Euphoria is back, but it doesn’t quite feel like the same show anymore.

Season 3 kicked off on April 12, 2026, and right now the vibe of the show has shifted. Taking place five years after high school, the neon-heavy, dreamlike style from season 1 and 2 is toned down. 

The visuals and pacing are more grounded. One possible reason for that change is Rue’s current state. Rue’s trying to stay clean, affecting how the story is presented and how scenes play out.

The shift hasn’t gone unnoticed by viewers. Nyla Wilson, a junior journalism and mass communication student, put it directly.

“The third season sucks. I think it sucks because it doesn’t give Euphoria (anymore)…the storyline is weird. Like (with) the drug smuggling, they’re literally eating the drugs and then they have to (poop) them out. Like what?”

The character dynamics have also changed. Nate and Cassie stand out the most. Nate seems to have toned down his aggressive presence. 

His behavior is more reserved, and Nate’s position in their relationship is less dominant. Cassie takes on more control in their interactions.

That shift shows up in one of their main conflicts. Cassie insists on spending $50,000 on wedding flowers and refuses to back down. 

To pay for it, she suggests starting an OnlyFans account and makes it clear where she stands. Nate eventually agrees, but only if she doesn’t show her face and body at the same time.

Maddie maintains her confidence and attitude, now applying it to her role as a professional talent manager in Hollywood.

Rue’s storyline takes things to a more dangerous level. She is working as a drug mule in an effort to pay off a $43 million dollar debt with interest. 

Her mindset has also changed. In a tense moment with Alamo Brown, she starts talking about God, saying she believes they were brought together for a reason.

Brown tests her new-found faith by making her stand still while he shoots an apple off her head. The moment shows how desperate and risky her situation is, and how she’s searching for a second chance.

Lexi’s path moves in a different direction from the rest of the group. She’s working as a writer’s assistant, placing her in a creative environment with people who share similar interests.

At the same time, she is avoiding contact with Fez. The show doesn’t explain it directly, leaving it unclear whether it’s fear, distance, or something else. 

Lexi is focused on her current path while that silence around Fez lingers in the background.

Fez’s character is addressed within the story following the real-life death of Angus Cloud. Instead of removing the character entirely, the show explains his absence by placing him in prison with a 30-year sentence. 

His presence is felt through references rather than direct appearances.

Some viewers are already questioning whether the direction is working. Ishmael Johnson-Jouthe, a junior journalism and mass communication student, reacted strongly.

“Episode one just came out and it was so bad…it doesn’t feel right, it’s not the same. I’m not watching (it)…It’s really the storyline, you might as well have canceled it after season 2 and have a cliffhanger…” 

Overall, the premiere sets a different tone for the season. 

He added, “Why are we doing this? We do not care about the drug deal that Rue is doing.”

The style is more restrained yet still crosses the line of raw content. The characters have now moved on and are left to deal with the realities of adulthood.

Where things go from here is still unclear, with more likely to unfold Sunday April,19th streaming on Max.