Sam Levinson is as soon as once more below the microscope as “Euphoria’s” third season attracts backlash for its more and more provocative tone.
Whereas the HBO hit has lengthy been credited to Levinson’s artistic imaginative and prescient, on-line critics at the moment are questioning what he has “uniquely” dropped at the sequence, with some arguing the present’s influence has been pushed extra by its solid than its creator.
The renewed debate comes as viewers take difficulty with a noticeable spike in explicit scenes this season.
After a four-year wait, Season 3 of “Euphoria” lastly premiered earlier this month, however as a substitute of common reward, the response has been noticeably muted.
The lukewarm reception has sparked a recent wave of debate round creator Levinson, with some followers now questioning what he truly contributes to the HBO hit past the performances of its breakout stars, together with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney.
On Reddit, one extensively shared publish referred to as out what it described as more and more questionable artistic selections, together with graphic themes, fetish-driven parts, and the dealing with of feminine characters. The publish went on to pose a pointed query that’s now gaining traction amongst viewers, saying, “What are iconic issues about ‘Euphoria’ that may be credited to Sam Levinson?”
Others Credit score Levinson For ‘Euphoria’s’ Core Id
Whereas criticism has dominated a lot of the dialog, not everybody agrees with the rising skepticism round Levinson’s position in “Euphoria.”
The Reddit thread rapidly crammed with counterpoints from followers who argued that the present’s success can’t be separated from its creator. In truth, a number of customers pointed to Levinson’s distinctive place because the sequence’s solely author.
“For higher or worse, he’s the only real author. Any storyline or quote/dialogue that’s change into iconic was written by him. Something a couple of character that resonates with folks, past what they appear like and the way they ship strains, was written by him,” one other consumer famous.
Season 3’s Provocative Shift Fuels Recent Criticism Of Sam Levinson
Past the controversy over artistic credit score, Levinson has additionally come below fireplace for what many viewers see as a pointy enhance in provocative content material in “Euphoria” Season 3.
A lot of the criticism has centered on Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Howard, whose storyline veers towards the specific as she ventures into grownup content material creation.
Viewers have taken explicit difficulty with the framing of a few of these moments, arguing that the present leans too closely into shock worth. On social media, critics have accused Levinson of blurring the road between storytelling and sensationalism, with some claiming the artistic path dangers turning exploitative.
Sydney Sweeney Backlash Grows Over ‘Euphoria’ Scenes
The dialog hasn’t been restricted to Levinson alone. Sweeney has additionally confronted criticism from some viewers who questioned her choice to tackle more and more specific scenes in Season 3.
Nonetheless, her previous feedback recommend she has been absolutely snug with the artistic course of. In a 2022 interview, the actress made it clear that Levinson by no means pressured her into doing something she wasn’t on board with.
“There are moments the place Cassie was presupposed to be shirtless, and I’d inform Sam, ‘I don’t actually assume that’s mandatory right here.’ He was like, ‘Okay, we don’t want it,’” Sweeney recalled, per the Daily Mail.
She additionally as soon as stated that she inspired Levinson to lean additional into her character’s already heightened emotional state. That transfer might assist clarify the extra excessive path Cassie takes within the newest season.
Sam Levinson Breaks Silence On Controversial ‘Euphoria’ Canine Scene
After largely staying quiet amid the backlash, Levinson has at the least addressed one among Season 3’s most talked-about moments, the scene through which Sweeney’s character is styled like a canine.
Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter, Levinson defined that the scene was by no means meant to exist purely for shock worth, however reasonably to spotlight a deeper layer of absurdity inside Cassie’s storyline.
“[Cassie] has received her canine home and her little canine ears and the nostril, and that has its personal humor,” he stated. “However what makes the scene is the truth that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”
Levinson added that the intention was to tug viewers out of the character’s fantasy, reasonably than absolutely immerse them in it.
