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The Guardian view on Euphoria: the show once pushed the envelope, but shock now seems to be the point
An era of excellent coming-of-age dramas moved away from the glossy lives of wealthy American teens, but unflinching portrayals easily veer into tropes
TL;DR
- Television dramas about adolescence have historically aimed to expose societal shortcomings by depicting young people grappling with issues like sex, addiction, and violence.
- Shows like Skins, Chewing Gum, Sex Education, and Euphoria initially succeeded by dramatizing how power structures affect young lives.
- Euphoria's recent evolution, particularly with the character of Cassie, is seen as a disappointment and a symptom of high-end television's failure to thoughtfully portray youth, prioritizing outrage and spectacle over complexity.
- The economic model of streaming platforms and social media favors controversial, easily shareable content, making patient and nuanced storytelling harder to monetize.
- While shock can initiate dialogue, it cannot sustain it, and dramas that mistake outrage for truth risk losing their creative spark and unsettling impact.