‘Euphoria’ has outgrown itself, on screen and off

 

Zendaya in Season 3 of 'Euporia.' 

Patrick Wymore/HBO

Everything was different when “Euphoria” premiered in 2019.

Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi were newcomers to the scene, there was buzz about Zendaya taking on such a gritty role following her appearance in Marvel’s family-friendly “Spider-Man” franchise, and beloved series regulars Eric Dane and Angus Cloud were still with us. People were also trying to make sense of the fact that rapper Drake was credited as one of the show’s executive producers.

The critically acclaimed first season’s daring, unnerving representation of troubled high school teens felt resonant and urgent, going on to win nine Primetime Emmys over the course of its two seasons, including two gongs for Zendaya’s searing turn as central character Rue Bennett.

Angus Cloud in Season 2 of 'Euphoria.' 

Eddy Chen/HBO

But it’s been over four years since the second season of “Euphoria” and, well, a lot has happened.

For starters, since 2022, “Euphoria” has been plagued by reports of chaos on set, some of it spurred by delays following the dual writers and actors’ strikes of 2023, and some of it reportedly due to rewrites and creative differences.

Elordi returns this season as a newly minted Oscar nominee, earning recognition from Hollywood’s most prestigious voting body for his performance in Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” last year, and Sweeney has become a mainstream star following buzzy roles including “White Lotus,” “Anyone But You” and last December’s “The Housemaid,” which will soon spawn a sequel. Sweeney also found herself at the center of several conversations when she appeared in a controversial jeans ad last year.

Sydney Sweeney in Season 3 of 'Euphoria.' 

Patrick Wymore/HBO

As for Zendaya, outside of starring in MCU movies and the Oscar-winning “Dune” franchise, the former Disney performer has become a dominating, bankable Hollywood movie star, this year attached to “The Odyssey” and the third and final “Dune” installment, after she returns to Marvel in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” this summer. And that’s not to mention her film opposite Robert Pattinson, “The Drama,” in theaters now.

On top of that, “Euphoria” Season 3 is changing the vibe with a new sound. Prolific Hollywood film composer Hans Zimmer is credited for the season premiere episode’s music instead of British artist Labrinth, who wrote the music for the first two seasons and was widely credited with giving the show a melodically unique identity.