“Euphoria” is a show that is too great for me to even analyze. I would have to add every detail and that would overwhelm me as of now. So instead I will analyze and rate the special episode of Euphoria. The special episode of “Euphoria” centered around Rue offers a deep dive into her character, exploring themes of addiction, grief, and redemption. Through a conversation between Rue and her sponsor, Ali, the episode delves into Rue’s inner turmoil, providing insight into her struggles with sobriety and her complex relationship with Jules.

One notable aspect of the episode is its intimate setting, primarily taking place in a diner, which creates a space for raw and honest dialogue. Rue’s vulnerability is palpable as she grapples with feelings of guilt and self-doubt, shedding light on the cyclical nature of addiction and the challenges of recovery.

It starts with Jules and Rue kissing, in the scene Rue looks the happiest she has ever been while also being sober. Though this is a normal thing throughout the show as well every time we see Rue with Jules she looks the happiest she has ever been. Plus when she is with Jules she also tends to stay sober, which shows how she depends on Jules. If you even look closer, Rue’s shirt is purple, representing tranquility, displaying how she feels when she is around Jules. Soon after Jules leaves, right when she steps out the door Rue starts to get high. This is a clear example of how Jules gives Rue the same high and happiness drugs provide. It shows that not only can you be addicted to drugs, but you can also be addicted to someone. 

The scene shifts to Rue in the diner with her friend/sponsor Ali. Before he even says anything Rue says she is okay, already telling on herself.  As the two start talking Rue says she put too much of her well-being in Jules’s hands. Exactly like I said when I saw the opening scene, a perfect depiction of Rue depending on Jules for joy. As the conversation goes on, Rue says she made Jules the point. I like this line, when Rue says Jules is the point she means the point of her life. This is a well-written line in my opinion because they could’ve said something corny or cliche like, “She’s what keeps me going” or “She was my life.” Though they use “point”. The point of her existence means she was truly what kept her alive, sober, etc. It describes how Jules was truly in control without knowing. 

As Ali listens to Rue he soon notices she is high, causing him to tell her about herself with no filter. He tells Rue she sees being sober as a weakness when in reality it is her greatest weapon. This was also a well-written line because most addicts do see being sober as a weakness. Not because they want to, but forced to. When someone is addicted to something it can distort their thinking, making them believe the drugs are helping. While this is not true, the reason Ali says being sober is your greatest weapon is because when you get sober after being addicted for a long time you finally have control of your body and mind again. To fully have control of your actions, decisions, and mind again is beautiful, it means you have clarity. Overall within the first 10 minutes, I can detect wonderful writing and dialogue. 

When Rue starts to get comfortable with Ali she begins to tell him every time she sober she wants to kill herself. This causes Ali to ask what she thinks about when she is clean, and Rue responds and says, “Everything”. He asked why she didn’t ask for help and her response was I didn’t want a reason not to relapse. Revealing it was never her plan to get clean. This is a real fact if an addict does not want to become clean they won’t. This leads Rue to ask if she is a piece of shit. Ali responds and says, “You’re not a drug addict because you’re not a piece of shit you’re a piece of shit because you’re a drug addict.” Going into detail about how the first day she took drugs she started playing a losing game, because in his words truly addiction is a disease. Which it is, yes taking drugs is a choice some make, but they don’t know where it will take them or how it can change them. When one gets addicted to drugs it can cause changes to the brain, stress, and self-control. Yet the worst part is others don’t see it that way. They see it as selfishness, weakness, and cruelty; probably leading drug addicts to never stop because others make them feel worse about themselves anyway yet they don’t see and feel what the actual victim goes through.

As Rue understands where Ali is coming from she starts to feel more open to being honest about her feelings. She ends up telling Ali she doesn’t believe in god, which leaves him to say God doesn’t give a fuck if you believe in him he believes in you, if he didn’t you wouldn’t be breathing. Unknowingly Ali hits the nerve that causes her disbelief. She says if god believed in my dad he’d still be alive, people always eat god save them because they have a purpose, well does that mean my dad didn’t? because I think his purpose was to raise my sister.  This was a good aspect to add because it is proven Some people may not believe in a higher power due to lack of evidence, personal experiences, philosophical reasons, and more. It’s a complex topic influenced by culture, upbringing, education, and individual perspectives. And this one scene shows the realism of why some don’t believe. Some people have been through so many traumatic and tragic events they can’t even have hope anymore, and once you reach that low who are you supposed to believe in? That’s like saying every time you go to a store they rob you, why would you keep going back or caring about it if all it does is leave you behind or helpless? 

When Ali hears this it is evident he feels bad, and tells Rue he doesn’t know everything and no one does. The creation and destruction of human life will always be a mystery that we are not able to comprehend. Rue jokingly says maybe I’ll start a revolution, but with no joke, Ali tells her she needs to, but she can’t do it without believing in a higher power. This means leveraging your personal experiences, struggles, and insights to advocate for change within yourself, perhaps focusing on issues like healthcare, addiction treatment, or social justice. Though it cannot be done unless you have some hope, or backbone holding you up. As Ali finishes he goes outside for a cigarette break. 

When Ali goes out for his cig break Rue plays a song; the lyrics of the song are, “Hey after all these years, I’m still here.” As this song plays we find Ali in the parking lot calling his daughters. During the conversation we find out it is Christmas when he says, “Merry Christmas.” While the conversation goes on Ali starts to argue with his daughter, because they haven’t talked in many years. Ultimately this whole scene was wonderful. The first aspect that caught my attention was the song playing while talking to his family. This caught my eye because the song describes the situation and relationship of Ali and his daughters. The other factor that caught my attention was the fact that it is Christmas, this was a cool factor because it is true some people randomly call on Christmas. Christmas is the time when people unexpectedly reach out because it is a time when family connections are emphasized, even if they haven’t been regularly. The Christmas factor was also cool because Ali and Rue chose to spend their Christmas together, revealing they are truly all each other has. Yes, Rue has her family and he has his but they don’t understand them like Rue and Ali understand each other. Lastly, I like that the writers added an argument throughout the phone call. The argument added realism because if you get a call from your recovered drug addict father who hasn’t talked to you in multiple years, you would be mad too. Sober or not. 

Eventually, the conversation ends and he returns to the diner with Rue. Though when he comes in I realize something about his outfit. He has a green shirt on with a black hat, the color green representing his hope and growth while the black hat represents the power and knowledge he holds in his head.  Anyways when he sits down Rue asks what she should do about Jules. Ali turns around and asks the diner worker whom he knows personally, “What would happen if you thought about dating in your early stages of sobriety?” The worker responds and says she didn’t have enough energy to manage both, so she chose her sobriety because she knew that’s what she wanted. Man this is why I couldn’t analyze the whole show just yet, it is filled with meaningful details. Although this scene holds a beautiful moment, it shows you do not know anyone’s story but your own. She could’ve been a fellow person at the diner. Before they started talking that’s what we thought she was, but came to find out she was also a drug addict. Though she is still that regular person we just saw sitting down before Ali asked her that question. I love this moment because it means no matter what you have done or seen you are still a human being and unless you tell someone, nobody knows what’s happening to others. 

As Rue hears Ali and the lady loud and clear she thinks about what they are saying. Eventually, Rue gets in the car ready to leave and we see her as the camera zooms in on her face, surrounded by darkness. The music fades out, leaving a sense of silence and introspection. This ending serves as a powerful moment of reflection for Rue, highlighting her inner turmoil and the weight of her past decisions. It leaves viewers with a poignant glimpse into Rue’s emotional state and sets the stage for further exploration of her character’s journey in the series.

The special episode focusing on Rue from the series “Euphoria” deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 for its poignant exploration of addiction, mental health, and human connection. Through its raw and intimate storytelling, the episode delves deep into Rue’s psyche, offering viewers a profound glimpse into her struggles and vulnerabilities. Zendaya’s exceptional performance adds layers of authenticity, drawing audiences into Rue’s tumultuous journey. While the episode may lack some narrative momentum, its emotional depth and character development compensate, leaving a lasting impact. Overall, the Rue special episode captivates with its honesty and empathy, making it a standout installment in the “Euphoria” series.