Struggles with Secrets and Lies

by John Downey '23 on February 10, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

Arts & Entertainment

Struggles with Secrets and Lies

Euphoria’s Unpredictable Second Season

Grace O’Connor ’22

HBO’s Euphoria is well-known for its fantastic character development and incredible set design, both of which led to a wildly successful first season. Season two of the hit show, which premiered last month, has once again pulled in a large audience—viewership is up nearly 100 percent from season one. According to Variety, the premiere, which first aired Jan. 9, has drawn 13.1 million viewers on HBO and HBO Max, with the rest of the season set to see similar numbers. This growth represents an increase of approximately 100 percent from the nearly 6.6 million people who tuned into Season 1 of Euphoria when it aired in 2019. These statistics affirm the audience’s loyalty to this beloved show and its hugely talented cast.

Season two of Euphoria dives deeper into its characters’ struggles and relationships with one another. Nate, for instance, is notorious for his abusive behavior, and his unhealthy relationship with Maddy in season one kept fans at the edge of their seats. Given his problematic history, fans were surprised and unsettled to see a budding romance form between Nate and Cassie early on in season two. This troubled love triangle is just one of the unexpected developments in Nate’s story. Season two also explores his father Cal’s hidden past, which Cal had long tried to conceal from his wife and children.

Another character who must grapple with secrets and lies is Rue, who is on the verge of exposing the fact that she has resumed her use of addictive drugs to Jules and her family. Notably, Euphoria portrays Rue’s battle with drug addiction in an authentic way. According to Forbes, “The tragic irony is that Rue has spent so many episodes striving for [a] relationship [with Jules], only to reduce herself to a state of dissociation, unable to feel what she desperately wants.” Season two masterfully brings Rue’s struggle in her personal relationships to light: she slowly learns to be vulnerable with others and upfront about what she is going through.

Despite the differences in the characters’ lives that make them individuals, there is one common denominator between them. As Forbes explains, “the characters strive to break free from the chains of morality and consequence, embracing their sinful desires, spilling secrets like body fluids.” The characters each risk their well-being to hold onto their secrets, and their struggle to do so makes for a narrative that is intriguing and entertaining.

Season two of Euphoria is currently airing on HBO and available for streaming on HBO Max.

Featured Friars: Alex Teri ’19 and Grace Moynihan ’21: PC Students Create Their Own Spray Tanning Businesses

by The Cowl Editor on November 1, 2018

Features

by Malena Aylwin ’22

Providence College is full of self-made businesswomen, such as Alex Teri ‘19 and Grace Moynihan ‘21, who, in just a few months, have used their entrepreneurial spirit to create their own spray tanning businesses at PC.

Moynihan commmented on the fact that since a young age, she has always been “business-oriented” and has always had success with her “self-made” businesses.

She considers herself a very focused individual and has always loved selling things to people. This past October, while self-tanning, Moynihan realized that doing it yourself is very hard. “Just putting on self-tanner myself is probably the hardest thing.”

“All my friends would complain about what a hassle it is to self-tan,” she stated. And that is when she came up with the idea to start her business called PC Tans.

She started planning and checking her availability throughout the week and the cost of investing in equipment and materials.

“So I found time on my schedule and I decided to research a little more about it and the next thing you know I was making it a business,” said Moynihan.

At first, she started trying it out on her friends, and little by little she began to get more and more clientele.

“I just love making businesses, but I also love self-tanning. In the winter, we tend to get extremely pale, and sometimes you just want to be a shade darker or you have an event coming up and you wish you were less pale, but you know it’s a mess and a hassle doing it yourself. So that’s why I’m here.”

The business was started less than a month ago and has already grown to over 400 followers on Instagram. “It’s been almost a month, and it’s so crazy because I really didn’t think my business would get this big so fast.”

As of today, Moynihan is completely booked, saying, “Up until Senior Ring Weekend, I have about 60 people, my schedule is completely booked through these weeks and up until Senior Ring Weekend,” she said, “and I’m happy my business has jumped off so much and I’m very excited to help the girls for Senior Ring Weekend.”

Moynihan plans on continuing this up until her senior year.

Just like Moynihan, Teri has been very business-oriented since she was young. She started developing the idea of her own businesses during her junior year of high school.

“I had to take a course and then I started working at a tanning salon,” said Teri.

She took a course sponsored by Norvell, which lasted a few months. “It took a lot of training, we practiced so much,” she stated.

After that, Teri went to college and during her junior year, some friends started complaining that they needed spray tans.

“I went on Amazon, researched a little bit, and bought the whole kit.” Teri stated that she was not planning on creating a full operational business at first, saying, “I was just doing it for my friends and posting it on Instagram and slowly more and more people started reaching out to me.”

After a few months the business kept on growing. “Usually these weeks are very busy,” she said.

With Senior Ring Weekend and Halloween coming up, Teri has over 70 customers in the upcoming weeks.

Teri stated that men are welcome to make an appointment, “I’ve taken on very few boys, but all of them have loved it, so don’t be shy and book an appointment.”

“I feel like this business has made me a lot more independent because I earn money that I use to buy food and other things and at the same time makes me think twice when I buy something.”

“Also,“ Teri added, “it has taught me time-management skills and it’s way better than staying at home sitting in my bed.”

Both equally determined women have created huge businesses on campus. Follow Teri’s Instagram @notyouraveragespraytan and Moynihan’s @pc_tans, for more information.