10 Shocking Euphoria Scenes That Almost Went Too Far

Euphoria is notorious for its explicit content that pushes the boundaries of a high school drama series. Several shocking scenes almost went too far.

Content Warning: This list includes mentions of drug use, sexual assault, and mental health.

The HBO series Euphoria features some shocking scenes that almost went too far. Euphoria is one of the most popular yet provocative shows currently on television. The series follows the lives of fictional high schoolers who constantly face issues with drug addiction, toxic relationships, and occasional violence. Euphoria is led by Zandaya and Hunter Schaffer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn respectively and also features an ensemble cast of problematic characters including Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Angus Cloud.

Euphoria season 2 faced criticism due to its use of nudity and substance abuse. Sweeney, who plays Cassie, had to ask creator Sam Levinson to remove nude scenes of her character that she deemed unnecessary (via Independent). Several scenes in Euphoria season 2 that were originally meant to contain nudity were removed or altered after similar complaints from cast members. Levinson is known to push boundaries in Euphoria, but several scenes that made the final cut in the HBO series nearly went too far.

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One of the most uncomfortable scenes so far in Euphoria involved Jules and Nate's father Cal. The shocking scene takes place in the very first episode of Euphoria when Jules meets up with Cal after exchanging messages. Cal displayed disturbing and predatory behaviors and the two ultimately have sex. The long takes and camera close-ups make the scene more visceral and disturbing to witness. The explicit scene sets the tone early for the chaotic and inappropriate moments to come later in both seasons 1 and 2 that make a happier Euphoria season 3 an unlikely scenario.

Rue has faced a turbulent road to recovery from drug addiction during both seasons of Euphoria. After an intervention caused Rue to face her addiction head-on, she agreed to seek treatment with the help of her mom and her sister. However, on the way to rehab, Rue got out of her mom's car while she was stopped at an intersection. In a shocking turn of events, Rue runs through oncoming traffic, causing multiple near-collisions which is made all the more disturbing by her mother and sister's terrified screams. Rue was able to survive the situation unscathed even though she almost lost her life in Euphoria season 2.

Nate has had several moments that nearly crossed the line in Euphoria. His antagonistic character is established early in Euphoria season 1 when he assaults Tyler. The attack comes after Tyler hooked up with Nate's girlfriend Maddy at a party. Maddy initiated interest in Tyler knowing that it would enrage Nate. Her plan works and Nate goes to extreme lengths to send a message to Tyler, breaking into his apartment, falsely accusing him of rape, and carrying out a savage assault that leaves him seriously injured. Jacob Elordi's intimidating performance elevates the scene, making it one of Euphoria's most chilling moments so far.

Jules made her memorable entrance in Euphoria at the same party where Tyler and Maddy hooked up. Nate caused a scene by calling out Jules, questioning who she was and why she was at the party, singling her out in front of everyone. Nate provokes Jules by invading her personal space and making uncomfortable advances, to which Jules responds by grabbing a kitchen knife and threatening her assailant. Then, in one of Euphoria's most shocking moments, Jules uses the knife to cut her own arm, prompting Nate to back off. It's a surprising introduction for any character and a clear display of Jules' personality and things to come.

Fezco constantly gets into dangerous situations in Euphoria due to his unlawful profession as a drug dealer. Despite this, he rarely uses violence, which makes his attack on Nate with liquor bottle at a New Year's party in Euphoria season 2 all the more shocking. The amount of punches Fezco lands is particularly disturbing and gruesome to watch and leaves Nate seriously injured. On top of this, his brief love interest Lexi is left terrified after witnessing the ordeal.

Rue's troubles with addiction lead her down some dark roads in Euphoria season 2. Through Fezco, Rue met a drug dealer and sex trafficker named Laurie. Although Laurie seemed calm on the surface, Rue discovered quickly that she was a powerful leader of some very dangerous people. One of Laurie's henchmen named Bruce, an extremely frightening man, threatened Rue with a gun, forcing her to strip in a shower. Rue tells Bruce that she's a minor in the hope that Bruce would not make her remove her clothing but Bruce ignores these pleas, leading to a scene that's extremely uncomfortable to watch.

Ashtray is somewhat of a wildcard from the start but Euphoria season 2 displayed his violent capabilities. In the Euphoria season 2 premiere, Ashtray proves his loyalty to Fezco by killing a fellow drug dealer named Mouse. Ashtray became suspicious of Mouse and sensed that Fezco's life was in danger. Mouse was likely planning to kill Fezco since he had found out that Fezco had robbed his drug supplier. Ashtray didn't give Mouse the chance to retaliate and attacked him with a hammer. The scene is especially unsettling given Ashtray's young age.

Arguably the most memorable scene from Euphoria season 2 is also one of its most disturbing. In it, Maddy finds Nate in her room with a gun. He explains that he is there to retrieve the footage of his dad and Jules together in the hotel. When Maddy tells him she doesn't have the footage, Nate starts a game of Russian Roulette, holding the gun to her head and then his own. In a surreal and highly disturbing scene lasting almost five minutes, Maddy cries for her life, begging Nate to stop. Nate never shoots the gun, but the length of the scene and Maddy's anguish throughout make it highly disturbing.

Rue experienced a painful withdrawal when she was at Laurie's house. Laurie offered her help even though she was unconvinced that Rue would be able to pay for the drugs she was asking for. Laurie eventually agreed to help Rue but all she could offer her was morphine that could only be injected intravenously. In a tragic scene, Laurie administered morphine into Rue's arm, marking an awful first for Rue. Rue was sedated by the effects of the morphine but appeared to be at an all-time low after seeking help from Laurie. Rue's sobriety would change Euphoria's dynamic and has no clear end in sight.

Ashtray was killed by a special police force that infiltrated Fezco's apartment in the Euphoria season 2 finale. Ashtray refused to stand down even as Fezco begged him to surrender, barricading himself in the bathroom and wildly shooting an assault rifle through the wall. One of Ashtray's bullets took down an officer, ensuring that Ashtray would not survive the gunfight if caught. When Ashtray was eventually outnumbered, he was taken out by the police in front of Fezco's eyes. The scene is one of the most difficult moments to watch and nearly went too far in Euphoria.