Euphoria Season 3’s Most Problematic Storyline Will Go Down as the Biggest Fumble in HBO History

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Can you believe Season 3 is finally here after four long years? It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, honestly – people seem really divided on it. The show picks up five years later, and it’s wild seeing Rue, Cassie, Maddie, Jules, and Nate all grown up. But honestly, one thing that’s been really weighing on everyone’s minds is Fezco’s storyline, especially after the heartbreaking loss of Angus Cloud last year. It’s tough watching knowing what happened.

When the actor tragically passed away, a lot of us Euphoria fans thought Fez would have to be written off the show, especially with how things ended for him in Season 2. But surprisingly, the show decided to keep him alive within the story, and honestly, a lot of viewers – myself included – aren’t happy about that choice.

Fez Still Lives In The Euphoria Universe Despite Angus Cloud’s Demise

Five years after graduating high school, most of the central characters are struggling. Rue owes Laurie a massive $43 million and is working as a drug carrier to try and pay it back. She tells Lexi that Fez is still alive, but has been in prison for thirty years.

The season two finale featured a dramatic turn of events: Fez’s brother, Ashtray, died during a police raid, leaving Fez vulnerable. Though Fez was Rue’s drug dealer in the first season of Euphoria, he genuinely cared about her and wanted to help her stop using drugs. It’s understandable that Fez would still be connected to Rue after losing Ashtray, as she was like family to him. However, a bigger question remains: was it right for the show to keep Fezco alive?

Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria, shared that he chose to keep the character Fez alive in the show as a way to honor Angus Cloud, the actor who passed away. He believes Cloud would have been pleased with the character’s storyline. However, some viewers find it unsettling that the character continues on screen after the actor’s death.

Giving a character a detailed backstory and including phone calls with other characters walks a fine line between maintaining the story and being respectful of real-life events. While an actor’s death, particularly a sudden one, is incredibly difficult for everyone involved, the situation deserves more consideration and respect than it has received.

A similar situation occurred on Glee when Cory Monteith, the actor who played Finn Hudson, tragically died from a drug overdose in 2013. However, the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, approached the storyline differently. Like Alex, Finn’s character also died off-screen out of respect, and the show dedicated an episode to honoring him.

It feels disrespectful and unrealistic to keep Fez as a character while acknowledging Angus Cloud can’t continue in the role. The show hints at storylines for Fez, like his plan to escape prison using parkour, but it raises a question: if Fez has a significant story this season, will we actually see it happen, or will it all occur off-screen?

To give Fez’s story a more satisfying and respectful conclusion, it would have been better if his arc had ended at the close of Euphoria Season 2. Being arrested put him in a difficult spot, and a definitive outcome – either his death or a permanent move away – would have been stronger than the current storyline of him calling from prison. It feels like a contrived way to maintain the connection between Lexi and Fez simply because fans enjoyed their dynamic.

Euphoria Has Always Courted Controversy

Troubling storylines and scenes have become a recurring issue with Euphoria, and the way the character of Fez was handled is another example of poorly thought-out plots. The show often features disturbing sexual content, which is particularly concerning given that it originally focused on the lives of high school students, making it difficult to watch for some.

Characters such as Cassie, Maddie, and Jules often acted more like mature adults than typical teenagers. Some storylines, particularly Jules’ exploration of a sugarbaby relationship, were considered shocking and delved into unusual and sometimes disturbing themes.

Many of the characters feel drastically different from how they were as teenagers, creating a strange disconnect for viewers—it’s like seeing the same faces and hearing the same names, but with entirely new personalities. Reports have also surfaced of disagreements among the cast, including conflicts between actors and even Zendaya with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

Sam Levinson has faced criticism and controversy due to reports of a difficult and demanding work environment on set. This has led to some actors, including Barbie Ferreira, leaving the show, reportedly due to disagreements about the creative direction.

Labrinth, the show’s music director and a key creative force, removed his music from Euphoria. Additionally, creator Sam Levinson faced criticism for unnecessary nude scenes. Unfortunately, the show has become known for seemingly showcasing the creator’s personal interests, particularly through its depictions of drug use and explicit sexual content, rather than serving the story.

The show appears to be prioritizing shocking moments, but this is detracting from its original quality. The unexpected return of Fez, following Angus Cloud’s passing, is a notable surprise and might attract viewers curious to see how the character is used in the current season of Euphoria.

After a shaky third season so far, Euphoria might alienate viewers by repeatedly focusing on difficult and controversial storylines. While it seems the creator, Levinson, wanted to pay tribute to the late Angus Cloud, the execution feels insensitive and misses the mark.

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2026-05-01 02:07