What show do you watch that has an 11 year old drug dealer?
The HBO Max series titled Euphoria starring Zendaya is one of the most popular television teenage dramas of this decade. It explores many themes such as love, sex drugs, identity, and family. The show has also garnered many awards such as an Emmy, Golden Globe, MTV Movie & TV, and a People’s Choice Award. According to Variety Magazine, Euphoria is HBO’s second-most watched show behind the Game of Thrones.
However, Euphoria has gained a lot of criticism in regards to its “sexualization and brutalization of young female characters”. The show has also received criticism for how it depicts teen drug use.
As I write my opinions on the show and how it pertains to Gen Z and high school, I want to have a disclaimer that in no way shape or form am I criticizing the acting or the actors on the show. The acting on Euphoria is phenomenal and it truly makes the viewer have a connection with the characters. The show also brings awareness to drug abuse which is very important and it is a good representation for people who have battled with drug addiction.
I am drawing focus and criticizing how the show is a poor representation of modern day teenagers and high schoolers.
One of the main problems with the show is how it does not accurately depict the experiences of most high schoolers. Why is a show about teens having sex and doing drugs etc. marketed towards adults?
Euphoria has given teenagers and Gen Z a false over-dramatized perception on what high school is like. Teen drug use and sexual assault are issues that do impact teenagers. Nonetheless, on Euphoria I feel like these issues are over-dramatized for the shock value of the show. Which makes these issues seem like they are only for entertainment and it makes them less relatable.
I think a show that better represents teenagers and the modern day high school experience compared to Euphoria is the Netflix original teenage drama series Grand Army. Grand Army touches on all of the same topics as Euphoria like sexual assault, drugs, porn, and nudity. However, on Euphoria these issues impact every character, but why is every character addicted to drugs and being oversexualized?
On Grand Army, they give their teenage characters different experiences that aren’t just tied to drugs and sex. Grand Army covers many different issues through its different characters that teenagers experience like cyber-bullying, school shootings/threats, stress of college applications, struggling with sexuality, fighting and more.
Another reason why Grand Army is a better representation for Gen Z, modern day high-schoolers, and teenagers compared to Euphoria is how it has more racial diversity. Euphoria only has one main character that is a person of color which is Rue, every other main character is white. Race definitely plays a huge role in the experiences of teenagers and how they live their everyday lives.
The racial diversity on Grand Army also does not seem forced or lackluster. You can tell that the representation of different races on the show is actually meaningful and not just for display or ‘diversity points’. They dive into the cultures of the characters and their different experiences. Grand Army is a show that represents the experiences of all teenagers. Any teenager can relate to this show and what the characters go through. I saw myself in all of the characters and what they went through as opposed to the characters in Euphoria.
Ultimately, Euphoria is still a quality and comprehensive show that does spread awareness about issues like drug abuse and sexual assault. The acting is truly phenomenal. Despite this, I think the show is still not an accurate depiction of teenagers and high schoolers. There are better alternatives like Grand Army that show a true and honest depiction of the modern day high school experience.
