HBO’s Euphoria stirs up a multitude of emotions ranging from discomfort to disbelief, sadness to shock, and faith to fear. This raw and realistic look at teen love, sex, and addiction is set in what feels like an extended acid trip with long, fast-paced dream sequences fueled by angst, sexual identity, and tragedy. Because it’s on cable and holds little back, it’s Rate R and may be hard to watch for some. Euphoria’s depiction of high school life today is somewhat disturbing.
Euphoria gets dark
The fear lies in the fact that it is probably a glimpse into what’s really happening out there, and this is truly concerning. After watching all episodes of Season 1, the jury was still out. Covering addiction is essential to help continue smashing the stigma. Yet, sitting in the dark places Euphoria takes us is difficult.
Spoiler alerts below
The Euphoria Special Episode Trouble Don’t Last Always includes one of the most powerful conversations on addiction I’ve ever seen on television. This episode is an extreme departure from the others, but not without fantasy. The beginning is a dream sequence depicting Rue’s idea of the perfect relationship with Jules. Rue then snaps back to reality and lands in a diner, where most of the hour is spent conversing with her sponsor, Ali.
The real road to recovery is paved with hard work and takes time.
There is a lot to unpack here. Like several of the biggest, heavy load-size suitcases. Rue calls her sponsor but shows up high at the meeting. Then, she admits she does not want to stop using and that she does not plan on being around for much longer. Usually, when recovery is covered on TV, there is some kind of rock bottom incident, the person goes to rehab, then starts going to meetings. The trite and bright bow on top is that life immediately starts improving. Relationships are repaired, jobs returned, physical appearance improves, and life continues. The problem is that this rarely happens. Life worsens before it gets better for many who have gone down this road. Life does get exponentially better for those who do the work and remain in recovery, but it is often a long road.
The conversation is brilliant.
We also get more insight into Ali and his recovery journey. Despite the work he has done and the many people he sponsors, Ali is still dealing with the consequences of his addiction. This prohibits him from being with his daughters on Christmas Eve. Instead, he is in a diner helping Rue. One of the promises of AA is that we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. This allows us to use our past to relate to newcomers and help each other on the recovery journey. This is how we all get better.
The thing about this conversation is that it is precisely what good sponsors should say to newcomers who show up, as Rue does. Ali does not let her skate because of the tragedy she’s experienced or because she says she’s trying and uses what sounds like a canned response on her newfound “balance.” He calls her out and demands that she answer for her behavior by digging deep to identify why she relapsed. He uses his own experience to explain the disease and show Rue that she is not special, unique, or alone and that recovery is possible.
The other thing about this conversation is that I have watched it at least five times. I will also ask all my sponsees and the people I know in recovery to watch it. It is jam-packed with true wisdom. Ali never strays from the course. His singular purpose is to get Rue to prioritize her sobriety and to connect Rue with a power greater than herself—his explanation of why is brilliant. However, I will not spoil that for you here.
The authenticity of this episode could only come from someone connected with addiction. 35-year-old Sam Levinson, producer and writer of Euphoria, has openly discussed his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Big ups for such a brave and accurate depiction of addiction and for taking on teen addiction, which is even more challenging to navigate.
Creator Sam Levinson gets it right.
Finally, and what struck me the most, is that by the end of this episode, I felt hope—hope for Rue, Ali, the many struggling alcoholics, and myself. There is an indescribable power in one alcoholic talking to another alcoholic. The results speak for themselves, as these conversations are often what finally break through and keep people coming back to the program. The reminder of how it all works is invaluable, no matter how often we hear this.
The Sobees Movie Score: 4 out of 5
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Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
