Is Euphoria Promoting Manosphere Fantasies?

The current season of Euphoria, set five years after its last installment, finds its characters navigating their early twenties. This new phase sees many of the young women largely dependent on men. Cassie Howard is portrayed as fulfilling a traditional wife fantasy for Nate Jacobs, while Jules Vaughn has reportedly left art school to become a 'sugar baby,' dating older men. Rue Bennett, Zendaya's character, is now working as a drug mule for a strip club owner.

The show's depiction of female characters has shifted from their earlier seasons, where they were perceived as more in control of their destinies. Now, in the 'real world,' the misogyny they face feels more pronounced. This shift has led to speculation that the series might be influenced by manosphere ideologies, which often view women as manipulative figures seeking financial gain.

This 'gamified' view of life, where success is measured by metrics like wealth and sexual encounters, appears to be a theme. While earlier seasons focused on navigating adolescence, this season seems to exist within the 'attention economy,' potentially prioritizing provocative content for social media engagement. Despite the controversial elements, viewing figures for the season have reportedly increased.