I watched "Euphoria" – and you know what, I liked it.

If you’ve been on Instagram at all over the course of the past year, you’ve probably seen an ad for HBO and A24’s “Euphoria,” with its Gen-Z appealing neon and Zendaya’s dramatic inner monologues. Look, I had my doubts. I went in with the lowest of low expectations, cynical at the prospect of a show late-night hosts say make them scared for when their kids are in high school.

I wouldn’t call it a realistic depiction of high school life, but I would call it a real depiction of high school life. While the large percentage of high school kids are not Skyping older men online for money, brutally beating people up, committing blackmail, or accidentally hooking up with their fellow students’ parents, the emotions, thoughts, and toxic relationships emanating from the lives of the young people in this town are on the nose. I would argue that the dramatic, shock-value moments (hookups, scandals, etc.) run in the background to an in-depth look at what it feels like to be a teenager in the age of the internet.

The characters are larger-than-life – I am thinking especially here of Maddie and Nate, who often seem too much the stereotypical jock/it-girl – yet they have these extremely honest moments that ground the show in reality. I reminded myself of this often as I watched – yes, these characters are a little melodramatic, but that doesn’t necessarily make the show bad. This is, after all, television. Through sugar-coating the pill with teenage melodrama, HBO is able to make a statement on mental health, addiction, modern relationships, and the ways in which America is failing its teenagers.

Highlights – 

Jules: There is no one else like her on TV. Hunter Schafer brings such immense believability to her character that it is shocking this is her first acting job.

The relationship between Rue and Fezco: The complexity of this relationship is heartbreaking to watch, as while Fezco played a role in Rue’s addiction and overdose, he also has immense love for her and (as I see it) immense guilt for the ways he contributed to her drug abuse. I think his character is one of the most interesting to watch. When he first showed up on screen, I thought he would be the token comic-relief drug dealer, but his storyline has really surprised me, especially with his Grandmother.

The dynamics between Rue, her sister, and her mother: These three are some of the strongest actors on the show and the looks into Rue’s past are among the hardest to watch moments.