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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 finally provides some character development with a number of its main characters. Its sixth episode of the second season is titled, “A Thousand Little Trees of Blood”. As always, it is written and directed by the series creator, Sam Levinson.
In this review, I will be discussing Euphoria Season 2 Episode 6. 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, the series’ characters finally take the necessary baby steps towards growth.
Discussion
This week’s episode of Euphoria is more heartfelt than the previous ones of the second season. That is, most of the episode is, anyway. Levinson puts the editing team hard as work as always, weaving several stories together into an hour-long narrative. I cannot say much about the musical element of the episode since I believe that the episode rather maintains a focus on the plot structure. I find it messy in the way that it switches between its array of primary, supporting, and guest characters, similar to how it was done in Episode 202 — “Out of Touch”.
Not only is the structure messy, but so are a couple of Levinson’s female characters as well. For this reason, I will not include them in the Character Developments section of this review. Instead, I will discuss them here.
Let us first begin with Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira), who is not given much screentime in any of the previous episodes. Levinson does give her the spotlight, but when she finally confronts her conflict, she handles it in such a way that is objectively bad. Given her milieu during Season 1, I would have thought that the character would find happiness in her relationship with Ethan Lewis (Austin Abrams). That is not the case with this episode. She completely ruins it in the worst way possible.
Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) is just a little worse. During this entire season, she is put in this place of “you are not a good person”. Just when you think she has some space, room, or opportunity to escape… She goes further down the rabbit hole. If Episode 204 teased the type of mentally stable individual she could potentially be, then this current episode puts in the effort to prove it.
As actors and performers, Ferreira and Sweeney do wonders, but Levinson, what are you doing? Kat’s scene was the hardest thing to watch, but given that I was once a high schooler living around other teenagers, the irrationality does exist.
The Crew of This Week’s Euphoria
Rina Yang joins as this week’s cinematographer. Laura Zempel 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 acts as the music supervisor. Wylie Stateman designs the sound. Jason Tregoe Newman, Bryant J. Fuhrmann, and Zak Millman serve as the music editors, with Andrew Ransom as the assistant music editor.
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, while Hayley Farrington serves as the assistant of hair.
The Cast
Zendaya and Hunter Schafer play Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively.
Maude Apatow and Sydney Sweeney portray Lexi and Cassie Howard, respectively. Alexa Demie plays Maddy Perez, while Barbie Ferreira plays Kat Hernandez. Storm Reid and Nika King portray Rue’s respective family members, Gia and Leslie Bennett.
Jacob Elordi returns as Nate Jacobs, while Austin Abrams returns as Ethan Lewis. Angus Cloud and Javon “Wanna” Walton portray Fezco and Ashtray, respectively.
Chloe Cherry and Yukon Clement return as Faye and Theo, respectively. Fernando Belo plays Theo’s dad. Susan Louise O’Connor appears as a waitress, while Malia Barnhardt portrays a 14-year-old Leslie.
Guest appearances include Minka Kelly as Samantha; Paula Marshall portrays Marsha Jacobs; Alanna Ubach portrays Suze Howard; and Tyler Chase appears as Custer — the former assistant to Mouse, Fezco’s supplier.
Zak Steiner appears as Aaron Jacobs, while Colman Domingo portrays Ali.
Performances and Character Developments
Zendaya continues to prove her worth in the show as Rue Bennett. The character is slowly recovering from her relapse, and we can tell from the episode’s ending that the process is going to be rather difficult. Unlike Cassie, she, fortunately, has a support system of family and friends that will be by her side when times get tough. This is definitely one of those times. This system that consists of Gia (Reid), Leslie (King), and Ali (Domingo) adds to the pathos of the episode.
Fezco (Cloud) and Lexi (Apatow) continue to shine in their dynamic. This is still not a relationship yet, so I do think that Levinson is slowly building up to that. With Stand by Me and “Stand by Me” integrated into their side of the episode, it makes the moment even more special and memorable.
The only other character that I can speak highly of is Maddy (Demie). She means well and is not as harsh as she once was in Season 1 — which, if we are talking about the chronology of the episode, was only a few to several months ago. I would also argue for Suze Howard (Ubach), who is just as great a mother as Leslie Bennett. Although, her means of coping with being a single parent are vastly different.
Final Thoughts
“A Thousand Little Trees of Blood” is one of the lovelier episodes of the season. It shows us that there is still hope for many of us, but only if you look at it with optimism. While there are no concrete rules about plot structure, Levinson’s larger issue lies in the way(s) that he handles some of his characters. Aside from Kat and Cassie, the series creator/ director/ writer throws Nate Jacobs (Elordi) and his mother Marsha (Marshall) into a sort of heroic spotlight. With the personal ecology that Levinson grants them, I do not believe this is a bright idea.
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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