HBO has released the first five minutes of its highly anticipated third season of Euphoria, shocking fans with a tonal shift that some feel resembles the acclaimed New Mexico-set drug drama Breaking Bad.
In the clip shared Friday, ahead of the Sunday premiere, Zendaya’s drug addicted protagonist, Rue, is seen speeding through Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert in a dusty SUV. As she approaches the U.S. border, she pays a motorcyclist to set up a makeshift platform so she can drive across.
However, after she makes her way up, the car gets stuck at the top. She tries to reverse the car and shift the weight to help free it, but neither attempt works. Instead, she climbs out and continues her journey on foot.
The brief teaser has been celebrated by eager fans, many of whom noted that the scene feels like a “completely different show,” with several likening it to the Bryan Cranston-led AMC series Breaking Bad.
“From Euphoria to Breaking Bad real quick,” one commented on Instagram, with a second questioning: “Is this Breaking Bad now?”
A third simply shared a meme of Cranston’s chemistry teacher-turned-Meth manufacturer and dealer, Walter White.
“I’m crying, this is an entirely different show,” a fourth commented, with a fifth agreeing, adding that they were “in shock.”
“What in the Tarantino is going on here,” another quipped, while one hailed the return: “We are so back to the chaos, lets go Sunday.”
“It’s so good it hurts, watching Zendaya truly is a blessing,” a second wrote.
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Others noticed that Rue was still wearing her trusty black high-top Converse that she had worn since high school. “In the end, it’s those converse that have been with her through her roughest times,” one joked.
“Those converse sneakers have been thru a lot,” a second said.
“My question is how did we get here!?” another wondered. “I don’t remember anything happening that would lead us here.”
Euphoria season three will feature a five-year time jump from its season two storyline, which concluded with the main ensemble still in high school.
“It’s important because there’s only so much high school drama you can deal with,” Zendaya previously told Entertainment Weekly of the shifting storyline.
“It will be fascinating to see and understand these characters outside of the context of high school and how all the stuff that we saw when they were kids and they were in high school affects the adulthood they have and who they become in a much bigger world. I’ll be interested to see what happens too,” she added.
In addition to Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and Alexa Demie will reprise their roles as the core cast.
The new season has already left critics divided, with some arguing it feels like “disjointed fan fiction,” while The Independent’s Nick Hilton labeled it a “generation-defining show” in a four-star review.
Season three of Euphoria streams Sunday on HBO Max, followed by weekly episodes until the finale on May 31.
