Watching "Euphoria" is less than euphoric

THE FOLLOWING EPISODE CONTAINS VIOLENCE, NUDITY AND SEXUAL CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO VIEWERS. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. The new nihilistic high school drama show, Euphoria, begins with these words. The eight episode series,  produced by HBO, chronicles the lives of a crew of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex and their own identities. Rue (Zendaya), Jules (Hunter Schafer), Nate (Jacob Elordi), Maddy (Alexa Demie), Cassie (Sydney Sweeny), McKay (Algee Smith) and Kat (Barbie Ferreira) each get their turn to be the center of attention during the beginning-of-episode montages detailing their backstories. Though Rue is the pivotal character, each person gets coverage and an important part of the storyline, which centers around the decline and recovery of Rue’s drug addiction and mental health. As it follows her and her peers’ relationships and their drama, the show contains strong imagery and disturbing scenarios that put some R rated movies to shame, and that may be more than its intended audience can handle. Targeted at teens, Euphoria exposes the ugly, devastating parts of the modern teen experience, but may be traumatising some viewers in the process. That’s not to say that it isn’t a stunning show, for a more mature audience. It’s glittering cinematography and psychedelic transitions make the whole thing seem like a dream. Coupled with the omniscient narration of the main character Rue, Euphoria never gets boring, but it does get overwhelming. The brutal honesty and unapologetic nature of the show can sometimes be too much, to the point where it's necessary to take a break and watch something more uplifting. Of course, that’s just the type of program Euphoria is, and many people appreciate its intensity. However, whether or not it accurately portrays high school is another question entirely. Almost every piece of media created about high school is over dramaticized to some degree, and Euphoria is no different. Whether or not the show has truth to it varies with each person's experience. Adding on to this is the fact that Euphoria comes dangerously close to romanticism of tricky subjects such as abusive relationships and drug use. Similar to the popular series Thirteen Reasons Why, Euphoria strives to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of certain activities, but is a dramatized, viral portrayal really the best way to go about it? Is it the only way? Thirteen Reasons faced major backlash for its borderline promotion of suicidem, and Euphoria, as it leaves its early stages, seems to be leaning toward the same outcome. Shifting perspectives, dark colors and daring style, Euphoria has it all. Its daring picture of Gen Z high school life has reeled in millions of viewers, whether it be for the relatability or lack thereof. Although gritty and controversial, Euphoria delivers in bold cinematography and beautiful emotionality, securing a spot in the conversations of adults and teens alike for quite awhile.