Shazam-O

I obviously saw something very different than most people leaving ratings and reviews here. This is one of the best finales in television history.

First, it's refreshing to see the show focus more on Lexi and give a different perspective to everything. And her meta school play is a fun, clever, and effective device with which to show not only her perspective, but those of other characters as well, but in a different way. The multiple layers and multiple time lines weave together (almost) flawlessly. Yes, some parts demand suspension of disbelief, but the show IS called Euphoria.

The episode has horror, heartbreak, and even humor. The actors all give incredible performances.

They only scene I felt didn't nail it, was when Nate confronts his dad.

This could easily stand as the series finale and it would still be one of the best ever made.

The bad reviews out there are par for the course. But some of them don't even make sense. Like comparing it to White Lotus. (Because they're at tropical resorts, these 2 shows in totally different genres are worth comparison, lol.) Or people complaining about flashbacks every 3 minutes. (There are some flashbacks, but not many. Those people must be confused by the story progressing along different timelines.)

Most of the negative reviews are likely either boomers who think all tropical nations (and people) are the same, or Gen-Z who can't follow a storyline that's more complex than a Tik Tok lip-sync video.

Turn it on, it's fun.

Sure, it's an old story that's been told a million times. But there's a reason a story get repeated: because its core resonates with audiences.

There are some real laugh out loud moments in the film and it deals with current issues around race head on a few times.

However, it's clearly written from the male perspective and Laura London's character is severely under written. David Duchovny and Nia Long are also 2 great actors who aren't used to their potential.

Julia Louis-Dreydus is the highlight of the film with her super-uncomfortable portrayal of a tone-deaf Jewish mother with a good heart (that isn't enough).

They definitely could have made the story stronger, but it's still a funny, enjoyable comedy.