"The Next Episode" is the sixth episode of the first season of Euphoria, and the sixth episode of the series overall. It was released on July 21, 2019 on HBO.[1]
- For the episode's transcript, see here.
Premise[]
On Halloween, Jules starts exhibiting concerning behavior, while Rue worries about her reliance on her to stay sober. McKay questions his future in football. After a weird night with McKay, Cassie spends some time with Daniel. Business is booming for Kat as she continues to push Ethan away. Nate comes up with a plan to get his life back on track.
Plot[]
During his childhood, McKay dealt with intense pressure from Frederick McKay, his father. This leads him to the cusp of going pro in football, but he eventually realizes that he is one of many aspirants and that his odds of making it to the NFL are slim. Meanwhile, tensions brew as McKay expresses discomfort towards the way Cassie dresses, opening up a rift between them that only seems to grow.
Meanwhile, Kat starts web-camming properly and making a good amount of money from it. Ironically, she heads off to Daniel's Halloween party dressed as a nun, while Rue feels left out as the only sober one, sensing that something is off with Jules. The way she conveys this sickening knot in her stomach is extremely well written and, throughout the episode, we see through her sober lens the damage this is to doing her.
With Nate's reputation completely shattered, he finds solace in Maddy, hooking up with her while keeping an eye on everyone else from a distance. He then continues his crusade to besmirch Jules' reputation by printing out topless photos of her which he later uses as blackmail.
Back at the Halloween party, Rue patches things up with Fez, but all eyes are on Cassie as she starts dancing with Daniel. Her and McKay's relationship is in a strange place and, via a flashback scene, we see him jumped by his roommates midway through having sex with Cassie. After being thrown violently on the floor and humiliated, he uncontrollably sobs in the bathroom. Frightened and unsure of what to do, Cassie texts Lexi and tells her what happened. After composing himself, McKay emerges from the bathroom, but this time the romance factor has disappeared and the two engage in an uncomfortable and hard-to-watch sex scene.
In the present day, Cassie takes Daniel upstairs and things begin getting heavy, just as McKay walks in the front door to the party. Dressed as an angel, a drunk Jules stumbles outside and falls in the pool, prompting Rue to rescue her. Jules drunkenly spouts out lines from Romeo and Juliet while Cassie has second thoughts about cheating on McKay with Daniel. As she refuses Daniel's advances, he throws down some seriously harsh words, telling her that she's not interesting and wishing her good luck with her boyfriend.
A musical montage then kicks in as we see all of our characters in various emotional states. Nate heads to Tyler's house again, this time to give him a proposition. He's going to confess to choking Maddy, and to make matters worse for him, Jules is in on the act too, to give this statement some depth. Given the incriminating photos Nate is holding against her, Jules doesn't have much of a choice, despite Detective Riley informing her that false evidence could lead to up to 7 years in prison. As it happens, this incident with the police and Tyler actually happened prior to the Halloween party as Nate shows up with Maddy, much to the disdain of Jules, who looks on from a distance.
Credits[]
Cast[]
Crew[]
|
Directed By Written By Created By
Executive Producers
Produced By Co-Producers Director of Photography Production Designer |
Edited By Music Composed By Casting By Unit Production Managers
First Assistant Director Second Assistant Director Costume Designer Supervising Editor Associate Producer Music Supervisor Consultants |
Quotes[]
| “ | Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth. Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate, Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood. Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there,Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. | ” |
| — Young McKay reciting "America" by Claude McKay as he trains with his father on the football field.[src] | ||
| “ | I feel good, I think it'll last forever,... but it doesn't. | ” |
| — Rue narrating as she stands at Jules door to pick her up[src] | ||
| “ | Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say “It lightens.” Sweet, good night. This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. | ” |
| — Jules reciting Romeo & Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2 to Rue while swimming drunk in the pool[src] | ||
Trivia[]
- During the scene in which Rue and Lexi intimidate Troy, Rue enlists a bunch of supposed friends she made in rehab, the names she mentions are actually just characters from The Wire.
- Both Rue and Jules Halloween costumes are the outfits Romeo and Juliet wore in the 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, respectively.
- Lexi dressing up as Bob Ross for Halloween comes from Rue drawing a beard onto Lexi with a Sharpie and Fezco remarking how she looks like Bob Ross.[2]
- Their costumes, as well as the Romeo and Juliet quote Jules recites, hint at her feelings towards her relationship with Rue and possibly foreshadow its outcome.
- The title of this episode is a reference to the Dr. Dre song and single "The Next Episode" featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg from his 1999 second studio album, 2001
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist | Album | Scene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demanding Excellence | Labrinth | Euphoria (Original Score from the HBO Series) | Young McKay growing up; McKay playing football. |
| McKay & Cassie | Labrinth | Euphoria (Original Score from the HBO Series) | Flashback of McKay and Cassie's relationship. |
| I Only Have Eyes for You | The Flamingos | 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti | Cassie walking thru school with voiceover about "He like the way she dressed...", Daniel introduces himself to her in front of staircase, Laying in bed together, cut to Title Card. |
| Professor Finessor | Bali Baby | A3c Volume 8 | Cassie drinking at Daniel's party when he recognizes her costume as Alabama Worley. REPEATS back at party as they chat about the movie "True Romance". |
| The Turk | Pigeon Hole | Cassie arrives at the party with McKay in the "11" football jersey. Another girl holding cup screams in doorway as they arrive. | |
| Tempo | Lizzo (feat. Missy Elliott) | Cuz I Love You | Kat dancing in her room with mask on for her webcam. Montage of her 4 webcam regulars. |
| Bubblin | Anderson .Paak | Jules, Kat & Rue at the Halloween party. Jules & Kat start doing tequila shots immediately. | |
| Nate Growing Up | Labrinth | Euphoria (Original Score from the HBO Series) | Montage of Nate printing photos of Jules; Nate checks in on Maddy and Jules. |
| Chain | Lolo Zouaï | Montage of Maddy & Nate in hotel room every friday night. | |
| 151 Rum | J.I.D | DiCaprio 2 | Troy talks to Gia as Rue & Lexi (dressed as Bob Ross) watch from the stairs, Kat takes a shot, Cassie dancing. Kat gets asked about what happened at the carnival. |
| Body Baby | xanprincess | A3c Volume 8 | Rue apologizes to Fezco on the patio by the pool, they talk. |
| Just Me and You | The Dreamliners | Best Things in Life | Cassie dancing at the party in slow motion as Daniel approaches. Kat watches. Cassie goes to hotel room with McKay. |
| Inside-Looking Out | The Animals | Animalization | Cassie dancing with Daniel when they disappear into a bedroom. Kat gets taken to the bathroom. Jules comes outside and jumps in pool while Rue & Fezco are talking. |
| Love Surrounds You | Ramsey | Ramsey | McKay arrives at party looking for Cassie. Rue storms thru party after being in pool with Jules. REPEATS as McKay wanders thru party trying to find Cassie who is upstairs kissing her. |
| Fell in Love | Victoria J x Dre Nello | A3c Volume 8 | Lexi tells McKay that Cassie went home and is probably sleeping, he recognizes her as Bob Ross. |
| Smalltown Boy | Bronski Beat | The Age of Consent | At the party, montage of Jules staggering around, Kat making out in bathroom, Lexi chases after Rue as she leaves party, Rue is crying, Cassie goes home & drinks, McKay talking to his dad. |
| Gangster | Labrinth | Euphoria (Original Score from the HBO Series) | Nate and Maddy arrive to the party. |
| Hot | Dodgr | End Credits. |
Gallery[]
- See also: Category:Images from The Next Episode
