Good things come to those who wait. But for critics, the new season of"Euphoria"just wasn't worth the holdup.
Sam Levinson's HBO teen drama, which launched show leadZendayato superstardom alongside castmatesSydney Sweeney,Jacob ElordiandHunter Schafer, will return to TV screens on Sunday, April 12, for its much-anticipated third season.
The latest installment of the Emmy-winning series comes after the show reportedly faced a number of production delays, including the 2023 Hollywoodactorsandscreenwritersstrikes. In March 2024, HBO announced that it was permitting the series' cast topursue other acting jobs amid the long waitfor Season 3.
Set five years after the events of Season 2, the new season offers a moregrown-up look, depicting its cast of eccentric characters as twentysomethings.Zendaya's Rue works as an indentured servant for drug dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly), while Cassie (Sweeney) and Nate (Elordi) navigate serious coupledom with their engagement.
"Euphoria" became a TV darling and pop cultural lightning rod thanks to its frank take on adolescent life, including itsgraphic portrayals of sexuality and drug use.
"Attention-demanding things that played as extreme and terrifying when they were happening to teenagers simply become 'things' when the protagonists are in their 20s," Daniel Fienberg ofThe Hollywood Reporterwrote. "Heightened ideas that played as gloriously melodramatic and precariously edgy expressed through high-schoolers barely count as 'ideas' when run through a 20-something prism."
Here's what else critics are saying about Season 3 of "Euphoria."
'Euphoria' Season 3 cast:Natasha Lyonne, Trisha Paytas, Eli Roth, more join star-studded cast
"Euphoria" is officially back!Four years after the conclusion of its second season, the hit HBO series returns with its highly-anticipated third season on April 12.
Slated to pick up five years after the events of Season 2, "Euphoria" Season 3 sees the return of much of its ensemble cast, including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney, while also introducing a new set of characters.
As fans prepare to return to the tumultuous lives of "Euphoria's" sprawling characters, here's a look at just how much they've changed since their initial introduction to audiences in Season 1 (2019).
Pictured above, Zendaya as Rue Bennett in "Euphoria"s first season. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as teen love interests Rue and Jules Vaughn in Season 1 of "Euphoria."
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Jacob Elordi, who's since added an Oscar nomination to his name, and Alexa Demie found their first major breakthroughs playing Nate Jacobs and Maddy Perez in "Euphoria's" first season.
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While many now know Sydney Sweeney for her stacked resume, the actress first found initial mainstream success for playing Cassie Howard in "Euphoria" Season 1.
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Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo starred in "Euphoria" as Rue's mentor and sponsor Ali Muhammed in 2019.Pictured here, Domingo performs in a scene from "Euphoria" special episode "Trouble Don't Last Always." " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Angus Cloud quickly became a fan favorite on "Euphoria" for playing Fezco O'Neill across both seasons one and two. In 2023, Cloud died at age 25 from a drug overdose. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
While their relationship continued to evolve in Season 2, Barbie Ferreira and Alexa Demie first introduced audiences to Kat Hernandez and Maddy's quirky friendship in "Euphoria" Season 1.
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Algee Smith first portrayed Chris McKay in Season 1 of "Euphoria," followed by a brief appearance in Season 2.
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Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs, the father of Elordi's Nate Jacobs, in Season 1 of "Euphoria."The "Grey's Anatomy" alumnus died in 2026 at 53 after publicly battling ALS. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Elordi in Season 1 of "Euphoria."
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Storm Reid and Zendaya portray sisters Gia and Rue Bennett in "Euphoria."
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Sweeney and Maude Apatow as sisters Cassie and Lexi Howard in Season 1 of "Euphoria."
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Seven years after the release of "Euphoria's" first season, Zendaya returns as Rue in this first-look image for Season 3.
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Demie's Maddie works as a talent agent in "Euphoria" Season 3.
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Elordi returns as an adult Nate Jacobs in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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Schafer's Jules has seemingly become a sugar baby by Season 3.
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As seen in the Season 3's trailer, Sweeney's Cassie is now married to Nate and is launching a career on OnlyFans.
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Apatow's Lexi pursues a career in entertainment in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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Sweeney as Cassie in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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Zendaya as Rue in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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Zendaya as Rue in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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Domingo also makes a return as Ali in Season 3 of "Euphoria."
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See the 'Euphoria' cast's evolution from Season 1 to Season 3
"Euphoria"is officially back!Four years after the conclusion of its second season, the hitHBOseries returns with itshighly-anticipated third seasonon April 12.Slated to pick up five years after the events of Season 2, "Euphoria" Season 3 sees the return of much of its ensemble cast, includingZendaya,Jacob ElordiandSydney Sweeney, while also introducing a new set of characters.As fans prepare to return to the tumultuous lives of "Euphoria's" sprawling characters, here's a look at just how much they've changed since their initial introduction to audiences in Season 1 (2019).Pictured above, Zendaya as Rue Bennett in "Euphoria"s first season.
'Euphoria' loses edge in 'boring' Season 3, critics say
"Euphoria," once known for its heart-pounding drama, seems to have become something of a snoozefest.
With the exception of Rue's character arc, which includes a search for moral clarity through religion, the show's plot is now "maddeningly inert," says Ben Travers ofIndieWire.
"While Rue's position is fixed, season after season, her struggle to break free makes her compelling," wrote Travers, who gave the new season a "C-" rating.
"Most characters aren't changing, nor are their motivations to change clear to them or novel to us. The result is a start to the supposedly final season that grows old instead of up, while evoking a once-unthinkable question: How could 'Euphoria' become boring?"
Zendaya led the stars who wowed on the red carpet for HBO's "Euphoria." Season 3 was unveiled with a gala premiere on April 7, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. See who else stepped out.
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Sydney Sweeney
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Jacob Elordi
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Hunter Schafer
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Maude Apatow
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Zendaya
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Sydney Sweeney
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Natasha Lyonne and Sam Levinson
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Chloe Cherry
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Alexa Demie
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Sydney Sweeney (from left), Sam Levinson and Maude Apatow
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Danielle Deadwyler
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Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson
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Da'Vine Joy Randolph
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Anna Van Patten
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Kamryn Tatiyana
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Natasha Marc
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Marshawn Lynch
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Andy Muschietti
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Jessica Blair Herman
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Sam Trammell and Emmanuelle Chriqui
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Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi light up 'Euphoria' red carpet
Zendaya led the stars who wowed on the red carpet forHBO's "Euphoria."Season 3was unveiled with a gala premiere on April 7, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. See who else stepped out.
Even with the forward-looking time lapse offered by Season 3,BBC Newswriter Caryn James lamented that "Euphoria" no longer has its "zeitgeisty edge."
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"'Euphoria' has become a series with very little to say, none of it very audacious or compelling," wrote James, who gave the show a two-star rating. "It is a strained attempt to make the closed circle of friends it follows, now in their early 20s, somehow the same only different."
Sydney Sweeney's sex-work storyline panned for 'lazy shocks'
Cassie's titillating new gig leaves much to be desired.
Some critics panned the professional pursuits of Sweeney's character, who works as an adult content creator in Season 3. Belen Edwards ofMashablecalled the depiction of Sweeney's occupation, which includes backlash from Cassie's loved ones, an "over-sexualized humiliation gauntlet."
"'Euphoria' doesn't interrogate these biases or examine the intricacies of sex work further," Edwards wrote. "Instead, it's happy to keep the shame coming, using Cassie's aspirations as a springboard from which it can launch suggestive images designed to stir up the most controversy."
"While I clearly feel some of that outrage the show is gunning for," Edwards added, "what I feel more is exasperation. Exasperation that a show with such incredible potential and such undeniable talent in front of and behind the camera, keeps opting for lazy shocks."
New York PostTV reporter Lauren Sarner, who dubbed the new season an "unhinged disaster," echoed the sentiment, writing, "If there's a loftier point to be made beyond the camera ogling [Cassie], it's nowhere to be seen."
Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney earn praise for Season 3 performance
Despite critics' disdain for the Season 3 storylines, Zendaya earned praise for her performance and command of the season, with The Hollywood Reporter's Fienberg calling her a "marvel."
"After all this time, I'm still not convinced that Rue is a good or interesting character — Levinson leans so heavily into self-destructive tropes for the character that any native personality beyond 'addict' gets lost — but watching that light go on and off in Zendaya's eyes is always impressive."
Zendaya's costar Sweeney was also lauded for her renewed portrayal of Cassie, whose hypersexual femininity made"The Housemaid"actress a breakout star.
"Even if her character may not make much sense anymore ... Sweeney gets a lot to work with, like a long-awaited confrontation with her former best friend Maddy (Alexa Demie), and rises to the occasion,"Variety's Alison Herman wrote. "'Euphoria' seems to unlock something in Sweeney, just as the tomboyish, deadpan-but-sensitive Rue remains one of Zendaya's signature roles."
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Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Euphoria' Season 3 reviews – Critics disappointed by Zendaya series
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