Euphoria special episode “Trouble Don’t Last Always” Review: a Perfect Encapsulation of 2020

CONTENT WARNING: Mentions spoilers. Discussions of suicide and drug addiction. 

After a painstakingly long wait for season two of Euphoria, “Trouble Don’t Last Always” was not what I was expecting, but it was what I needed. 2020 has universally been a year of hardships. In a time where teenage depression has skyrocketed due to pandemic-induced lockdown, the winter can be a brutal time filled with social isolation and the superficial cheer of the holidays. The special deals with depressing subjects, and, paradoxically, offers a ray of light during this dark winter.

Aside from its opening, the entire episode is shot in a diner, contradicting the usual Euphoria aesthetic—dizzying camera angles, sexual sub-plots, and copious amounts of glitter. Filmed under COVID-19 protocols, there was only so much that could be done, yet this special was a masterful hour of television—stellarly written and directed by series creator Sam Levinson, and performed by Emmy-winning Zendaya as Rue Bennet and Colman Domingo as Ali, Rue’s Narcotics Anonymous sponsor. 

Season one ended with Rue’s last-minute decision to not run away with Jules, leading to her drug relapse. This new episode, however, opens with what was ultimately revealed to be a fantasy sequence involving Rue and Jules’ potential life together. It then gave way to the setting where most of the special took place, a diner on Christmas Eve where Rue and Ali talk over pancakes. There, the two have a raw, honest conversation about the causes of Rue’s relapse. While the episode mainly consists of the two of them talking, it felt like so much more: time flew by as heartfelt exchanges pulled viewers into their tortured lives, taking a reflective approach to Rue’s battles.

The conversation almost felt like a play in which the two systematically tackled Rue’s addiction and the factors behind it. At the same time, Ali brought a unique, comforting perspective, thanks to his own history with addiction that brought personal insight into Rue’s issues. While Rue may have done horrible things to the people around her, Ali tells her he’s been right in her shoes; he’s seen it all and done worse. 

Rue soon reveals that drugs were the only reason she hadn’t killed herself, and Ali calls her a functioning drug addict. Their conversation was an unpredictable emotional roller coaster that went to both dark and uplifting places, which gave Rue the chance to take an in-depth look at herself, her potential future—whether or not she deserved one—and if there was anything that could be done about her current situation considering her actions up to that point. The idea of redemption was a big one, as the cloud of self-hatred that had consumed her left her in a rut. 

Nevertheless, the episode saw Rue experience a compelling gamut of emotions throughout the introspection, an impressive display that saw her incredibly vulnerable, all while open to Ali’s advice. Personally, I’m inspired by the immense level of reflection in the special, and I think I can speak for many when I say it gave me some motivation to practice some self-reflection myself. 

At the very least, “Trouble Don’t Last Always” showcased Zendaya’s impeccable range, further proving why she won an Emmy for her performance in the first season. However, Domingo was no slouch either, giving Ali plenty of humanity as he sought redemption through helping Rue. And, the fact that such a showy series can strip down its style, imagery, music, and over-the-top characters to still deliver some equally powerful television is a testament to the ability of Levinson. It certainly shows that the series still has some tricks up its sleeve as to where it can go in the future, and it will undoubtedly be exciting to see where Levinson will take us in the second and final special episode, “F*ck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob,” set to air on January 4th at 9 p.m. on HBO.

by ABBY SULLIVAN