If you haven’t watched the first season of Euphoria, you’re definitely living under a rock. The HBO show, which premiered back in June 2019, follows the life of Rue, played by award-winning actress and America’s sweetheart, Zendaya. Rue is a high school student who struggles with drug addiction, and the show has gained the praise of several critics for its excellent plot, cinematography and performances of the cast, which includes Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi and Storm Reid. What in particular strikes viewers in regards to the show, is its woke-ism. The show touches base on several societal and personal issues that Gen Z in particular may relate to which are not normally addressed as openly, yet urgently important to highlight, including matters of identity, addiction, sexuality and most importantly: mental health.
Just in time for the release of season two set to premiere on the 9th of January, we’ve got an exclusive interview between William Mullally, Digital Editor at Esquire Middle East and Zendaya, where the actress opens up about her character’s perception and story, and how Rue has helped others on their mental health journey.
It’s no secret that Rue has made several mistakes – yet we always seem to empathise with her and that is what Zendaya claims her character has taught us, “For me, what has always been important with the show is the concept of empathy, the concept of a greater human understanding. I think Rue makes decisions and does things that are painful, not only to herself, but to other people. And we see that fallout over and over and over again. I think in this show, and this season more specifically, she goes to the rock bottom. It’s my hope for people watching that they still see her as a person worthy of their love. And worth of their time, and that she has a redemptive quality still, and that we still see the good in her even if she can’t see it in herself.”
Not only has Rue taught people to empathise, but it is clear that her struggles are a reflection of what more people that we predict go through, and it’s important for these people to know that they are not alone in their fight and pain. Rue’s journey has also taught those who may not relate to her at all how to empathise and forgive those who do relate to her. “I think that if people can go with her through that, and get to the end, and still have hope for her future, and watch her make the changes and steps to heal and humanise her through her sobriety journey and her addiction, then maybe they can extend that to people in real life. If you can love her, then you can love someone that is struggling with the same thing, and maybe have a greater understanding for the pain they’re facing…”
“…I think it’s important that we have characters that are flawed. And remember that we are not the worst mistake we’ve ever made. And that redemption is possible.”
Zendaya later describes herself as a catalyst to connecting those who may relate to Rue, to Rue herself. “I just got to be the storyteller in the middle. And it felt great, but I’ve continued to feel very grateful for that responsibility to feel connected to these people that feel connected to her, because I know I do. I have found that I’ve been able to meet people in all different walks of life in all different age groups, some people that aren’t Gen Z, but still find something in one of these characters that feels like home, that feels honest to who they are, or puts words to an experience that they can’t quite describe or weren’t able to articulate.”
Other than redemption, Zendaya explains that another key theme of season 2 will be hope – and it’s no secret that we can all use a little hope, regardless of our mental health and our relatability to any character of the show. “I always felt that Rue would be okay, because if Rue was a version of Sam [Levinson: creator of Euphoria], and Sam is who he is, and he was able to take all that pain and turn it into this beautiful television show many years later and was able to do something with it, then I feel that Rue was going to be okay. But I wanted to see that on screen.
“…but also the concept of hope, that there is something beautiful at the end and that we deserve happy endings. We deserve the good things in our life, no matter the mistakes we’ve made, and I I think the main theme in my eyes is that and hopefully people will feel that once we get through the tough part. It’s a long journey but when we get there, I promise to keep loving her and keep supporting her.”
Euphoria season 2 will be available to watch on OSN Streaming App on January 10 at 22:00.
