Euphoria Recap: The Sins of the Father

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Cassie’s whole “I think I should be single and work on myself” plan hits a psychopath-sized snag in this week’s Euphoria — but that’s far from the only havoc Nate Jacobs wreaks during the hour.

Before the ending credits roll, The Artist Formerly Known as Tyler has dumped (and then done) Cassie in a location straight outta Serial Killer Digest AND he’s managed to get his father in a blackmail-type situation. Whatever else you wanna say about the kid, you’ve gotta admire his multitasking abilities.

Read on for the highlights of “Out of Touch.”

‘IT WAS COMPLICATED’ | Rue’s voiceover informs us that Nate was in love with Cassie, “but it was complicated.” As Maddy and Cassie drive him from the New Year’s Eve party to the hospital, we watch Nate fantasize about Cassie — who’s naked in a lot of this flight of fancy — and come to the conclusion that he wants to be with her for the rest of his life. (Side note: Was it just me, or did that montage include flashes of Jules shooting nudes, too?) Cal comes to the hospital to pray over his bloodied boy; meanwhile, an out-of-it Nate dreams about Cassie being pregnant with their child and Cal being really, really weird about the whole situation. In fact, Rue’s voiceover tells us, Nate sometimes wished Cal would just drop dead.

All of the fantasizing about Cassie, however, is pointless: As Rue points out, Maddy still has the disc that she found in Nate’s room in the Season 1 finale.

CAL IS ON IT | When his father asks, Nate claims not to remember who turned his face into raw hamburger at the party. So Cal pays a visit to Lexi and Cassie’s house, where he threatens to involve the police — who will check their cell phones, he bluffs — and the mere thought of Maddy finding out that Cassie and Nate are texting has Cass singing like a bird. (By the way, that text, in which Cassie said it was a “mistake” that she and Nate slept together? It was followed immediately by a call from Nate, who warned her, “Don’t ever put that in writing again.”

Cal then swings by Fezco’s shop; he carries a gun, but doesn’t take it out of his pocket. Lexi happens to be there at the same time; so are Ashtray and Fay, the heroin addict from the season premiere, who pushed the motel manager off a balcony and is crashing with the boys while she lays low. Nothing actually happens while Cal is in the convenience store, but it’s a VERY tense scene nonetheless.

While that’s happening, Nate drives Cassie to a very creepy housing development construction site to tell her he really likes her but they can’t be together and “we can never, ever speak about this.” Cassie responds by getting out of the car and running; anyone else know at least one girl in high school who always stalked/ran away from situations of heightened drama, if for no other reason than to center said drama on themselves? Not that I’m blaming Cassie; running away from Nate is probably one of the best decisions we’ve seen her make so far. But it seems like she does so in order to make him run after her — which he does — and ugh.

She winds up on the second floor of one of the skeletal homes. Somehow he finds her. He kisses her and takes off her panties, then sinks to his knees and starts nosing around but stops to wonder “How are you ever going to be able to look Maddy in the eye again?” Given that earlier, Nate warned Cassie that Maddy would “actually kill you” if she ever found out about their dalliance, this move seems like head games in the extreme, no?

NATE HAS THE UPPER HAND | When Nate gets home, Cal is waiting for him. “You wanna tell me why some punk drug dealer beat you up?,” Papa Jacobs wonders. Be careful what you wish for, dude. “You remember that classmate of mine that you f–ked, Jules?,” Nate calmly asks his dad. He says Jules told Rue, who told Fez, and they threatened to go to the police to say that Cal is a pedophile. “So maybe I was sticking up for you,” Nate muses, conveniently removing his stint as Tyler from this incredibly icky story.

Cal, stricken, apologizes, saying that he didn’t know Jules went to school with Nate “or what she was.” Nate says Jules didn’t know Cal was filming their encounter, and we see a new panic fill the older man’s eyes. “Do you have it, Nate?,” he asks just before the hour ends. “Do you have it?”

HOW LONG IS THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL, ANYWAY? | Over in Rue-land, we learn that she’s been spending a lot of time with Elliot, the guy she got high with in the laundry room on New Year’s Eve. But she hasn’t mentioned him to Jules… which makes things incredibly awkward when the trio run into each other at school. Rue is acting so weird that Jules immediately realizes that Rue has a crush on Elliot; what she doesn’t realize, much to Elliot’s later surprise, is that Rue is doing drugs pretty regularly.

Jules later goes bowling with Kat, Ethan and Maddy. When Rue texts that she wants to come over, Jules ignores it.

Also that evening, Rue gets high with Elliot then bikes to her Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Ali instantly realizes she’s not sober. “I see you’re still on your suicide mission,” he remarks. “Let go, let God,” she shoots back, strung out. He drives her home after, freaking her out when he announces that he wants to come in and meet her mom. It’s all very cordial, though Rue is vibrating at a very high frequency as she worries that he’s going to out her continued drug use to her mom. And when her mom asks Ali how Rue is doing, it seems like maybe Rue’s fears are founded. But he dodges the query a little, saying only, “She’s got a long way to go.”

‘LOVE YOURSELF! LOVE YOURSELF!’ | About that bowling night: It was supposed to be an Ethan/Kat date, and he’s not psyched that she invited her friends. But as we learn throughout the episode, Kat is realizing that she doesn’t love Ethan, but it’s probably because she hates herself. (Side note: That scene of all of the influencers etc. showing up in her room and screaming at her to “LOVE YOURSELF!” was pretty great.) Also of interest: All of Kat’s friends think her relationship with Ethan is unproblematically perfect, and they’re jealous.

In other news: Maddy is babysitting for a boy named Theo, whose mother (played by Friday Night Lights‘ Minka Kelly) has a to-die-for closet that Maddy likes to raid after the kid goes to bed. And from the way the buzzed mom lets her hand linger on Maddy after asking for an assist with a zipper at the end of one evening, you know this is going to get weird quickly.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments!

Celebrity Social Media Round-Up for January 10, 2022

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I’m back! Not new and not improved for 2022! Let’s just get right into it. Mark Ruffalo posted a photo of his children’s impressive hair and it got me thinking that Mark has a very full mane himself. His hair is curly, thick, and he usually wears it on the longer side. It’s shaggy. I mean that as a compliment. Now that I look, I think it’s an underrated head of hair.

I’m thoroughly enjoying the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, particularly the Maria Sofia character played by Keyla Monterroso Mejia. She makes me scream with laughter because every choice she makes is so wrong (which is of course the entire point). How anyone is able to keep a straight face in those scenes is beyond me, especially when she switches up her accents mid-sentence. She’s a new comedy star and so far, the only profiles I’ve seen on her are from Page Six and The Wrap. Vulture should do a story on her! (And if you like her cardigan as much as I do, it’s still available at Target.)

Minka Kelly and Trevor Noah have been spotted all over DeuxMoi so it’s no surprise they are back together and making it re-official on Instagram. Very good looking people.

Who is watching And Just Like That…? It’s completely and utterly bonkers, right? Like I don’t even want to call it bad, because that’s not the right word. It’s confounding. There are elements I really like: Carrie is still selfish and dismissive but it seems more pointed now, she doesn’t even pretend to be mildly interested in her former career now that she’s rich, and the ghost of Samantha looms large. Charlotte’s life as a tightly wound Stepford Wife (without the Stepford husband) works. Even Miranda’s personal crisis makes sense as the ambitious woman pushed into a stereotypical gender role only to buck against it in her 50s. But the execution of those ideas is less a TV show than a series of “WTF did I just watch” scenes. And the shoehorning in of WOC to help the Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte grow and teach them lessons about life and love… hmmmmm.

Like Lainey, I fully approve of Kanye West and Julia Fox because Julia is a hot bitch who is ready for stardom! She wants to be famous! She’s not out here complaining about it! It’s a very marked difference from the modern movie stars who show zero personality on social media and keep things private, but she’s also not giving us thousands of hours of footage of her life for reality TV. You need both kinds of celebrity to make things fun and in her, we might have it.

If you follow John Mayer, you know that he and Bob Saget were very, very close friends.

‘Euphoria’ season 2 episode 2 review

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This post contains spoilers for Euphoria season 2 episode 2. Read our Euphoria season 2 episode 1 review here.

There is not a hint of New Year’s resolutions in the aftermath of the raging bash that left Nate (Jacob Elordi) requiring a trip to the ER in the eventful Euphoria premiere. Instead, the path to self-destruction is the one favored by most. This week picks up in the immediate aftermath of Fezco’s (Angus Cloud) violent outburst that appeared to be unprovoked. However, the audience and most of the attendees are clued into Nate’s predilection for causing trouble. Now, he is engaging in another dangerous game involving his ex and her best friend.

Not one but two new Euphoria love triangles shift to the foreground, with the opening montage focusing on Nate once more. After taking time to depict Fez’s past in the season 2 premiere, it is somewhat disappointing to return to pathologizing the villain of the series. Instead of his backstory, this montage shows flashes of a future Nate envisions with Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). The hot and heavy sequence taps into the signature shock tactics, which is accompanied by Rue’s (Zendaya) voiceover reiterating the toxic elements of Nate’s relationship with Maddy (Alexa Demie), which we watched play out during the first season. It is also a reminder of his abusive father Cal (Eric Dane) and the season 1 blackmail plot involving Jules (Hunter Schafer).

Zendaya and Dominic Fike in ‘Euphoria’ (Image credit: Eddy Chen/HBO)

Jules is an unknowing participant in the second love triangle, which sees Rue fumble Elliot’s (Dominic Fike) introduction when they run into him on the first day of school. Yes, Rue and Jules are officially back together and making out in public, however, Rue’s distraction levels cause her to miss an “I love you” from her girlfriend. This is an immediate red flag and while there is definitely flirty energy between Rue and Elliot, it seems more likely that she is trying to keep her excessive drug use under wraps. Either way, Jules makes a teary beeline for the bathroom and the crosscutting of different groups is a stylistic high point.

Switching from Jules to Cassie leads to a quick catch-up of her spiral since she slept with Nate on New Year’s Eve. Suffice to say she didn’t follow Maddy’s advice regarding her single status. “You love to be loved,” Maddy tells her bestie before that fateful night; it doesn’t take an expert to know Cassie falling hard for Nate is going to end in more tears.

Meanwhile, Maddy’s babysitting gig throws up a potentially interesting interaction with guest star Minka Kelly playing the super glamorous mom, Samantha, whose designer-packed closet Maddy spends her time trying on. She almost gets caught and the jewelry drawer is left open, but for now, she is in the clear and safe to live out her Sharon Stone in Casino dreams.

Maude Apatow in ‘Euphoria’ (Image credit: Eddy Chen/HBO)

The love triangle is a teen staple (yes, even the gritty A24 produced teen series ticks these boxes) and the bad boy allure of Nate is a tale as old as time. So far his characterization is very much steeped in his messed-up relationship with his dad, another trope that lacks nuance in this case.

“You don’t know how much power you have,” he tells Cassie when he catches up with her in the construction site after she’s fled his car. He is still sending “I love you” texts to Maddy while hooking up with Cassie on the side, and while he explicitly mentions the betrayal element he also doesn’t stop — booze is not a factor this time either.

Threats also come naturally to Nate and he warns Cassie to refrain from mentioning their liaisons in text messages. Nate’s father is also flexing his muscle around these teenagers. Cal gets Fez’s identity out of Cassie without too much trouble and when Lexie (Maude Apatow) goes to warn her new friend she cannot get the words out. After seeing drug addict Faye (who is now staying at Fez’s), she misreads this as romantic and her silence is tinged with jealousy — and Cal is scary. This visit doesn’t result in another barrage of violence but it does cause Cal to confront his son about what prompted this attack. Nate infers that it is to do with the video of his dad and Jules — a disk he no longer has — and the saga that began in season 1 continues.

Barbie Ferreira in ‘Euphoria’ (Image credit: Eddy Chen/HBO)

Meanwhile, Jules is having a pretty wholesome night bowling with Maddy, Kat (Barbie Ferreira) and Ethan (Austin Abrams). Ethan is very much on the periphery of what was meant to be a date and so far the audience is being held at an arm’s length. He is sweet and attentive, which doesn’t bode well for a character on Euphoria. Kat’s vivid fantasies showcase the cracks in her new romance and she lies about her sex life to her friends. A highlight of episode 2 is when a cavalcade of influencers infiltrates Kat’s bedroom to yell at her to “love herself,” as if her self-loathing is something that can be cured by candles, pithy catchphrases and a facial. It is such a fleeting moment (too much time is dedicated to Nate in these opening episodes).

Power and self-esteem are entwined, and adolescence is rife with feelings of inadequacy and testing boundaries. Amid the overly stylized sequences is a glimmer of an insightful conversation and yet the aesthetics take center stage. Sometimes this works but it is also a distraction when we could be digging deeper.

It is worth noting that Rue sees Cassie running toward Nate’s car and no doubt this observation will come into play, although for now she simply shrugs and goes on about her business. She has her own treasure trove of secrets and Ali (Colman Domingo) can see through her attempts to look sober. This is another case of a compelling dynamic and one that was explored in more detail in the specials. However, for now, Ali is an additional obstacle.

There is a danger the narrative will become repetitive. These love triangles might be new to Euphoria, but it is a tried and tested plot device. Boundaries are already being pushed and hearts are definitely going to get broken. How much Rue’s drug-taking will impact the outcome is still unclear and her descent continues.

‘Just Go with It’ Is the New #2 Movie on Netflix

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Just Go with It is creeping up on Don’t Look Up, which has remained the top-rated movie on Netflix for weeks.

Just Go with It originally premiered in 2011, but it recently claimed the number two spot on the streaming service’s list of most-watched films. (It’s currently ranked behind Don’t Look Up and ahead of The Longest Yard, Town, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.)

What’s New on Netflix UK This Week: January 14th, 2022

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Happy Friday and welcome to your end-of-week roundup for what’s new on Netflix in the United Kingdom (and for the most part, Ireland). We’ve got 20 new releases to cover so let’s run you through everything new on Netflix UK for the past week.

Given this week is so light on content, you may be wondering what else is coming up later this month, we’ve got you covered.

On the removals front, we’d recommend you watch the following titles before they depart Netflix UK over the next 7 days:

Bad Day for the Cut (2017) – leaving on January 18th

Countdown to Death: Pablo Escobar (2017) – leaving on January 21st

The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion (2019) – leaving on January 21st

Best New Movies & Shows on Netflix UK This Week

Let’s now run through our three new favorite releases on Netflix UK:

After Life (Season 3)

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Tony Way, Diane Morgan, Mandeep Dhillon, David Bradley

It’s time to say goodbye to Andy (played by Ricky Gervais) in the final season of the series that will make you both laugh and cry.

We’ve followed Tony over the past few years trying to move past the devasting loss he experienced with his wife passing away from cancer. Can he make amends and put his life on track?

Night Hunter (2018)

Director: David Raymond

Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Kingsley, Alexandra Daddario, Stanley Tucci, Brendan Fletcher, Minka Kelly

While The Wolf of Wall Street would normally deserve a spot in our top list because it was only a week or so ago the movie was removed, we’re going to spotlight Night Hunter instead.

Starring The Witcher’s Henry Cavill, here’s what you can expect from the movie:

“A detective’s hunt for a serial killer intersects with a vigilante’s quest to punish sexual predators in a case of dizzying twists and turns.”

The House (2022) N

Director: Emma De Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Paloma Baeza

Cast: Mia Goth, Jarvis Cocker, Susan Wokoma, Helena Bonham Carter, Matthew Goode, Claudie Blakley

One movie we suspect may end up becoming one of the biggest hidden gems of 2022 and indeed the Netflix Original library overall is the new animation movie The House.

Three stories play out in stop-motion from visionary directors that all revolve around a peculiar house. Reviews have been glowing thus although it’s hard to articulate what the specific allure is with this movie. Give it a spin!

Full List of New Releases on Netflix in the United Kingdom This Week

Every title listed below was added between January 8th to January 14th, 2022.

10 New Movies Added to Netflix UK This Week

Brazen (2022) N

Dear Mother (2021) N

Fatuma (2018)

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster (2022) N

Maiden (2019)

Night Hunter (2018)

Photocopier (2022) N

The House (2022) N

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

This Is Not a Comedy (2022) N

10 New TV Shows Added to Netflix UK This Week

After Life (Season 3) N

Animal Park (Seasons 1-2)

Archive 81 (Season 1) N

Armed and Deadly (Seasons 1-2)

Cheer (Season 2) N

Newton’s Cradle (Season 1)

The Journalist (Season 1) N

The Ultimate Braai Master (Season 1)

Undercover (Season 3) N

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (Season 1) N

What are you watching on Netflix UK this week? Let us know in the comments.