Emmy Award winning actress, Zendaya, starred in a new Euphoria special. The special episode, “Trouble Don’t Last Always” aired on HBO on Dec. 6. However, fans could enjoy the episode on Dec. 4, if they owned HBO Max.
This is the first of two special episodes that are set to premiere before the release of season two. It was centered solely around Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennet.
Rue is a teenage girl struggling with bipolar disorder and addiction. Season one begins with her finishing rehab, only to relapse in the season finale. Zendaya beautifully captures this battle against addiction in “Trouble Don’t Last Always.” The entirety of the episode is a conversation between her and father figure/ sponsor, Ali.
Like Rue, he has also struggled with addiction, but is in his eighth year of sobriety. In season one, Ali was a side character and was seen only a few times. However, if this episode tells viewers anything, it is that fans can expect to see more about him and his relationship with Rue in season two.
“Trouble Don’t Last Always” begins in what seems to be one of Rue’s visions of her future with girlfriend, Jules. They are living together in a small apartment while Jules studies fashion. They share a loving moment together before Jules leaves for school saying, “Can you believe it? It’s everything we dreamed of.” Rue then sneaks off to crush up a pill in the bathroom.
The camera then cuts to her checking her nose in the mirror and walking out of a diner bathroom. She goes over to Ali, who is waiting for her at a table.
Viewers can assume that the image of her and Jules was just a visual hallucination from whatever drugs she took in the bathroom.
Once she sits down, her and Ali begin their conversation about heavy topics such as: the struggles of an addict, race, and religion. The best part about this is that Ali is just there to listen. He doesn’t judge Rue, even though some of the things she says can be concerning to hear. Ali may want Rue to give up drugs, but he knows it is not that easy. She has to want to be sober.
Drugs seem to be the only thing that keeps Rue going. She says to Ali, “Drugs are probably the only reason I haven’t killed myself.”
This episode really highlights the struggles Rue faces as an addict. It dives into the ongoing battle she experiences every day (not only as an addict, but also as someone with manic depression). One day her mind is racing, Rue feels manic and unable to sleep. Then the next day, she’s completely exhausted and has no desire to move.
Rue has experienced a low on the show, where it got to the point that she was unable to move. Bipolar disorder has been a hard thing for her to conquer. Because of this, Rue turns to drugs to numb her pain.
“Trouble Don’t Last Always” gives viewers another side to the story of addiction. A common stereotype that surrounds addicts, is that they happily choose that life for themselves. The truth is that many turn to substances in times of emotional crisis. The feeling of escape that those substances provide is addictive, especially if the user is in a dark place.
On the show, Zendaya perfectly captures Rue’s need for escape. She bares Rue’s soul for the audience to see. Viewers are able to sympathize with someone who they might typically look down upon.
Zendaya’s performance lets the audience see Rue as more than just an addicted, bipolar teen. We see her as a girl with manic depression, trying to find a will to live in the only way that she knows how, drugs.
Euphoria, this episode in particular, really allows the audience to show compassion for those in a tough situation. It also allows them to broaden our perspective on how we view people who struggle with addiction.