Euphoria Season 3: Critics Call it 'Unhinged Disaster'

The initial critical reception for the third season of HBO Max's Euphoria, which is likely the show's final installment, has been overwhelmingly negative. Critics who viewed the first three episodes describe the season as an "unhinged disaster" that is also "pretty uneventful," a stark contrast to the acclaim the first two seasons received. This season currently holds a dismal 53 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews.

Reviewers point to several significant issues plaguing the new season. The five-year time jump has resulted in characters whose struggles feel less grounded in human drama and more in contrived external threats, with some comparisons to "Breaking Bad meets Looney Tunes." There are also critiques of the show becoming "airless" and its characters remaining stuck in "high-school thinking," leading to repetitive and obvious character arcs that squander the talents of its lead actors. Furthermore, the perceived oversexualization of characters, with many involved in sex work or crime, has drawn significant criticism, raising questions about the show's artistic intent versus its execution.