Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has faced significant criticism for the 'unnecessary use' of Nazi symbols in the HBO show's third season. After viewers were shocked by the content in episode five, which featured Sydney Sweeney's character going topless and sucking toes, many had hoped for a return to the gritty storylines and complex narratives that defined the first two seasons. However, episode six, titled Stand Still and See, proved that Levinson remains intent on shocking audiences with even more disturbing material.
Disturbing Scene with Nazi Imagery
In one particularly controversial scene, Faye Valentine (played by Chloe Cherry) receives a swastika tattoo on her lower back from her white supremacist drug dealer boyfriend Wayne (Toby Wallace), who already has an Othala tattoo—a Nazi symbol—on his arm. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, claiming the inclusion of such imagery had no relevance to the storyline. A previous episode also depicted Faye in a graphic sex scene with Wayne in front of a Nazi flag.
On X (formerly Twitter), viewers threatened to stop watching the show, calling it the 'worst ever.' Comments included: 'Euphoria is a damn mess because what is this Nazi sh*t? Like what was the reason? I was genuinely taken aback like,' and 'Faye’s weird Nazi boyfriend tattooing a Nazi symbol on Faye, omg, Sam Levinson can rot in hell.' Others noted the frequency of swastika appearances, with one user stating, 'If i had a dollar for every time i saw a swastika this season of euphoria, i would have too many dollars.' Many questioned the narrative purpose, with one fan asking, 'I honestly don’t get the Nazi thing at all like?? Why does it contribute to the storyline?'
Cassie's OnlyFans Storyline Continues
Meanwhile, episode six also saw Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) continuing her lucrative OnlyFans career. Her manager and former best friend, Maddy (Alexa Demie), takes her to the Silver Slipper strip club for racy photos with strippers Magick (singer Rosalia) and Kitty (Anna Van Patten). Cassie poses in a pink bikini on top of the bar and later struggles while holding a large white python, wearing only a beige thong.
Cassie faces a major dilemma when she is offered a role on a television series titled LA Nights. The demanding showrunner, played by Hollywood icon Sharon Stone, gives her an ultimatum: delete her OnlyFans account to secure the gig. Initially agreeing, Cassie becomes deeply torn and calls her husband Nate (Jacob Elordi) for support. When he fails to answer—after having his ring finger and a toe chopped off by loan shark Naz (Jack Topalian) in the previous episode—Cassie has a change of heart and deletes her profile from the adult platform.
Fan Reactions to Season Three Shift
Fans have been left baffled by the direction of season three. One viewer asked, 'wtf is this euphoria plot even.' Another wrote, 'So tired,' while a third commented on the snake scene: 'What do you mean there's a deadly snake that cassie takes pictures with?' The episode was widely described as 'weird.'
Since its debut in 2019, Euphoria has been known for pushing boundaries with graphic portrayals of teen drug use, sex, and violence. However, viewers now claim that Levinson's 'disturbing' and 'misogynistic' storylines for the new season have 'lost the plot.' Sydney Sweeney's character Cassie has been subjected to particularly degrading scenes, including dressing as an 'adult baby' and engaging in 'puppy play' while wearing lingerie and dog ears.
Creator Defends Explicit Content
Levinson defended the explicit nature of his work during the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, stating: 'We live in a very sexualized world. The influence of pornography is really strong in terms of the psyche of young people.' He also addressed the puppy play scene in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that the humor comes from the housekeeper filming the scene, adding an 'absurdity' that breaks the fantasy.
Sydney Sweeney, meanwhile, told Entertainment Tonight: 'I mean, Cassie's a crazy character. She will do anything and at all costs to be famous this season, and she makes a lot of very wild and interesting choices.'
Critical Reception and Ratings
The third season has been met with poor early reviews, described as an 'unhinged disaster' yet 'pretty uneventful.' On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds a 40 percent 'rotten' rating, a sharp decline from season one and two's 80 and 78 percent 'fresh' scores.
Euphoria airs at 9pm (ET/PT) on HBO on Sundays. In the UK, the series airs at 2am and 9pm on Mondays on Sky Atlantic and streams on HBO Max and Sky Go/NOW.
