Euphoria Season 2 Episode 1 Recap + Reactions | New Year, Same Mess

In this podcast episode of Previously On, host Jillian Bonanne (rewatching) and her husband Tyler Branch (first-time watcher) dive into Euphoria Season 2 Episode 1 "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door." After the hit show's follow-up season was delayed, Euphoria comes back in a big way!

We’re talking about the episode that gave us Fezco (Angus Cloud) and Ashtray’s (Javon "Wanna" Walton) shocking backstory, the chaos of the Euphoria High New Year’s Eve party, and one of the most jaw-dropping endings in the entire series. From Ashtray’s surprise attack to Fez finally getting revenge on Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi), this episode proves Euphoria came back darker and more cinematic than ever.

Of course, we also break down the drama everyone is still talking about — Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) hooking up with Nate (girl, what are you doing?!), Rue (Zendaya) spiraling deeper into relapse, and that emotional Rue and Jules (Hunter Schafer) reunion at midnight. Plus, Tyler shares his hilarious takes on everything from Rue’s wild drug deal adventure to Fez and Lexi’s (Maude Apatow) unexpectedly sweet connection.

And since this episode takes place on New Year’s Eve, we’re ranking our Top 5 “New Year, Same Mess” Moments, including the terrifying drug deal with Laurie, Cassie’s bathroom disaster, and Fez’s brutal takedown of Nate.

If you’re rewatching before the Season 3 premiere or diving into Euphoria for the first time, this breakdown covers all the biggest moments, theories, and character reactions you don’t want to miss.

We're dropping a pod recapping every single episode of Euphoria leading up to the April 12th premiere, and then we’ll recap each episode of Season 3 weekly. Follow the pod so you don’t miss an episode! #euphoria #zendaya #sydneysweeney #hbo

00:00:00 Lexi and Fez

00:01:42 Euphoria S2 is back Scorsese style

00:05:14 "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door" explained

00:08:16 S2 E1 Recap

00:09:12 Season 2 glow-up

00:10:18 NYE house party

00:12:36 Top 5 New Year, Same Mess

00:13:12 Ashtray kills Mouse

00:18:32 Rue, Fez, and Ash meet drug lord Laurie

00:25:06 Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch

00:29:38 Cassie and Nate hook up

00:40:53 Rue and Jules reconnect

00:50:04 Fez beats up Nate

00:56:51 Nate Jacobs weird to McKay

00:59:15 Tyler's Takes

00:59:27 Cracker with a bowl cut

00:59:52 Angus Cloud

01:01:22 Ash hates Rue

01:03:03 Rue idolizing Laurie

01:03:20 Episode structure

01:04:43 Kat?

01:06:04 Fez calls Jules "Jewel"

Trailer for Euphoria Season 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1UJJPAWudQ

Thank you to Matt Buechele (@mattbooshell) for creating our new theme song. You can listen to "Sunscreen" on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1gFHHF3QyQxjbbKXV3qLu9

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