WOO. Yeah. So … that Euphoria finale, right?
Love it or hate it, HBO’s Euphoria has certainly made waves over the past few months. Even as someone who isn’t sure whether or not they like the show, I can say that it’s left a sizable impact on the current state of TV. More than that, it’s become a pop-culture icon of the moment, as anyone who uses Instagram could tell you.
So it makes sense if any of you are left wanting more, now that season 2 is wrapped up. I’ve put together this list based on multiple facets of Euphoria, so some of them may not be 1:1, but will hit certain notes that you might be looking for.
Girls
I gotta be honest, I’m one of those viewers who would watch the cast doing their thing and wonder, Couldn’t they have set this show in college or something? And while wondering that, I’d then conclude, I really could just be watching Girls right now instead.
And that might be a hot take, considering the internet’s low opinion of show creator Lena Dunham, but putting all of her media infamy aside, Girls is a pretty damn good show. It has a lot in common with Euphoria, but with an older and more relatable cast of characters overall. Plus, it’s not as dramatic, and is able to make fun of itself constantly. What I love about Girls is that it portrays the twentysomething struggle fairly well, yet we’re not supposed to love, or even sympathize with, the main characters. We can poke fun at them and realize, Yep, that’s the point. Don’t wanna be a Marnie.
Where to watch Girls: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
Skins
On the flip side, I’ve seen Skins compared to Euphoria the most out of any other show. It was the original “bad teens gone wrong” show, hailing from the UK and starring some actors we know and love now, back when they were just beansprouts.
Just like Euphoria, it can be hard to watch, as well as uncomfortable (they’re supposed to be teens, after all). But for those who liked the drama, tension, and “WTF-factor” of Euphoria, Skins would be a very natural next step. Granted, it tends to glorify much of what Euphoria tried to destigmatize, so that might be a sore point for some sensitive viewers.
Where to watch Skins: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
Misfits
And for those who, again, wish that the kids were out of high school, Misfits will be a good fit. The show follows a group of young adults in a community service program that get zapped with weird powers. It’s a hilariously tongue-in-cheek show, absurd at times, and surprisingly heartfelt at others.
I’m actually getting a wave of nostalgia thinking of this show, because before y’all had Fezco to swoon over, we had Nathan. Strange, crass, idiotic Nathan, oh how we salute thee. This show really is a gem of British comedy and well worth the watch for anyone who needs a good laugh after the chaos that was Euphoria’s finale.
Where to watch Misfits: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
My Mad Fat Diary
There aren’t many shows that follow a plus-sized woman with as much empathy and rawness as this one, and in either case, Rae’s teenage journey is a compelling one to follow. My Mad Fat Diary is one of those criminally underrated shows that, once you watch it, you’ll never be able to forget it.
Rae Earl struggles both with her body image and her mental health, but when she meets a new group of friends that she wants to impress, she begins to transcend her insecurities in her journey towards maturity. At times, you wanna throttle her for the dumb decisions she makes, but then you’ll remember you weren’t so different. This is one of the most human shows about adolescence out there, so anyone who felt any twinge of sympathy for the Euphoria kids will probably like these ones, too.
Where to watch My Mad Fat Diary: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
Freaks and Geeks
Okay. In my personal opinion, no show about teenage life tops this one, but that’s only because I was a freak, as well as a geek. If Euphoria played up the drama to an absurd degree, Freaks and Geeks always kept its feet firmly planted in reality. We’re talking actors who were actually teens when they were cast in the show (groundbreaking, I know).
But even aside from the cast, who were brilliant in their debuts, this show is so full of heart, humor, and relatability, I end up loving it even more upon every rewatch. It’ll forever be a crying shame that it wasn’t renewed for a second season, but I suppose we oughta be happy we got Freaks and Geeks at all.
Where to watch Freaks and Geeks: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
High Maintenance
If Euphoria is a cautionary tale about drug addiction, then High Maintenance is a love letter to stoners everywhere. This doesn’t mean that anything is recklessly glorified in this show—more so, it’s a show about a weed guy who goes around delivering his products in NYC, and how his customers’ lives intertwine.
It’s one of those artsy, hipstery New York shows that’s just so fun to watch, with excellent music and writing to boot. “The Guy” is the glue that holds it all together, a protagonist that’s so open-minded and caring for his people, you end up wanting a Guy in your life, too.
Where to watch High Maintenance: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
The End of the F***ing World
This show was based off a graphic novel of the same name, and it really shows this with how off-the-wall it can be. At times hilarious, at other times wildly disturbing, The End of the F***ing World is certainly a memorable experience.
The protagonists, James and Alyssa, are problem children at their finest: James describes himself as a psychopath, and Alyssa is a rebel without a cause. The former joins the latter in her suburban escape with the intention of killing her, yet things inevitably take a turn. It’s as if Nate Jacobs was split into two people and both of those people ended up having redeeming qualities.
Where to watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video
Mozart in the Jungle
The original tagline for the novel of the same name was “Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music,” so if anyone is at all interested in Euphoria, but with adults in the NY Philharmonic, here ya go. It’s such an esoteric world to explore, yet anyone remotely involved in music will find it fascinating.
As well as that, Gael Garcia Bernal’s performance as Maestro Rodrigo is just … *chef’s kiss.* The whole cast is phenomenal (with Lola Kirke as the main gal Hailey), but Rodrigo is the mad scientist that keeps you glued to the screen. The music is beautiful, the plot is incredibly fun, and the tension—both in the orchestra, and between Rodrigo and Hailey—will definitely ensure that you binge the show to its conclusion.
Where to watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video
In The Flesh
Before y’all had Euphoria, my generation of teenage gaybies had In the Flesh. It came out during the zombie heyday, but it wasn’t as … well, stupid, as a lot of the content that came from that era. In fact, it was pretty much the opposite. It managed to create a zombie narrative that was compelling and inventive.
The setting is a post-zombie-apocalypse Lancashire, where a vaccine was developed to “cure” undeads. Kieran is a rehabilitated zombie with “partially deceased syndrome” (PDS) who’s trying to grapple with his new state of re-life. While that might sound like a laughable concept, I found myself weeping for poor Kieran as he had to relive the things that haunted him in his first life, and then some.
Where to watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu
Hello, My Twenties!
Well, maybe you want something fun and lighthearted after the chaos that was Euphoria‘s second season. But maybe you also want something in the same ballpark. If both apply to you, you might enjoy Hello, My Twenties, a delightful K-Drama that takes a turn for the dark at seemingly random moments.
It follows a cast of five girls in a communal living complex, ranging from college students to working adults, as they navigate their own set of trials and tribulations. On the surface, it’s a sweet, lighthearted program, but then it’s revealed that Kang is a sex worker, Jin-Myeung is facing workplace harassment, Ye-Eun’s boyfriend is abusive, and Song Ji-won … oh boy, I don’t even want to spoil that one. It’s just a crazy ride from start to finish, and might just be the mint one needs after watching Euphoria.
I’m sure I missed some other great shows—for instance, I’ve yet to see Genera+ion, which I’ve heard is very similar to Euphoria. So be sure to leave a comment with your own suggestions, and we’ll see you in season 3!
Where to watch: Prime Video, Hulu
(Featured Image: HBO)
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