referred to as the fight-or-flight response. This week’s episode of Euphoria gives us much to think about. Its fifth episode of the second season is titled, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird”. As always, it is written and directed by the series creator, Sam Levinson.
In this review, I will be discussing Euphoria Season 2 Episode 5. 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, series protagonist Rue Bennett (Zendaya) runs from her problems and from those who are looking to intervene in her personal conflict.
Discussion
The plot structure for this week’s episode of Euphoria seems easier to digest. While Episode 203 — “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys” has what I believe to be a three-or-four act structure, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” has it too, albeit much clearer. Levinson’s writing improves this time around by focusing on one character and backgrounding others. By following Rue throughout the 54-minute narrative, our anxieties never alleviate and the suspense and thrills are constantly maintained as we watch the protagonist spiral into madness as a result of her withdrawals. Perhaps this week’s crew roster is to thank for this.
I interpret the episode as not losing composure. Unfortunately, some characters such as Rue Bennett and Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) fail in this feat, as evidenced in previous episodes. Meanwhile, Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer) and Elliot (Dominic Fike) do, and fortunately, Laurie (Martha Kelly) does as well. Levinson does make this a challenge for certain other characters such as Fezco (Angus Cloud).
Last week, I wrote about the Hegelian concept of the master-slave dialectic in relation to the characters. I want to continue on that topic briefly. While in theory, both the master and the slave are supposed to be human due to their consciousnesses, I feel as if Rue is so enslaved by her drug addictions that there seems to be no way out of it. To transcend into master status, she would need to face terror and work, but sadly this is not the case. Hence, she will have to remain a slave to the pills to which she has so long clung.
The Crew of This Week’s Euphoria
Marcell Rév serves as the episode’s cinematographer. Aaron I. Butler returns as the editor, with co-producer Julio C. Perez IV as the supervising editor. Andrea Espinoza serves as the assistant editor.
Labrinth serves as the music composer, while Jen Malone and Adam Leber act as the music supervisors. Wylie Stateman designs the sound, while Jason Tregoe Newman, Bryant J. Fuhrmann, and Zak Millman serve as the music editors.
Jason Baldwin-Stewart does the production design for the episode. Nick Ralbovsky serves as the supervising art director, with Alyssa Hill and Nealy Orillion as the art directors. Marcie Maute and Steven Hudosh serve as the assistant art directors. Eugene Adamov serves as the lead set designer. Sofia Midon assists Julia Altschul in set decoration.
Heidi Bivens designs the costumes and is assisted by Angelina Vitto. Lauren Ron Penizotto and Ryan Salisbury serve as on-set dressers. David Sanford and Ted Hardwick join Jason Drury as the set dressers. Devon Patterson serves as the costume supervisor. Lola serves as the key set costumer, while Claire Redman is the costumer.
Doniella Davy is the department head of make-up and is assisted by Tara Lang Shah. Alex French serves as the make-up artist. Kim Kimble serves as the department head of hair and is assisted by Kendra Garvey. Teresita Mariscal joins as the hairstylist.
The Cast
As usual, Zendaya plays Rue Bennett.
Storm Reid and Nika King return as Rue’s respective sister and mother, Gia and Leslie Bennett. Hunter Schafer and Dominic Fike portray Jules Vaughn and Elliot, respectively.
Maude Apatow and Sydney Sweeney portray sisters, Lexi and Cassie Howard, respectively. Alexa Demie plays Maddy Perez, while Barbie Ferreira appears as Kat Hernandez. Angus Cloud stars as Fezco, while Javon “Wanna” Walton appears as the character’s younger brother, Ashtray.
Alumière Glass portrays a 3-year-old Rue Bennett. Melvin “Bonez” Estes makes an appearance as Bruce. Jessie Andrews and Allan Loeb play Ella and Gabe, respectively. Davison Locksley portrays a homeless man, while Gwen Mukes appears as Leslie’s mom. Jaalene Serenity DeLeon and Johnny James Ramos appear as quinceañera singers.
Kevin Beard and Michael Ferragamo portray cops, while Nyran Hepburn and Ashton Hunsberger play Baby Gia.
Guest stars include Alanna Ubach as Suze Howard, Cassie and Lexi’s mother; Martha Kelly as Laurie; Richie Merritt as Bruce Jr.; and Bruce Wexler as Robert Bennett.
Performances
Zendaya is the highlight of the episode. There is no scene in which you feel anxious for Rue. She is a complete monster in the opening act, tries to calm down in the middle one, then we sympathize with her in the final act. Whenever the character is present in a room with others, it doesn’t look like it will end well, and it does not. At times, I found myself terrified and screaming, morose, or laughing. That is the power of Zendaya’s acting abilities as the series’ drug addict. Her descent into madness is the psychological equivalent to Michael Douglas’s character in Joel Schumacher’s Falling Down (1993), and I do feel as if she has burnt some bridges to the end.
She does well in the opening scene with King and Schafer, who both deal with Rue in different manners. King never lets her guard down in making sure her character’s daughter rehabilitates. Meanwhile, we have Schafer’s Jules Vaughn who is calm throughout; this isn’t like what we’ve seen in Season 1, so this could be character development for her. I appreciated all the rueful things they had to say in dialogue with Zendaya’s character.
I love Sweeney’s change(s) in mood as Cassie Howard. She is clueless in one moment, then breaks down in the next. Her scene with Demie’s Maddy Perez is something we anticipated for a month now, and it was well worth the wait. Hopefully, next week shows us the aftermath of that revelation.
Final Thoughts
With three episodes of Season 2 left, I would like to see how it wraps up or if we will find ourselves encountering more cliffhangers. Rue’s condition is deteriorating even further, and we can only hope to the higher powers that be that she will recover safely from this. Although, as Sweeney’s character says, “Just take it one day at a time”.
“Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” serves as a major improvement from previous episodes of the season. It maintains focus on one sole character without having to bring our attention elsewhere, and it keeps Levinson arguing for whatever his current thesis statement is.
Euphoria Season 2 is now available to watch on HBO and HBO Max!
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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