The Drama

by Sydney King ’26 on April 16, 2026

A&E - Film & TV

Everyone’s Dream Wedding…

Perhaps one of the most anticipated films of 2026 so far, Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, relied on vagueness of the plot in the promotional material. So, when I sat down in the theater, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and reflecting on my viewing experience, I still don’t exactly know how I feel about it.

Pattinson and Zendaya are Charlie and Emma, an engaged couple that are overwhelmed by butterflies the week of their wedding. The film begins in a nonlinear narrative format, jumping from scene to scene as Charlie and Emma reflect on their favorite memories of each other to their friends. This out-of-order narration style is meant to parallel the speeches that the two are writing for each other for their wedding reception. This pattern shifts towards the end of the first act, as when Emma and Charlie are out to dinner with another couple they are friends with, the group decides to reveal what the worst thing they had ever done was. The film’s downward spiral begins with Emma’s confession, and if you’d like to avoid spoilers, do not read any further. Emma admits that when she was 15, she planned, in detail, a school shooting.

After this confession, I have a hard time deciding what to make of the film’s message. Emma reveals that the reason she did not go through with the shooting was because another one happened in her town, and she saw firsthand how it affected everyone in the community. I found it nauseating how it is implied that it took tragedy for Emma to fully realize the consequences that her actions would have, indicating her character’s lack of empathy. However, through flashbacks, it’s shown that after the mass shooting in her town, she leads a group of students at her high school in gun violence activism, making her exterior persona a complete switch from her prior internal self.

This contrast between Emma’s persona and her inner self is carried throughout the rest of the film, as we see with flashbacks of her planning the shooting, as well as Charlie’s memories of her. Charlie begins to feel more anxious and frenzied as he starts to view his memories of Emma through a different perspective; she has a very clear antagonistic edge to her that he simply considered a flaw, but could now be something dangerous.

The discourse around this film has been littered primarily with two differing perspectives of whether or not Emma—and people in general—are capable of true change, and whether the intent or impact of a person’s actions are worse. One camp believes that Emma has truly changed, while the other remains mortified at her confession. Admittedly, I still have yet to decide how I truly feel. While Emma’s confession is the driving force of the plot, the entire cast of characters spend the film either admitting or repeatedly doing what they consider to be the worst action they’ve ever committed. It begs the question, is everyone truly horrible? Are people doomed to be products of their worst actions for the rest of their lives? Do we ever truly know who the people in our lives are?

Euphoria Season 2 Recap

by on March 26, 2022

A&E - Film & TV

Euphoria Season 2 Recap

Zendaya and Company Shock Viewers Once Again

Caitlin Ariel ’24

After the finale of Euphoria’s jaw-dropping first season in 2019, fans had to wait an agonizing two and a half years for its sophomore season, which aired on Jan. 9. Indeed, with the pandemic delaying the filming of season two, it seemed like forever since fans had seen a new episode of the smash-hit series.

During this wait, however, watchers’ patience was rewarded with two special episodes: one dedicated to Rue (Zendaya), and another to Jules (Hunter Schafer), with both installments following each character as they cope with their dramatic breakup with one another.

These specials only heightened fans’ anticipation for the show’s second season: its premiere raked in 19 million viewers, officially making Euphoria the second-most popular HBO show behind Game of Thrones. Even as credits rolled during the finale, fans were still begging for more.

Director Sam Levinson seems to broaden the scope of the show’s storyline in this season much to the benefit of two characters who suffered from a want of development in season one: Lexi (Maude Apatow) and Fezco (Angus Cloud). Lexi, who was relegated to a supporting role in season one, recognizes her passivity in Euphoria’s story and begins to control her own narrative in the most obvious way possible: writing and performing a play about her life for the entire school. Fezco’s story similarly comes to prominence early on in the new season, with its first episode offering viewers a flashback to his childhood.

Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie, continuously sneaks off with her best friend Maddie’s (Alexa Demie) abusive ex-boyfriend Nate (Jacob Elordi). As Nate and his father Cal (Eric Dane) further entrench themselves in their messy and problematic dynamic established in season one, viewers see a new, troubling side to Cassie. Last season, the character came across as an overthinking, quiet girl, but under Nate’s dangerous influence, she spirals into an explosive and commanding figure.

Of course, Zendaya dominates this season, proving that she truly deserved her 2020 Emmy win. Rue’s season two storyline picks up right where viewers left her at the end of season one, not shying away from the uncomfortable, tragic realities of her drug relapse that emerged during the season’s finale.

Unlike last season, however, Rue is accompanied by newcomer Elliot. Elliot is played by Dominic Fike, who is well known for his song “3 Nights,” which currently has 680 million streams on Spotify. Elliot almost seems to be taking Jules’ place this season, as he and Rue grow close, but he, like Jules in season one, is unsure of how to handle Rue’s destructive actions. Rue’s behavior causes Elliot and viewers alike to feel a strange mix of sympathy and anger as they watch her turn on those she loves. Zendaya’s pre-season warnings about season two being “difficult,” specifically for her character, certainly ring true.

Overall, the flashiness of Euphoria’s first season is substituted with rawness in its sophomore run, a dramatic shift reflected in how Levinson switched from digital to film when filming the second season. The bold purples and blues that fans have come to associate with Euphoria are exchanged for darker and neutral colors, making the show feel more emotional and grounded. Levinson and the actors dig deep to find new dimensions to the characters viewers thought they knew, and as the season progresses, those at home cannot help but become connected to their drama. It is this powerful connection that kept viewers coming back every Sunday night as the season aired and will keep them anxiously awaiting the series’ third season, which is slated for a 2024 release.

Season two of Euphoria is now streaming on HBO Max.