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While it was never up there with the more acclaimed series on the network, the first two seasons of “Euphoria” on HBO scored fairly good reviews. That’s not the case with the long-in-the-works third (and likely final) season.
With 20 reviews counted, the new run sits at just 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 59/100 on Metacritic. In comparison, the first two seasons hovered around the 80% mark on RT, and at 68 & 74 respectively on MC.
The new season arrives four years after the second season aired, with events in the show having moved forward five years. In the new run, high school is long behind them as Zendaya‘s Rue, Jacob Elordi‘s Nate, Hunter Schafer’s Jule, Alexa Demie’s Maddy, and Sydney Sweeney‘s Cassie among others are out in the world trying to make a living.
Here’s a sampling of reviews:
“Age has mellowed out both the show and the chaotic adolescents it was once about. The result: A sprawling crime tale with dashes of Hollywood glamour. People still have big feelings and make bad decisions. But it sure beats high school.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
“It is clear that the third season of Euphoria is held back by behind-the-scenes limitations, but the ambitious, weird swings that Levinson takes are certainly at least admirable.” – Sean Boelman, FandomWire
“The episodes are overly languid thanks to Rue’s painfully expository narration and the unresolved tension between the series’ familiar character dynamics and flashy new genre vehicle.” – Roxana Hadadi, Vulture
“The path Levinson chooses for Euphoria Season 3 opens the show up to its worst impulses, marring its technical splendor and strong performances with exploitative storylines that feel primed for internet outrage.” – Belen Edwards, Mashable
“Levinson’s series was never this spiritually hollow, and it was always more active, insistent, and ambitious.” – Ben Travers, Indiewire
“There are individual beats, scenes, and performances in these three episodes that spark with that energy that the show found at its best, but 2026 “Euphoria” feels more uncertain of what it’s doing or saying than ever before.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“It’s hard to root for people who aren’t interested in rooting for themselves, and too few of these characters have been given the capacity for it.” – Hunter Ingram, The Wrap
“The show has become increasingly busy, without necessarily becoming increasingly involving and, especially in the second episode, I was intellectually checked out much more than was ideal.” – Daniel Fienberg, THR
The new season is set to premiere on HBO on April 12th.
The post “Euphoria” Season 3 Reviews Are Rough appeared first on Dark Horizons.
