Euphoria (2019–) is an American teen drama series created and primarily written by Sam Levinson for HBO. It is based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin.
The show follows the lives of a group of high school students in the fictional town of East Highland, California, as they navigate the tensions of love, loss, sex, and addiction. The series centers on Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a teenage drug addict struggling to maintain sobriety, find her place in the world, and adapt to her relationships after rehab. Though Rue is the show’s primary focus, most episodes open with vignettes delving into the backstories of other main characters.
Rue is a sarcastic and introverted teen. Throughout the series, we see her battling not only addiction but also her sexuality. Though she never uses labels, she has expressed having complicated relationships with men in the past — yet when she meets Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer), she experiences love for the first time. Jules, an eclectic, free-spirited, and kind transgender girl, is new to town and quickly becomes close to Rue. Both characters are shown feeling attraction to and having encounters with men and women. While neither is a flawless representation of bisexuality — they’re messy, struggle with addiction and commitment, and avoid explicit labels (anything under the Bi Umbrella) — their presence marks significant progress, as they are two bisexual leads in a massively popular series.
The show also introduces a far more problematic bisexual character in Nate’s father, Cal Jacobs (Eric Dane). Cal is a married family man who presents as heterosexual but secretly pursues trans women, often underage, on dating apps. Later in the series, he (unhealthily) accepts his fluid sexuality and comes out to his family. Cal is undeniably a toxic representation of bisexuality, riddled with stereotypes and harmful behavior.
Still, Euphoria features a diverse ensemble. Though labels are rarely used, several characters explore same-sex attraction — like Nate in Season 1 and Elliot in Season 2. As a youth-driven series tackling gritty themes, its exploration of sexuality feels inherent to its characters’ adolescent experiences. As Jules herself puts it:
No room for heteronormativity here.
The show has earned widespread acclaim, including a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. While praised for its cinematography, soundtrack, makeup, and cast performances (particularly Zendaya’s), it has also faced controversy for its explicit depictions of sex, drug use, and violence. Critics argue it glamorizes these behaviors, while defenders insist it realistically portrays modern teenage struggles. These debates, along with off-screen controversies involving cast members, have delayed production for Season 3.
In an interview with Out magazine, the cast discussed the importance of authentic queer representation on TV:
It just allows them to just exist and to love each other in whatever complicated form that takes.
Across its two seasons, Euphoria (2019-) has become one of HBO’s most-watched series. With its large queer cast, it’s undeniably reshaping LGBT visibility on television. While its bisexual representation isn’t perfect, it’s a significant step toward more inclusive contemporary storytelling.