Euphoria: A Lexi-Dedicated Episode Came Too Late

After watching Euphoria S1, I was asked who was my favorite character from the show was. Surprisingly, I chose Lexi, a character who was definitely visible as Euphoria’s main cast but wasn’t treated as such till season 2.

The snippets we see of Lexi initially seem to be enough — Rue’s best friend who pees in a cup for her, a person who isn’t afraid to call out toxic behavior be it friend or foe, and of course, someone who can rock a Bob Ross costume.

So when a Lexi-dedicated episode finally comes in S2, why does it not seem satisfying?

Lexi Howard’s Episode Is a Patch-Up Work

When we get the first decent five minutes into Lexi’s backstory, she narrates to her make-believe camera that — “Look the sidekicks are usually the more sensitive, smarter, more compelling characters, but for some reason, they just get overlooked.” 

The irony is that this is the exact same treatment that Lexi has had in Euphoria, and the show is perhaps going meta by telling the audience they recognize this folly.

Even then, Lexi’s insight piggybacks on Cal’s bigger arc in S2E3. While most of the other characters have had great standalone episodes, Lexi once again has to share. 

We finally get Lexi’s full-blown storyline in episode 7. Yet, what purpose does it serve?

Lexi’s play is all in conjunction with her friends’ lives and to the viewer too, it only sheds more light on events that we’ve already witnessed or deduced surrounding Rue, Cassie, Maddy and Nate.

Forgive me for saying this but the episode was just a theatrical recap of Euphoria’s episodes so far.

I had fun watching it and it sure was appealing, but it didn’t add much to Lexi other than cementing how much of a side character she feels in her own life as she is on the show.

The problem with Lexi-led episodes is that she continues to be a prop that only works to uplift the other characters’ storyline.

The truth is Lexi’s character is compelling on its own. Think about it — She’s grown up in the same troubled household as Cassie, watched her best friend fall to drug abuse and then sideline her, never fitted with her sister’s daunting friend circle and cannot boast of having a smidge of a love life.

What’s worse is that the show tells us that the way Lexi holds onto any notion of “normal” is by dissociating from her life and her trauma. 

It takes time to realize that Lexi Howard is just a kid who’s trying to be sensible and brave in an environment that’s not conducive to either.

Tonally, episode 7 with all its glamour and glitz was still difficult to stomach.

I’m not just talking about the fact that we have to suspend all belief and accept that a school-level drama production has an unlimited budget and that the school board would be completely fine with a showcase of adult content.  

But it didn’t really move the season forward when it came to major arcs like Fez’s impending arrest/demise or Rue’s decision of getting clean.

In the end, the episode simply felt like: hey, we haven’t done a Lexi-dedicated episode yet so let’s finally cover it! Which, even then, barely manages to scratch a character that had immense potential.

Not only does it seem like a patch-up job, it feels almost insulting for a main cast member’s episode to come this late into the show. (After Fez, Cal… and even McKay?!) Especially when the play reveals that Lexi has been a crucial part of everyone’s lives thus far.

I can admit that my observations may come prematurely — There is, after all, an Act II to explore in Euphoria’s upcoming S2 finale. There may still be hope for Lexi to be treated like the main character she’s deserves to be.

About Euphoria

Euphoria is a teen drama on HBO that is loosely based on the Israeli series of the same name. The series is written by Sam Levinson and stars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and others.

The show revolves around Rue, a teen drug addict who is also suffering from Bipolar disorder. She meets Jules, a transwoman, and falls in love with her. Euphoria deals with themes of sexual violence, addiction, trauma, and self-identity.

The series was renewed for season 3 in February 2022.