‘Euphoria’ returned in 2021 with part two of its special episode, which revisited parts of the story we knew from season one, but this time, through a different but equally complex lens: Jules. Hunter Schafer’s iconic character left fans with many questions after the season 1 finale, most of which were answered in the special episode, co-written and co-produced by Schafer herself.
The special episode was a masterpiece in every sense of the word. The stunning visuals flashing in Jules’s eyes while a tear-inducing song by Lorde played in the background let audiences know they were in for an emotional ride. This was emphasized by the look of sheer anguish written across Schafer’s face as the camera zoomed in on her while she talked to her therapist. Their conversation presented some the best dialogue in ‘Euphoria’ so far, and introduced a new form of character studies within television, as Schafer was able to embody the most vulnerable side we’d seen of Jules, all without rising from a couch.
The therapy session touched on complex subjects such as femininity, the notion of having no personal identity, the role of self-criticism and society’s harsh judgments. According to Schafer, she incorporated several elements of her personal life into the special episode, so it’s no wonder why it felt so genuine. She spoke with her eyes, her ticks, the twitches of her mouth, her lack of eye contact — everything was done for a specific purpose. That’s what made the special so brilliant.
Some of my favorite lines from Jules were:
“How did I spend my entire life building a body, a personality and a soul around what I thought men desired?”
“My entire life I’ve been trying to conquer femininity and somewhere along the way, I feel like femininity conquered me.”
The episode also allowed Schafer to communicate some of her feelings regarding the trans experience, like transitioning, the construction of identity and the “spirituality” of being trans, as the character told her therapist. Those are the kinds of conversations we should see more on television.
This unfiltered experience of the life and mind of a character was reinforced by the artistic montages throughout the narrative. As Jules talked about her relationship with Rue, we saw scenes from the honeymoon stages of their relationship, both of them regal, beautiful and happy, accompanied by the perfect song. When ROSALÍA and Billie Eilish teamed up for the song “Lo Vas a Olvidar,” there was no better home for it than ‘Euphoria.’ The lyrics and music fit the poetry of the episode, heightened the emotions of viewers and spoke of Jules’s complex humanity.
Along the episode, Jules was forced to analyze the parallel between Rue, her love interest and her mother. Both of them able to see Jules for who she really was, with unconditional love, but also incapable of seeing how their own addictions hurt and burdened Jules.
Overall, the special episode was an intense emotional experience that served the purpose of explaining the enigmas around Schafer’s character, and to make audiences realize that while Rue was dealing with her own serious problems, there was a lot on Jules’s place as well. And it was more than she could bear without breaking down. This episode excelled at evoking empathy and concluded with a bittersweet form of reconciliation.
Expectations for season two are now higher than ever, especially since both Zendaya and Schafer have claimed it will have a completely different structure than season one. For my own part, I cannot wait for Rue and Jules to return and make me cry again.
