Euphoria: Special Episodes Overview
Mar. 2nd, 2021 03:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452I talked about the first part briefly, but here are my thoughts about Euphoria's two special episodes that released in December and January. The first part ("Trouble Don't Always Last") which focuses on Rue and the second part ("Fuck Anyone Who's Not A Sea Blob") which focuses on Jules. This is mostly me sharing my thoughts on how both episodes coincide with one another and what this may mean for the characters going into the second season.
Something that I've always appreciated about Euphoria is that it takes specific creative risks, and while they had to halt the production of the second season last year due to the pandemic and being in quarantine, they still managed to do two special episodes within the limits they were allowed to, this meant experimenting with how something is filmed. I know that some fans were split on what these episodes were about, some didn't like that it took a more "realistic" approach, particularly with Rue's episode where it was just her and her mentor Ali talking in a cafe. However, I personally liked her episode, both of these special episodes were unique and different in their own ways which, in my opinion, were representative of these characters.
Rue's episode was very straightforward in its approach, there is no flare, no dramatic transitions or vivid imagery. Whereas Jules' episode was more visually creative, wherein she's also talking to someone most of the episode like Rue is with hers, but instead it's intercut with transitional scenes, both in memories and a glimpse of what's going on inside of her head. We see things from her perspective this time as opposed to Rue narrating as she does in the show, which we learn a lot more about her than we did during the first season. Both these episodes are the total opposite of what is presented in the show, and I thought it was very clever to do it this way.
It also explains people's mixed feelings because we're used to seeing the way the show presents itself as being incredibly flashy and stylistic, vivid colors and dramatic makeup and clothing, wild and entrancing cinematography. These special episodes were more introspective, which might not be everyone's flavor since it deviated away from the normal narrative pace the show, and that's fine. These are special episodes for a reason. I, however, love learning more about characters and about who they are, and these delivered on exactly that.
What I enjoyed most about these two episodes was how they complemented each other, how they were kind of both connected with the emotional state Rue and Jules are at this point of their lives, of their relationship, and how everything is just a jumbled up mess. They are both dealing with some much, that it's no wonder that they have communication problems. That's something that stood out to me the most, the lack of communication of everything that's been going on, leading them to make assumptions and project their issues onto the other. And you still have to remember that they're teenagers, and teenagers don't usually communicate that well especially with words, add all the complicated bullshit they have to deal with outside of any romantic relationship aspect and you can see how they are just not in a good place in general. What these two special episodes do is highlight the issues Rue and Jules have, individually and with each other, that it leaves it open-ended to what might happen next. Will they reconcile and work things out? Will they start being honest with what they're dealing with? Are they still going to be friends and close or are they going to avoid each other because of the hurt that they're both in? That is something I'm hoping the second season tackles.
Overall, I think what I loved about these two specials was that it was a closer look at Rue and Jules in a way that I don't think would've happened if this had been the show proper. Bottle episodes aren't really a thing in Euphoria, and I think it was nice to sit down and really examine and learn more about them in this way. Jules especially, since we learned a whole lot that wasn't revealed to us previously, and where a lot of assumptions we made as the audience based on her behaviors during the first season was mostly through the lens of Rue, so seeing her give her side of the story was interesting and it really made a lot of things make sense. And again, it makes you question where do we go from here?
And really, top-notch acting, direction, and writing. As always, because Euphoria delivers even when having pandemic restrictions.
Euphoria is supposedly going to start filming season two this month, which is when they were originally going to do last year before quarantine happened that stalled any further production from going forward. Nevertheless, I'm glad that they gave us something like these specials, and they did a fabulous job. So it makes me curious what the second season will bring us.
Something that I've always appreciated about Euphoria is that it takes specific creative risks, and while they had to halt the production of the second season last year due to the pandemic and being in quarantine, they still managed to do two special episodes within the limits they were allowed to, this meant experimenting with how something is filmed. I know that some fans were split on what these episodes were about, some didn't like that it took a more "realistic" approach, particularly with Rue's episode where it was just her and her mentor Ali talking in a cafe. However, I personally liked her episode, both of these special episodes were unique and different in their own ways which, in my opinion, were representative of these characters.
Rue's episode was very straightforward in its approach, there is no flare, no dramatic transitions or vivid imagery. Whereas Jules' episode was more visually creative, wherein she's also talking to someone most of the episode like Rue is with hers, but instead it's intercut with transitional scenes, both in memories and a glimpse of what's going on inside of her head. We see things from her perspective this time as opposed to Rue narrating as she does in the show, which we learn a lot more about her than we did during the first season. Both these episodes are the total opposite of what is presented in the show, and I thought it was very clever to do it this way.
It also explains people's mixed feelings because we're used to seeing the way the show presents itself as being incredibly flashy and stylistic, vivid colors and dramatic makeup and clothing, wild and entrancing cinematography. These special episodes were more introspective, which might not be everyone's flavor since it deviated away from the normal narrative pace the show, and that's fine. These are special episodes for a reason. I, however, love learning more about characters and about who they are, and these delivered on exactly that.
What I enjoyed most about these two episodes was how they complemented each other, how they were kind of both connected with the emotional state Rue and Jules are at this point of their lives, of their relationship, and how everything is just a jumbled up mess. They are both dealing with some much, that it's no wonder that they have communication problems. That's something that stood out to me the most, the lack of communication of everything that's been going on, leading them to make assumptions and project their issues onto the other. And you still have to remember that they're teenagers, and teenagers don't usually communicate that well especially with words, add all the complicated bullshit they have to deal with outside of any romantic relationship aspect and you can see how they are just not in a good place in general. What these two special episodes do is highlight the issues Rue and Jules have, individually and with each other, that it leaves it open-ended to what might happen next. Will they reconcile and work things out? Will they start being honest with what they're dealing with? Are they still going to be friends and close or are they going to avoid each other because of the hurt that they're both in? That is something I'm hoping the second season tackles.
Overall, I think what I loved about these two specials was that it was a closer look at Rue and Jules in a way that I don't think would've happened if this had been the show proper. Bottle episodes aren't really a thing in Euphoria, and I think it was nice to sit down and really examine and learn more about them in this way. Jules especially, since we learned a whole lot that wasn't revealed to us previously, and where a lot of assumptions we made as the audience based on her behaviors during the first season was mostly through the lens of Rue, so seeing her give her side of the story was interesting and it really made a lot of things make sense. And again, it makes you question where do we go from here?
And really, top-notch acting, direction, and writing. As always, because Euphoria delivers even when having pandemic restrictions.
Euphoria is supposedly going to start filming season two this month, which is when they were originally going to do last year before quarantine happened that stalled any further production from going forward. Nevertheless, I'm glad that they gave us something like these specials, and they did a fabulous job. So it makes me curious what the second season will bring us.
