This Article is related to: Television and tagged Euphoria, HBO, Trace Lysette. I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. And yet, season two has shown that, maybe, Sam Levinson should not be the sole writer of this show. Possibly the most significant is Ako, the owner of Earth Angel in . This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. It is filled with breathtaking cinematography, amazing costume design (excuse me while I try and inevitably fail to do some of those incredible makeup looks), and one of the most pitch perfect soundtracks I have ever heard, courtesy of Labyrinth. Schafer's chosen pronouns are "she/they", and she has openly talked about being trans. B. Euphoria and Pose offer two very different trans . Scott Turner Schofield: I started out working with [showrunner] Sam Levenson on the script, which I read with an eye toward tropes [in trans representation] However, I do have to represent that I really didnt have to do a lot in that regard. Euphoria. Yes. The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the common racist stereotyping of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. For instance, theres an intimate scene between [Quintessas character, Anna] and [Schafers character, Jules] in episode 7 that was a collaboration with the intimacy coordinator. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was. Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. And one million people are watching. Between the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others. While this may not be a surprise to Rue, it was a huge reveal for viewers because her gender identity is definitively stated in the dialogue. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. We have to start somewhere, said Valdez. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Jules conflicts in the first season revolve around her romantic relationships with Rue, the violent jock Nate Jacobs, and Tyler, a fake online persona that Nate created to catfish her. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. A . ", Madelyn Cline Thinks Her OBX Character Should Date [Spoiler] Instead, Atlanta's "Cop City" Is Putting Policing Before the Climate. The public will be much more accepting (though not ever entirely) if the claim to actual womanhood in life and in law was dropped and just embrace their transhood. Despite controversy, the HBO Original is a source of queer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, 'The Last of Us' Episode 7 Is a Heartbreaking Vision of What Could Have Been, 'The Last of Us' Isn't Playing the Game You Think, The Best True Crime Streaming Now, from 'Unsolved Mysteries' to 'McMillions' to 'The Staircase', Oscars 2023: Best Visual Effects Predictions. Your email address will not be published. They were totally happy to be there and contribute to something. Firstly, it is important to note that Euphoria is one of the most diverse shows on HBO at the moment, and at the same time it isnt. 1 day ago. In season one, we get a relationship between two female main characters, Rue and Jules. . Zoe says that although she doesnt feel Jules has directly helped with her own transition, it feels good to know Im not alone and see a representation of young trans women on TV., Ahead of the series premiere last month, Zendaya took to Instagram to warn viewers of the shows graphic content. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. Jules, the new kid at East Highland, is introduced to us at a house party gone awry when she runs into the schools jock, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The male queer representation does not fare much better. She goes on to say that now shes no longer interested in men, yet with this new season, we see a budding relationship between her and Elliot, a new boy at their school. I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. In this scant screen time, we see Kat struggle with her self-image and self-hatred a painfully predictable and disappointing storyline for one of the few fat women on television. Women and trans women are more than just victims. In an uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out Shea is HIV-positive. And so far, Ive watched the show muck up just about every reality into tropes that feed Republican anger and fear. However, HBO must not only involve a more diverse cast, but also writers who can bring relevant perspectives to the table. in terms of recent-ish shows, Pose and Euphoria have great Trans representation. His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another racist stereotype. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. Doncha love how theyre just abandoning the TWAW thing? Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. Lets hope Euphoria moves forward to highlight how the new generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society. Close. Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isnt the time to be idle. That makes Euphoria the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. So, is Jules in Euphoria trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? Abstract. Please log in to add your commentNeed an account? And that Sam got that so right without words, just got it completely spot on that was the greatest high, better than any drug Ive ever used. I felt really protective of the [trans extras] and was worried that someone was going to misgender them and things were going to become problematic. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. On January 26, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) They really listened and they really represented as opposed to appropriating it for the sake of being trendy and looking cool, and you can always tell when shows do that because [the representation] is never quite right. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. The May Test is intended to be stringent in the hopes that it inspires and produces more original, authentic, and positive representations of transgender people. All too frequently, trans women are made the sexual object of cis mens desire, and every episode of Euphoria is written and directed by Sam Levinson, a cis man. Cis women have been objectified for many, many years. One topic that often came up was how wild the show was and its most . Trans women, especially trans women of color, face unprecedented levels of violence, often from sexual partners. They were super open and willing. has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. Schafer, like Jules, is a trans and queer woman with acute insight into Jules character and what she might be feeling throughout the show by virtue of experience. It does not store any personal data. It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. Required fields are marked *. Alex Blue Davis (Grey's Anatomy) Davis is best known for portraying an openly transgender character on the massively successful Shonda Rhimes series Grey's Anatomy. HBO's hit show Euphoria is the latest drama aimed at highlighting the Gen-Z experience. Something went wrong. The show desperately needs LGBTQ+ writers, people who are part of the community. Im always very quick to say, you cant just find any trans person and think that theyre going to tell a good trans story, because we are all completely overwhelmed by mainstream culture and the tropes [about trans people] it tells us even trans people. That makes "Euphoria" the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. And I burst into tears watching it, because that kid was me, except in blue. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. 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To be able to look yourself in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out; pure gender euphoria. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. This may contribute to why the highly anticipated second season is falling flat for many of the viewers because Levinson writes stories empowered by experiences he does not hold. RELATED: 10 Best Quotes From Euphoria Season 2. Posted by. Having that kind of communicated authenticity combined with the fact that Jules narrative is only barely tied to her trans identity what do you think sets her character arc apart from other trans narratives that we see on TV? Despite the popularity of Euphoria, the HBO show suffers for its lack of non-exploitative representation. #19. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". The results show three axes of representation that move away from the traditional portrayal of trans characters: (a) a narrative that moves beyond the "trans fact" and presents complex and plural stories, (b) a representation of the trans individual as an element of value and love, away from fetishism, and (c) a link between the trans realm and . They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! I want to come on and play somebodys Auntie, said Transparent actress Trace Lysette, who is gearing up for the fall release of Hustlers, in which shell feature opposite Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? There was a push to sort of really name the labels, whether it was Jules labels or to label Jules and Rues relationship in a way that isnt really how we do things anymore. Sam Levinson, the only writer for the show, seemed to find a way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics. She made her acting debut as transgender high school student Jules Vaughn in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria (2019-present), which earned her critical praise and nominations for a Shorty . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In just a few years, the runway model, activist for LGBTQIA+ rights and actress has become a recognizable name amongst teens and fashion industry professionals alike. Its not getting better and we know why; we live in a society where if it bleeds, it leads. Social media and sex and where the two intersect are another . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Oops. But knowing the May Test might be . Rachel Shatto. Throwing Elliot in the middle of Rue and Jules's relationship fetishizes lesbians and is queer baiting. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. He is manipulative and aggressive toward his wife, children and anyone who threatens to reveal his sexuality, using his power and wealth to threaten and demean anyone he deems less than him. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. Most characters on the show are all about participating in the most raunchy sexual relations, but according to a 2019 article in The New York Times, the percentage of real-life teens having sex is lower than ever before. Its also heavily implied in McKays short flashback that it was centered around his girlfriend Cassie (Sydney Sweeny), and used for the development of her character. They are not mentioned once. Hide Gif. . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Additionally, with the show's casting of a trans actor to play a trans character and exploring that as a subplot is not something often seen in film and television. Writers often center trans characters' gender dysphoria, completely ignoring their gender euphoria.Not only does this enforce the incorrect belief that all trans people experience debilitating gender dysphoria, but it is also a form of the toxic struggle narrative trope. LGBTQ+ representation in Euphoria. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Im proud to be a trans person., Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. Find a way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics & # x27 ; s relationship lesbians. On gay dating apps McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers part! Lesbians and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was watching it, because that kid me. 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