Euphoria Season 3 Episode 4: A Return to Form for the Show

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Warning! Spoilers ahead for Euphoria season 3, episode 4.

Honestly, after waiting four years for season 3 of Euphoria, I was incredibly disappointed – and that’s putting it mildly. Thinking back to the week Rue was born in September 2001 feels like a monumental moment in history, and the letdown with this season is almost on that scale. The first couple of episodes felt like a completely different show! It veered into this gritty, neo-western crime thriller territory with loan sharks and drug cartels, and honestly, everyone seemed…off. Rue felt reduced to just being boy-crazy, Maddy was acting like a Hollywood pimp, Cal was surprisingly nice and remorseful, and Nate was actually seeking Cassie’s approval – a total 180 from how he usually behaves.

The first few episodes felt like they could have been much better. There were several scenes—especially montages—that would have been more impactful with music by Labrinth. Surprisingly, Nate and Cassie’s wedding was calm, even with some potentially tense people in attendance—like Nate’s exes and the friend who hurt Cassie. The only real problems were a popped champagne cork and a lot of financial issues.

Last night’s episode of Euphoria – season 3, episode 4, titled “Kitty Likes to Dance” – felt like a return to the show’s original strengths. Continuing the story from the previous episode, where Nate’s toe reattachment symbolized his failing marriage, this installment finally captured the feel of classic Euphoria.

Euphoria Season 3, Episode 4 Finally Felt Like Classic Euphoria

The biggest change in the new season compared to earlier ones is that it no longer takes place in high school. While the actors have aged, the high school environment was what naturally brought all the characters together for casual interactions and gossip. Although you don’t need a high school for that kind of connection, the first three episodes of the latest season of Euphoria haven’t found a good way to recreate it.

Episode 4 felt like a return to high school, with the characters playfully teasing and judging each other while relaxing by the pool. Cassie, Maddy, and Lexi’s house now serves as the new social hub, replacing the high school hallways where everyone used to gather.

Everyone Except Nate Is Acting Like Themselves Again

A major issue with the third season of Euphoria is that the characters have felt out of character. It’s as if the long break between seasons caused the creator to lose track of who they are. However, episode 4 marks a turning point, with everyone except Nate finally behaving like their original selves.

Nate is behaving very strangely, unlike himself. In the past, if a city council member was deliberately ruining his life, he would have manipulated and blackmailed them, likely sending them to prison for good. While unpleasant to witness, it would have been a dramatic situation, similar to what happened with Tyler. However, this season, Nate surprisingly humbles himself and begs for forgiveness in front of everyone.

The rest of the characters are thriving: Rue is awkwardly navigating her work as a DEA informant, Jules accidentally causes a stir at Lexi’s job, and Cassie is frantically trying to impress an influencer. It’s great to see the show back to its usual, lively, and captivating self.

This Episode Brought Back Euphoria’s Signature Hitchcockian Tension

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I loved how the first two seasons of Euphoria kept me on the edge of my seat! Sam Levinson was brilliant at building suspense, kind of like Hitchcock did, making even normal moments feel incredibly intense. For me, the scene where Cassie is hiding in the bathtub, desperately trying to avoid Maddy finding out about Nate, really stands out as the perfect example of that gripping tension.

The episode ‘Kitty Likes to Dance’ features two particularly strong sequences: Maddy bursting through the bedroom door and Rue filming the poker game. The bedroom scene builds tension using a technique similar to Sergio Leone films, cutting back and forth between different shots. The poker game is cleverly set up with an earlier explanation, reminiscent of Mission: Impossible, detailing how the DEA’s surveillance app functions. If this episode is any indication of what’s to come, Euphoria might still be able to regain its footing.

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2026-05-04 18:49