Euphoric Link
• IndieWire details on Ava DuVernay's DC superheroes project The New Gods
• Deadline One Day at a Time, cancelled by Netflix which shoulda known better, will continue on Pop TV (which did a great job with Schitt's Creek!)
• / Film an intriguing sounding new sci-fi project for Reese Witherspoon called Pyros
• IndieWire Slovenia's first LGBT film Consequences
After the jump The Boys, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and our current fascination with Euphoria as its first season ends...
• Broadway World Baz Lurhmann's Elvis biopic has a release date already: October 1st, 2021
• Slate a fascinating piece on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood being about violence itself and the appetite the movies have for it
• / Film everything I've read about the new superhero show The Boys suggests I would loathe it (it's reportedly extremely gorey, cruel, and nihilistic. But it figures that the only scene Amazon asked them to cut was a sexual scene and not a violent one. American media is still soooo disturbing when it comes to how disturbed they are by sex while every second of violence they can see they cheer on.
Euphoria Season Finale Tonight!
Are you watching this HBO show? You absolutely should be. It's the first show where I've genuinedly cared about and worried for the mental health of every character since, like, my so-called life. Zendaya for Best Actress 2020 at the Emmys. Also it's visually inventive and stunning in a way too few TV shows and movies aspire to be.
• New Now Next on the rare opportunity of seeing a cis/trans relationship on TV
• NYT a piece about the show's savvy but ultimately conservative view of online sexuality
• Shadow and Act a ranking of the characters "from worst to not worst" haha... mostly spot on with the weird exception of Fezco being nearly #1 of not-worst. Love the character and the performance (Angus Cloud) but he sells hard drugs... to high schoolers. How is he not in the bottom four?
Reader Comments (13)
Really? Euphoria? Tried to enjoyed it but meh. Zendaya deserves better.
I would warn any young (or easily triggered) queer viewers away from the Slovenian LGBT drama, Consequences, as SPOILERS its story turns are so grim, I refuse to believe it isn’t anti-gay propaganda. It doesn't surprise me that it’s the first film of its ilk in the country because it’s incredibly tone-deaf and excruciating to watch by the denouement.
The Boys actually has a humane heart: it's basically about people whose love and innocence are betrayed by the world. It's also a commentary on the way our culture works nowadays, where superhero movies are the main product that Hollywood produces and politics has become reality-show trash. Some of it is very funny and inventive: a nasty sex scene between a pushy pick-up and Chace Crawford, as a down-and-out superhero, is almost unbelievably weird. Plus, its erotics are definitely homo (more male nudity, including frontal, than female). I enjoyed and admired it, in part because I read zilch about it beforehand.
Watched the first episode of Euphoria and found it bleak. The characters were all repugnant to me. Does it get better?
I wish Pop TV or a similar small network would save Tuca & Bertie. I watch a lot of tv and it was the best thing I've seen on tv so far this year (and it had the best, most honest take I've seen on the me too movement).
I watch Euphoria and can't stop but I don't like it at all (fitting maybe?). I find it fascinating for many reasons and on a technical level it's impressive but for me it mostly rings of style over substance (like an empty version of Paul Thomas Anderson). The pacing is relentless and not in a good way. The big fair episode - which I've seen some people call the best episode of TV this year - had me laughing because IT WOULD JUST NOT STOP AND EVERYTHING WAS AMPED UP TO AN EVEN MORE INSANE DEGREE THAN NORMAL.
Still, I really appreciate the craft of how the show is made and the casting and performances. The actors do a great job, especially because so many times it feels like they aren't given actual scenes to play. Instead, it's just little snippets of 50 set-ups edited together. But I continue to watch, even if I can't get tuned into the show's wavelength.
I've been watching EUPHORIA and I agree that it's great. Biggs, I think if you keep going you'll find more shadings in all the characters. I was super impressed with the first episode as well, but now, like Nate, I just want to give all these characters hugs... or therapy. They all need both.
Zendaya is obviously magnificent, but I've been impressed with most of the ensemble. Hunter Schafer in particular is a revelation.
The Boys >>>>> Euphoria.
Just so a big typo on my last comment. I meant to say I was NOT super impressed with Euphoria's first episode. Anyways, the finale is on my DVR to see later tonight!
I love Euphoria, and yes Zendaya deserves an Emmy win for it. I had no idea she was such a force. What’s even crazier is that the whole ensemble cast is so, so good. Whoever was the casting director for the show did a phenomenal job.
@Jordan An empty version of Paul Thomas Anderson describes the serie very well
I find Euphoria to be dangerous. It is shallow and glamorizes both drug use and dehumanized behavior. The advisory at the end for a phone number to call for help is laughable.
I don't think Euphoria glamorizes anything lol they're all miserable and struggling!
It's my favorite show right now. First time in a long time that I've gotten roped in like that and care about the outcomes of all the characters. Agreed on amazing casting and Zendaya being incredible!