Euphoria
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You asked, begged, and relentlessly pleaded for a Lexi episode andEuphoriacertainly delivered.
For a high-school play, its both expectedly clumsy and unbelievably extravagant.
Multiple dance numbers!)
But the formal experimentation has its purpose in enriching Lexis character in contrast to the shows typical indulgences.
Its also just extremely fun to watch.
Taking on the role of director, writer, and star, Lexi flourishes in ways she rarely exhibits.
She commands her crew with unshakable authority and relishes the spotlight.
And in writing herself as the main character, no one can overshadow her.
But still, fear and doubt creep in as she worries her play will make everyone angry.
(It does.)
The big question The Theater and Its Double ends on is: What happened to Fez?
It looks like theyre setting him and Ash up for tragedy.
Rue is (or, rather, was) naturally a major presence in Lexis life.
Notably, Rue is the only person not offended by their depiction in the play.
Granted, her portrayal isntthatunflattering, and shes also credited with changing Lexis life for the better.
But I also like to think shes simply proud of her (former) best friend.
The episodes time-hopping structure doesnt help to rectify that either.
Nothing gets room to breathe, to come alive.
The play is particularly painful for Cassie.
From her seat beside Nate, Cassie observes her friendship with Maddy play out on stage.
The two became inseparable in ninth grade, their bond bolstered by their shared strained relationships with their parents.
And when the fighting in Maddys home became unbearable, she found refuge in the Howard household.
He put me through hell, and now hes with my fucking best friend, she cries.
When is it gonna end?
Nate is a rot in Maddys life that perniciously infects everything and everyone around her including her dearest friendship.
Since moving in with Nate, Cassie has established a dangerous precedent with him.
She looks awfully like her former best friend.
Arent you afraid people are gonna look down on you?
At least Im loved, she replies.
Its an idea Levinsonreturns to again and again, that Cassie yearns to be loved.
Its a very universal desire, and the series considers that this simple need can turn destructive.
At least the play hurts Nate.
The episode climaxes with a homoerotic spectacle starring Ethan as a stand-in for Nate.
The crowd roars, bar one, as Nate storms out and breaks up with Cassie on the spot.
Cassie has abandoned her friends and identity for Nate, and now shes truly aimless.
But before we can see her next move, the episode ends on a promise of more to come.
But you might remain confidentEuphoriawill always deliver a scene to remember.
Their conversation continues to build on the shows inchoate exploration of Gia that began last week.
Unbeknownst to Rue, her little sister has been getting detentions and precipitously dropping grades.
Leslie nonchalantly gives Rue her blessing to take as many drugs as she wants.
If Rue cant get clean, then her moms priorities need to shift.
I thinkEuphoriais teeing up Gia for a promotion next season, and I love to see it.
Will Rue and Jules be able to salvage their relationship?
The two bump into each other for the first time since the intervention, and the atmosphere is uncomfortable.
Its funny how I used to think we were meant for each other, Rue thinks.
That feels like a lifetime ago.
In Kats ten seconds of the week, we see shes slipped back into camming again.
So … thats it?
Six weeks of dragging out this meager story line, and for what?
Juless special directly addressed her feelings toward Nate/Tyler, but the reverse is harder to get a grasp on.
But he also curiously didnt hesitate to tell Jules last episode that what they had was real.
Im struggling to see how these threads coalesce.
