CV Stardom

Samuel Abraham “Sam” Levinson turned 41 on January 8, 2026. He created and principally wrote “Euphoria”, which premiered on HBO in June 16, 2019.

“Euphoria” Season 3

The second season of “Euphoria” aired on HBO from January 9, 2022 to February 27, 2022. The third season will premiere on the same network on April 12, 2026.

While the series successfully catapulted Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney to superstardom during its break, the new episodes struggle to maintain the relevance that once defined the show. Now following the characters into their early 20s, Levinson has pivoted the narrative into an unexpected neo-Western, a creative choice that has left many reviewers questioning the show’s direction.

Rue Bennett, played by a consistently brilliant Zendaya, remains the heart of the series, though her journey has taken a bizarre turn. Shifting from high school halls to the Mexican desert, Rue is now an indentured drug mule working to settle her debts with the chillingly deadpan dealer, Laurie. The season leans heavily into Western tropes—complete with desert vistas, tumbleweeds, and a score by Hans Zimmer that echoes Ennio Morricone. Rue eventually finds herself under the thumb of Alamo, a strip club magnate portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. While Zendaya’s performance is praised for its nuance and ability to ground even the most preposterous plot points, critics argue that the show’s transition from high school realism to a Wild West metaphor feels overly literal and strained.

Meanwhile, the trajectory of Elordi and Sweeney’s respective characters Nathaniel “Nate” Jacobs and Cassandra “Cassie” Howard remains frustratingly stagnant despite a significant time jump. Now engaged and living in a gaudy mansion, Nate has taken over his late father’s real estate business, though his character remains underdeveloped. Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, is depicted as a shallow traditional wife aspirant and influencer. Her storyline attempts to tackle the mainstreaming of adult content via OnlyFans, but reviewers find the execution lacking compared to other contemporary dramas. Furthermore, there is a growing sense that the show’s directorial style has become pointlessly cruel toward Sweeney, prioritizing “leering” shots over substantive character growth.

The season also features a poignant, albeit tragic, appearance by Eric Dane, who passed away on February 19, 2026. His return as Nate’s father provides one of the few emotionally earned moments in an otherwise “busy” season. Other fan favorites, such as Lexi and Maddy, feel like afterthoughts in the initial episodes, while Jules is relegated to a stylized but secondary role. Newcomers like Sharon Stone and Marshawn Lynch add flair but contribute to a narrative that feels increasingly crowded.

Ultimately, while “Euphoria” remains a visual spectacle, it currently lacks the audacious spark of its early years, leaving its talented cast with more work to do than the script provides.