The Reel Rejects - EUPHORIA 2x03 & 2x04 REVIEW –WE WERE FULLY ENTHRALLED BY THIS DRAMA!– FIRST TIME WATCHING

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Starting point is 00:01:12 All right, here we go. Well, gang, we made it through another delightful and hilarious block of Euphoria episodes. So much has happened, so much to talk about. If you happen to be here at this point in the video and you're so inclined, you could leave a like on the video. And also, while you're at it, you could choose to hit the subscribe button. And then when you do that, you could... Ring the bell! Ring the bell.

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Starting point is 00:02:40 They are addicted to cutting videos. Any whom. That's funny. I think that's all the housekeeping. Tara, how are you feeling? You excited for life? You happy to be here on planet Earth? Yeah, Euphoria is one of the best written shows on TV.

Starting point is 00:03:01 I think that, oh, wow, we really came together. it was Eric Dane in that writing. I was literally watching it just being like, this is some of the best writing that's wrapping up so much stuff that we wanted to hear from him and have it come out and say to Nate. And like, holy to my, I just couldn't believe it. I also really like that Elliot was like, I got to tell you something because he could tell that Jules is in a place of like,

Starting point is 00:03:30 she doesn't want to talk about it. But at least he told her the truth before they get. more intimate. I like that part. And, you know, the downfall of Cassie was one of the most interesting things to watch was Cassie with Nate, with Maddie, but mostly Cassie's breakdown. Amazing, amazing, just episodes of television. Yeah. Yeah. These continue to be so transportive and evocative. and heart wrenching. And like, there is fun.

Starting point is 00:04:10 But like, yeah, it's, it's like watching a big neon bisexual lit train wreck in real time. And, yeah, like the depths of twistedness that, you know, these characters reach is quite fascinating. The Cal stuff, man, yeah. His whole saga this season, like, trying to, like, coming from last season, like, trying to be there for Nate after this whole controversy and trying to, like, back him up. and really kind of ingrain him into, like you watch as the cow that we've known up till now, the sort of like public-facing cow has tried to handle all this. And, you know, as he's lost more and more control,

Starting point is 00:04:53 he's becoming more and more, it seems like himself. He's finding out that this cope, this personality is not working anymore to manage his world. And goddamn, that scene where he goes to Fez's place, and Ashtray is just like fucking shotgun budding him and like oh my god like a tense scene a harsh scene but also like real fascinating to watch this guy who it's like Nate's on a journey where he you know is in an age where you feel invincible and unstoppable and he's pulling this leverage that certainly feels very you know uh threatening and you know fascinating to watch cassie be able to

Starting point is 00:05:32 kind of rip that, at least get him to a point where he feels like he's not in control, even though that backfires on her because, you know, that takes, it seems like most of her resolve to do that. Right. But yeah, man, Eric Dane, hats off, RIP. Like, this was some incredible work in these two episodes because, yeah, from all the shit with Fez and Ash and then, you know, going into his past and his backstory with Derek, seeing what has been repressed here and how it's bled out into the rest of his life.

Starting point is 00:06:01 and then him, yeah, going on this bender. And yeah, like all the tension of like, I don't know if he's going to freak and crash. I don't know who he's going to see what's going on here. And then he goes to this place and it's so sad. And there's this beautiful moment where he has the dance and then it goes, you know, too far, too wrong. And, yeah, tragic.

Starting point is 00:06:19 But also, again, like that, I'm used to shows like this being 100% punishing. And so this show is very punishing. But I will say that that moment at the end there was very cathartic with him and his family. Again, Fez and Ashtray, often, though they are involved in harsh stakes, too. Some of the biggest cathartic moments have come from them. But yeah, loving Lexi, you know,

Starting point is 00:06:45 putting her own play together and finding her role in all this as like the active, observe and reporter kind of, you know, in between all of her friends. And I think it suits nicely the way they've built that character up over time and the way that she kind of intersects with a lot of plot lines, but isn't as much of a lead plot line. Nate and Maddie.

Starting point is 00:07:09 It's messed up. Maddie and Cassie, even more messed up. Cassie and Nate, Peek messed up. They, yeah, he thrives on this insanity and this chaos.

Starting point is 00:07:20 And they've done a good job of drawing an impenetrable character because I don't know fucking what to make of him the more I learned. And with him and his brother, who got more lines, I think in this one episode than he ever has. Yeah, I agree.

Starting point is 00:07:33 I'm with you on that. It's a fascinating moment, too, because you can see them kind of taking it in and feeling, I suppose, you know, something, which was just interesting. Freaking Elliot and Jules and Rue, that triangle is fascinatingly gray. And now I really, I'm thinking about it now

Starting point is 00:07:55 that I think maybe Rue's plan all along if we're thinking about the episode that came before, she doesn't really want to be here anymore, that her plan all along might have been like, I have a great plan, but it was to take it all for herself. I don't know yet. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:08:14 I don't know yet that it's like, let me just take it because, and like just enjoy and she ruined her relationship with her sponsor. And now she ruins it with Jules. She says, I can't effing stand you. She's sabotaging hard. And now, and now I'm just, I think she might have just been like, give me all the drugs because I don't, you won't have time to sell me, honey, because I won't be here.

Starting point is 00:08:36 Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. Rue is in a bad place this season. It was very fun to get her, you know, her fourth wall breaks are very fun. And that whole thing where she does the seminar about how to lie about your drug habit to people in your life was fun. And her fucking plan about getting these drugs from that. supplier lady and flipping them or something.

Starting point is 00:09:03 Oh, God, I'm so tense. And that's why I'm thinking because she said how to get drugs for free. And then she sells her that plan. And I'm like, I don't think she was planning. I'm following through. I think she just was like, I got drugs for free. I 100% believe that this lady will do terrible shit to you. So like, yeah.

Starting point is 00:09:21 Me too. I'm scared. It's weird. She comes up with a good plan and I'm like, cool. But I know that this is just to have a stockpile of drugs for yourself. And I know that even if you intended to utilize this plan, I just have a feeling you're not going to take the initiative to go through all that trouble to deal with all that shit. The scene with Allie, man, that hurt a lot. That hurt.

Starting point is 00:09:46 And I was like, that's the end right there. It feels like it. I don't know, man. Like I hope to see him again because he's such a presence and he's one of the couple characters who ever makes you feel safe. I know. But yeah. Frickin A. And then, yeah, the weird try.

Starting point is 00:10:03 It seems like, it's like Elliot, I'm fascinated if we will get a deep dive on Elliot because he's become such a part of this dynamic. Yeah. And he's got this vibe where like you do feel kind of safe in his presence, even though he does have a little bit of a chaotic wild streak in him. But he's like very calm and he's very honest. He's honest, it seems. And he's very like well articulated about, you know, he's. He seems like a thoughtful, regulated person for many intents and purposes, not all intents and purposes. Right.

Starting point is 00:10:35 And so, like, for him to be like, hey, Jules, listen, I got to tell you this. And even in the car, it seemed like he was concerned for Rue in a real way of like, hey, hey, you should be drinking now. And it's not just because we don't want Jules to know this. He's like, you shouldn't mix that stuff. He's given off a little bit of Fez. Yeah, a little bit. And, yeah, I wonder, you know, it seems like Jules still winds up with him. anyway. Yeah, yeah, she does. And so, because that's an interesting moment.

Starting point is 00:11:01 She feels safe with him. Yeah, she feels safe with him. She's trying to drown these feelings by being physical with him. And then he, in this moment where she's feeling probably safest with him, then has the initiative to be like, hey, hey, I recognize this situation and I need to tell you something because, A, I'm concerned and B, I don't want to keep lying to you. And that's one of those things where I can see why any human would be like, oh, shit, well, thanks, but I got to get out of here. like I'm not happy about this but also greater trust now between us you know exactly so uh exactly yeah yeah that whole hot tub bit yeah the hot tub bit oh my god john that was wow that was some of the best teenage writing where she's like why did you come why did you say it so quick don't you see like he's such an asshole like this is and cat is like it was a little it was a little harsh it was a little quick. Like, that was great. Well, and her, too, him being like, oh, of course, you would agree. She's like, what? You don't think I have my own feelings?

Starting point is 00:12:02 And you're like, everyone's, like, everyone's, like, self-consciousness is coming out in certain ways. But then everyone's also tried to, like, really assert their dominance in other ways. And I love when when Kat comes at Nate. I love when anyone comes at Nate, which we know. But it was nice to see Kat get one. That was fun. Yeah. Because he kind of seemed surprising.

Starting point is 00:12:22 And I like it when Nate is taken off cart. Nate in the second half of the second episode seems a little bit more like a little less like just chill and incomplete control. Yes. Like in that hot tub scene, he seemed a little bit like, I don't want to cause a scene with anybody here because I realize the I'm not in full control anymore. Totally. And yeah, like I got to hand it to the actress who plays Maddie because it's like those scenes are overwhelming. but to your point, they do feel real. She's like, where I'm like, this is so hair splitty that it hurts my head.

Starting point is 00:12:59 But also I'm like, but as an anxious overthinker, I would be thinking about these things. So like, yeah, while she's like, oh, what? I said no, but you said no. Why you say no? And then half my brain is like, oh, God, stop. No, this is too much. And then the other half of my brain is like, but I would be paranoid about this. And imagine if you're in high school, you're actually saying those things out loud.

Starting point is 00:13:19 And then you grow up and you're like. your hormones, your brain, stuff, your synapses, they get a little bit stronger and you stop doing that. That's why I just think some of this writing is just so, so real and does remind me not of that specifically, but the vibes is very like high school. Yeah. God damn, man. It's good stuff. And the intercutting between her dancing and then him at the bar. Good shit.

Starting point is 00:13:44 Let's see what the people have to say. Let's do it. Let's jump into some questions. Thank you guys for your continued interest each week. J. Dell chiming in first after learning about Cal's past his relationship with Derek

Starting point is 00:13:58 the life he thought he'd have and how everything shifted once responsibility took over. How do you think that history shows up in the way he now seeks control, avoids vulnerability, and navigates his relationships in the present?

Starting point is 00:14:13 Oh man. I mean it's yeah there's so much psychology in there and I like that they you know kind of like you put it together of like yeah we don't need some kind of big treatise about like and then Derek went his way and i went mine it's just yeah he gets the call and it's like oh well now i can see the role of my life unfolding before me you know i have to be father and he's got this

Starting point is 00:14:37 strict dad who that one moment where he's like you two got it's time to go home derrick you know like you don't i don't even imagine that he was sensing like actual attraction between them i think it's just the kind of situation where it's like can't be too close with your mail for friend for this dad. Right. So yeah, you get where all that repression is already motivated to come from. And then,

Starting point is 00:14:59 you know, he's a wrestler. And two, you see that it's weird. It's like you see his relationship with Derek and they have a very like bro-y dialogue. But you also, it's like what we're privy to is very, their first lines together,

Starting point is 00:15:12 very much like dude bro kind of like the kinds of sentiments that are said in Jess and as ribbing, but that do help you to stay repressed. if you're not, you know, sure about your waking experience, right? But, you know, according to what we get in the narration, it's like, oh, yeah, they could talk to each other about anything. Or they could sit and enjoy the silences. So, I mean, yeah, I think it's all a response to, like, this pain of having to deny something

Starting point is 00:15:38 that you've probably already always felt like is people are side-eyeing you for or would side-eye you for think is wrong or less masculine and you're being held up to be super masculine and all that stuff. So, yeah, I mean, it seems very formative. And it's really sad and tragic. And, you know, you see, it's weird. Nate is, like, so messed up and you get why. And yet he's so unsympathetic.

Starting point is 00:16:01 Whereas, like, Cal is super messed up and has messed Nate up. And there are so many reasons to be unsympathetic about him. And yet he's such a tragic guy. And he does have some sympathy a little bit, little bit. I think the reason in this, like the way that he sees control is that he lost all control the second that she got pregnant. And that's losing control of your entire life that you were on the threshold of deciding where you might land on the sexuality spectrum. That's an identity you don't get to open the door to. You are in the closet forever.

Starting point is 00:16:34 I mean, for 40 years, right? That's a terrible way. So, of course, now you're seeking control over that secret that now needs to be kept a secret, which is why he's, you know, feeling like, and we saw it here in this monologue that, like, Cal does things where he's like, I'm sure that you would get so angry that you can't live that life that you would then go, F it.

Starting point is 00:16:58 I'm going to this motel. I'm going to sleep with who I want. You know, we heard his, he's like, my man, I can do whatever I want, whoever I want. We're like, oh, so that is the only way in those scenarios, the DVDs and the people,

Starting point is 00:17:11 that he could seek control. Because in his family, he has none. Yeah. He doesn't have any. And so he can't be vulnerable with his family, not with his son. We already saw that. Remember when they fought and we were like,

Starting point is 00:17:23 what? In the first season, that was wild. They don't talk about anything. They just avoid, avoid, avoid. And like, I think the only time

Starting point is 00:17:33 that he was ever vulnerable is with Derek. And that was 40 years ago. Yeah, it really feels like, and it's like, I'm sure it's funny. It made me wonder

Starting point is 00:17:41 what his relationship with his wife is actually like because there's that one moment where he's like, babe, you were a fox back in the day. Totally. And,

Starting point is 00:17:47 and, you know, you had your own, other stuff. And so, yeah, it makes me wonder where else in his life he may have had some degree of vulnerability. But yeah, it sure seems like this is a super traditional looking family. And they've gone out of their way to do all the traditional family stuff in the way they present all the imagery. And he's got the pictures on the walls and all that. And so like, yeah, it seems like he tried to have both lives by creating the double life. And like, yeah,

Starting point is 00:18:15 I'm going to, you know, he's raised as a competitor as an athlete in a very masculine. role and so you can see how he would be like, yeah, I'm going to be the best fricking patriarch of this family that I can be and we're going to have, you know, like the shiniest, nicest family, we get the good table at the restaurant. I know the chief of police. I'm a big man about town. I'm a award-winning chili chef. There's payoffs there.

Starting point is 00:18:36 There's payoffs. You know, it's like he's doing that to the utmost because that's the competitor that he is. And yet, yeah, by siphoning off this part of his personality, not fully confronting it and letting it kind of like warp and fester. You know, yeah, he's created this awful, twisted dynamic. And it seems like at the end of episode two, he's finally in a place where like, oh, maybe you'll integrate your perceived shadow and make yourself one whole person who can live one whole life and thus potentially have a chance of being healthy.

Starting point is 00:19:09 Yeah. Someday maybe. But, but yeah, it definitely provided a very fascinating window. And then to watch in the president as he loses. more and more control. You know, it does, yeah. I wonder if Derek's still out there, you know. I know. I'm curious about that, too,

Starting point is 00:19:26 because wouldn't that be great if they, like, found each other? Wow, that would be wild. God, man. Be at peace. Live your actual truth. Live your life. Take it away, Malik. All right. Hope all is well. This show keeps turning up the heat

Starting point is 00:19:40 and everybody's slowly losing their minds out of the two episodes, which plot thread. So far are you most interested in following outside of Ruse's Downward Spiral? Examples ranging from Nate and Cassie, Jules, and Elliot, Cal Lexi's play. Oh, man. Cal and Lexi's play. I say Cal and Lexi's play are at the top. I am very fascinated about Elliot.

Starting point is 00:20:04 And again, his presence is so distinct. And it is like he's the one new character of this season in a very significant kind of way, in a very upfront. He's a lead now or is in the lead ensemble. there are other characters we spent a lot of time with last season who we haven't I feel like spent as much time with as Elliot so I'm very curious to know more about him specifically and you know the whole triangle thing and then you know Nate and Cassie

Starting point is 00:20:33 I am still interested in but I am I was going to be like I'm going to choose that because he chose the other one I'm like I'll go with go with Nate and Cassie because that hot tub scene forget about it that's so awkward like that kind of like it's terrible to watch but you're like it's trauma emotion she she emotionally vomited like it was the crescendo of the discomfort yeah which is just a fascinating moment and i got to hand it to everybody in this show because the show makes everyone look amazing at some point but it sure

Starting point is 00:21:09 makes everyone look very unflattering at other points and you got to be willing to do the both for like Sidney Sweeney, who obviously, like, so much of the show is predated or her role is predicated on like, you're insanely gorgeous. Yeah. And then to have this moment where it's like, oh, God, this is such a mess. And this is, yeah, like, if I was in your shoes, I would be humiliated. If I was in the tub bit all, I would be just, yeah, you, everyone is collectively sharing in the discomfort and the tragedy of the moment. Yep.

Starting point is 00:21:37 But it's all interesting. Goop cares to learn more about Ali, too. Let's do it. Yeah. All right. Oh, here's a fun one from Jay Rushden. Question. What's your favorite liquor brand?

Starting point is 00:21:50 It's not White Claw. I'm surprised they stole a case of White Claw. He was like, let's get some liquor. I was like, yeah, right? What? I'm in a champagne kick for like the last year. Yeah, you are. Like wine more.

Starting point is 00:22:06 Liquor just hits like too quick. It's too much. But I don't know what my favorite would be. Brand. I like Cosmas. Those are all different. That's a vodka base. I like like a mojito.

Starting point is 00:22:19 It's vodka still. I like gin's all right. Rum is in teaky drinks. We do love a teaky drink. Yeah. Teaky drinks are freaking great. I was going to say, if I,

Starting point is 00:22:31 if I'm not like I feel like yeah, I need to become more qualified of palate to answer a question like this because, you know, I don't have like a refined, like this rum is better than that rum. I do like a rum. I do like a mescal

Starting point is 00:22:44 quite a bit. Give me that smokiness. But if we're going brand and name, I'm going to ride for Kalua because my go-to drink... Because people... Do you do Russian milkshake

Starting point is 00:22:57 or whatever it's called? This should be called Russian milk. I used to go for the white Russian. And it was before I'd even seen the Big Lubowski. So it wasn't about that. I was just like...

Starting point is 00:23:08 Because the coffee factor. Yeah. I used to go for the white Russian. The problem is the cream factor, the milk factor. Sometimes people side eye you, sometimes it's a problem. So I learned to stop that. And I was just like, Black Russian, cool. Because then that it's just Kaluah and vodka.

Starting point is 00:23:22 And if they got Kaluah, Bob's your uncle. Right. Wait, it's Kaluwa and vodka mixed together? Yeah, black. What's the mixer, though? No, it's the Kalua. Because the Kalua is coffee liqueur. It's coffee flavor.

Starting point is 00:23:34 You're right. You're right. You're right. So if it's like the black coffee equivalent is the Black Russian. So, yeah, just no cream. And then if you want it to be like a latte, then you add the cream or the milk or whatever it is. Sometimes I'll put Baileys if you want it to be all alcohol.

Starting point is 00:23:50 Wow. But yeah, I'll ride for Kaluah all day every day. Oh, wow. Learn some new about Johnny Boy over here. And then, yeah, whatever brand. We should start a liquor brand. I feel like that's the next step of celebrity that we need to occupy. It should just be called I don't want it, but everybody does.

Starting point is 00:24:06 I don't want it, but you might. That's better. have a glass. That's better. So next time we'll figure out what kind of liquor to market. We will. We will. It'll be infused with Serano peppers or something.

Starting point is 00:24:17 Yeah. Anyway, I do like a spicy liquor, too. I'll give them that. All right. Jade Dell, let's go, Tara. All right. Watching Cassie throughout this episode, what stood out to you the most about the way she navigates her emotions behind closed doors

Starting point is 00:24:30 versus how she presents herself to everyone else? Well, I mean, the way she navigates her emotions is through bottles and bottles of alcohol. Right now, she doesn't know how to navigate them at all. You know the one person who does? Her sister. Yeah. Because what is her sister doing? She's writing about it.

Starting point is 00:24:49 She's writing a whole stinking play. And she's trying to check on her, you know? Yes. She's making the effort to at least be like, hey, you, you okay? What's going on out there? You know? Yep. Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 00:25:01 I mean, she seems in great need of a true eye line. friend. I don't feel like Cassie has really anybody to truly connect with. And I feel like she's isolated and alone. And some of that is her not wanting to accept, you know, it's hard with a sibling or, yeah. So like, I feel for her because you can feel how much she's trying to convince herself of different things. And we've seen, I like, again, I like the way the show allows for the thing in life where you have one idea about your wants and needs and experience. But What is actually happening is a little different from that. So her being like, I just want to be single and focus on myself.

Starting point is 00:25:44 And, you know, I'm so much happier right now and blah, blah, blah. You know, you can feel sometimes she's trying to convince herself. You can feel sometimes she's just trying to, like, keep up appearances in front of people. I'm like, you need a real friend who you can be vulnerable with. He's not, like, part of this web, who isn't, again, Maddie, who obviously you can't talk to. You know, Kat, who I guess, she's got her own shit going on. I feel for Cassie, because she seems like she is, yeah, just like flailing and is like in a really harsh place with no stone to reach for to create stability or regulation. Right.

Starting point is 00:26:21 I feel like, you know, the way that she's presenting herself to everyone else is in what she's going through. You know, that takes a big filter. We saw inside of her brain of losing it of like crying to Maddie and saying, I'm in love with Nate Jacobs. and like, I don't care because you were broken up, but you're my best friend. And then cut to, you know, scene she's crying about,

Starting point is 00:26:43 you're my best friend and I'm so sorry. The way that she presents herself right now, she just, she cannot open up about it because who knows what would happen. Yeah, she's just burying herself under layers and layers of appearances right now. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:27:01 That whole montage was heartbreaking of her, like, Oh my God, doing this stuff. And it did feel like the substance. I was like, are you going to, like, scrub a raw bloody patch into your skin or something like that? Totally. Yeah, she feels in some ways one of the most unmoored and one of the most sort of at-risk characters. I mean, Rue is very much so.

Starting point is 00:27:23 But Cassie just, yeah, seems like she got little to nobody. Like, mom is there, but, you know, mom's not going to be in, again, in the same position to be an eyeliner to really help. Right. It's rough, man. And it does seem like, you know, I can definitely see more in the second season of how and why Sydney-Sweeney star, aside from obviously very attractive. But, like, you know, they're giving her way more emotional notes to play. Yes. In this season.

Starting point is 00:27:50 They are. And she's along with the rest of the cat, like everyone in the cast is killing it. I agree. So she's doing great. And I'm going to model the rest of my experiences after her. You got anything else to tell people before we go to rehab? No. And I don't take me go to rehab.

Starting point is 00:28:08 I said, no, no, no. Hell yeah, gang. And if you're not going to rehab either, let us know in the comments. See you next week. Live your truth. Peace.

The Reel Rejects - EUPHORIA 2x03 & 2x04 REVIEW –WE WERE FULLY ENTHRALLED BY THIS DRAMA!– FIRST TIME WATCHING

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