During their hiatus and due to major filming delays because of COVID, HBO’s hit dramaEuphoriagave fans two special episodes to tide them over before the highly anticipated second season arrived. In response to the pandemic, these two episodes decided to fixate on one character’s storyline and perspective per episode, acting as almost short spin-off films for the two characters that were chosen to be highlighted.
The firstEuphoriaepisode focused on main character, Rue,played by Zendaya, and the second one zeroes in on the character of Jules, played by rising star Hunter Schafer. Fans have seenEuphoriautilize flashback sequences and monologues when it comes to revealing the background of each character, but it’s usually a short sequence that’s quickly explored and then the rest of the cast comes back in full swing. However, these special episodes gave fans a chance to get a bird’s eye view into the internal minds, fantasies, and fears of both Rue and Jules. This is particularly interesting, seeing as their relationship, which grew steadily from Platonic to romantic, was indefinitely on the rocks at this point in time, both of them surrounded by heartbreak and presumed betrayal from one another.
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Rue’s episode sheds light on her drug addiction that’s getting drastically worse, while Jules’ episode showcases her in a therapy session. In a new interview withi-D, Schafer commented on how much art can sometimes imitate life. In this case, Schafer credits herEuphoriaspecial episodewith helping her overcome a deep battle with depression that she was experiencing at the time. Schafer stated, “I was in a very f*cking raw place, you know, it was the summer of 2020. Probably coming out of the worst depression I’ve ever had, and needing somewhere to put all of that energy. When I say that episode really became a lifeline, I mean it.”
The episode also means a great deal to Schafer because it ended up being her first time serving as a co-writer and co-executive producer. She spoke on how surreal it was to be able to serve as a writer for the series and contribute to the show in that way. She shared, “It was a really good opportunity to put some sh*t on TV that has not been on TV as far as what’s actually going on inyoung trans people’s heads beyond‘Oh, I’m scared what people are going to think because I’m trans - like, real, spiritual, philosophical, who am I? What does this all mean?”
Most of Jules' episode centered around her identity as a trans-woman and sort of dissecting what her womanhood means to her. At one point, Jules contemplates possibly going off her hormones because she is fearful she has based her entire identity as a woman around men’s desires versus her own. These are topics that are very rarely ever portrayed in television series - the script alone forthisEuphoriaepisodewas revolutionary in itself.
