HBO's Most Divisive Show Of All Time Has Gotten Even More Controversial

Euphoria is hands down the most divisive HBO show of all time, and if the recently released season 3 trailer is any indication, it looks to continue that reputation. Following season 2's 2022 release, it took a long four years for the show's third installment, but Euphoria and its A-list cast will be back for season 3 on April 12, 2026, as relayed by the trailer.

Perhaps the most graphic teen show ever to air on television, the controversy surrounding Euphoria is often discussed more than its artistic merits. Many of the series' young stars have more than proved their talent in other buzzy projects, but the polarizing nature of the Sam Levinson-created HBO show will likely dominate the conversation surrounding Euphoria season 3.

Euphoria Season 3 Is Already Controversial

Even before the new trailer was released on January 14, Euphoria was already steeped in scandal. The long delay after Euphoria season 2 raised more than a few eyebrows, and the rumor mill was churning about an alleged feud between Zendaya and Sam Levinson.

Zendaya was reportedly frustrated with Levinson's focus on his other HBO project, 2023's The Idol, over Euphoria season 3. Potentially adding insult to injury was the critical pummeling The Idol received upon release, with many hailing it as the worst HBO show ever made.

Fortunately, everyone was able to mend whatever fences were allegedly broken, as the new season is ready for audiences come April. However, the release of the Euphoria season 3 trailer also sparked its own backlash, specifically regarding Sydney Sweeney's character, Cassie Howard.

Sweeney is no stranger to controversy herself, but Cassie's Euphoria season 3 storyline has sparked even greater outrage among viewers. In the trailer, Cassie is seen engaged to Nate and living in the suburbs while also making a living as an adult content creator. In multiple scenes, she is shown in a provocative puppy costume, gyrating on a dog house and a bed while being filmed for OnlyFans-esque videos.

Like Jacob Elordi's Nate, certain fans were not shy about vocalizing their disapproval over Cassie's vocation. Many took to X to air their complaints, with one user denouncing Cassie's storyline as "degenerate filth," and others calling Sweeney to task for displaying such a risque performance.

How Euphoria Season 3 Will Be Different From The First Two

Perhaps even more so than any behind-the-scenes drama or particular storylines, Euphoria season 3's time jump and tonal shift could spark the most outrage. The new season skips forward five years, past the main characters' high school graduation and college years, to find them living as young adults.

Based on the trailer, Euphoria season 3 looks like an entirely different show. The series' signature purple and blue-toned lighting has been abandoned for a grittier aesthetic, with Sam Levinson teasing the new season as a "film noir." (via Elle)

This is particularly seen in Rue's Euphoria season 3 storyline, as it finds her in Mexico, trying to pay off her debts to drug dealer Laurie. Of Zendaya's character arc in season 3, Levinson said that Rue will "explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world." If Euphoria season 3 is saying anything, it's that its characters' problems don't end with high school — they just get bigger.

Will Euphoria Season 3 Prove Doubters Wrong?

Despite Euphoria's divisiveness, it remains a well-reviewed HBO series, with a respectable 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, season 3 is taking a major swing with its tonal departure. This, combined with a loss of faith in Levinson's creative direction after the disastrous The Idol, could turn audiences and critics alike off of Euphoria season 3.

On the flip side, the third installment may be rewarded for its risk-taking. If Euphoria had kept its characters in high school, there's every chance season 3 would have been criticized for being stale and repetitive. There's also the fact that, after four years, the main cast is now considerably older than their characters, so in this regard, the time jump makes total sense.

Furthermore, the Euphoria actors have really honed their craft in the interim between seasons 2 and 3. Zendaya was praised for her complex performance in 2024's steamy tennis drama Challengers, while Jacob Elordi is currently generating Oscar buzz for his performance as the monster in the cast of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.

With the Euphoria cast having more than proved themselves, they're up to the challenge of Levinson's ambitious new material. Whether the show can stick the landing will only be revealed in April, but one way or the other, Euphoria season 3 will no doubt have people talking.