The third season of 'Euphoria' has been called a 'complete disaster': critics and viewers are shocked by the new plot and the abundance of advertising 0 12

The third season of the acclaimed 'Euphoria', which introduced stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi to the world, has become the subject of heated discussions online. The project has faced fierce criticism from the media, experts, and ordinary viewers, who point to a crumbling plot, lackluster characters, and an excessive number of shocking scenes.

What happened to the characters?

The events of the new season unfold five years later, when the familiar high schoolers — Rue, Nate, and Cassie — have grown up and changed. Rue (Zendaya), still struggling with addiction, plunges into the dangerous world of drug trafficking, while Cassie (Sweeney) finds herself on the brink of marriage to Nate (Elordi), whose toxicity has not disappeared.

Critics' and media reactions

"And it's bad," asserts Business Insider, emphasizing that "without an overarching thread of school life, the ensemble cast simply falls apart." The publication states: "'Euphoria' has never been this dreary. Episodes meant to shock and keep viewers on edge — whether it’s Rue shoving drug balls down her throat, a decapitated chicken, or a dead stripper with foam at the mouth — so blatantly exploit emotions that they achieve the opposite effect." The resource describes the series as "just an expensive, pale shadow of its former glory."

Zendaya in the third season of 'Euphoria'

The Guardian also states that the series "has completely failed to meet the expectations placed upon it." The publication emphasizes: "This dirty, humorless work resembles torture and pornography, which is simultaneously obsessed with sex services and repulsed by them."

"The third season of 'Euphoria' is a complete disaster," declares the New York Post, claiming that the reason for the failure of the gripping teen drama is a lazy approach to the script, which "sacrifices depth for the sake of absurdity."

Ratings and overall verdict

Overall, experts agree that the fresh 'Euphoria' "completely fails to meet expectations." The pilot episode rating on IMDb barely reached 6.8/10, while on Rotten Tomatoes it stands at only 44%. Reviewers unanimously note that the project has lost its signature dark humor, turning into a joyless, unbalanced drama. The new storylines seem overloaded and excessively depressing, which, in their opinion, undermines the acting potential.

Discontent with product placement

Meanwhile, popular Telegram channels have also expressed their disappointment, particularly regarding the loss of the series' recognizable aesthetic features. Channel authors, in particular, were outraged by the abundance of blatant hidden advertising.

Sydney Sweeney in the third season of 'Euphoria'

Jacob Elordi in the third season of 'Euphoria'

"It seems the series was filmed with the money from Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney's advertising contracts. Nate is decked out in Bottega from head to toe, and the brand's bag was given its own screen time in the first episode. Sydney Sweeney will spend the entire season half-naked in her own Syrn lingerie," ironically noted 'Anti-gloss', adding a joke about Zendaya: "apparently, she didn’t get the memo and has only been on screen in holey socks."

"The haphazardly thrown Bottega also caught my eye. And then there’s Starbucks, and I’m almost sure there’s OnlyFans. 'Euphoria' is becoming a product placement platform worse than 'Emily in Paris'. I didn’t like it, yuck," emotionally expressed Daria Konovalенко, author of the culture Telegram channel 'In the White Cube', although she admitted that "she will still watch it."

Poster for the 3rd season of 'Euphoria'

Scandals surrounding the premiere

The third season of 'Euphoria' has already been embroiled in a series of scandals. For example, Zendaya reportedly refused to pose with Sydney Sweeney at the premiere due to rumors of a feud. Sweeney herself is being actively called to be 'canceled' due to a scene in the new season where she appears as a baby with a pacifier in her mouth, posing in quite provocative positions, which has been perceived as the sexualization of children.

Photo: HBO Max