"Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys" is the third episode of the second season of Euphoria, and the thirteenth episode of the series overall. It was released on January 23, 2022 on HBO and HBO Max.[1]
Premise[]
Rue pursues a new business venture as she helps forge a friendship between Jules and Elliot. Cassie settles into a routine, while Lexi pours herself into mounting a school play. Maddy considers getting back together with Nate, and Cal finds a target.
Plot[]
A young Cal Jacobs spends all of his time with his childhood best friend, Derek. While at wrestling practice, the two are watched by a group of girls, among them, his future wife Marsha. At a stop light, Cal becomes distracted staring at Derek in the passenger seat, realizing his attraction to his best friend. Marsha and Cal have sex for the first time during a double-date with Derek. Marsha and Derek slowly become jealous of each other and their closeness with Cal. After graduation, Derek and Cal go to a gay bar. The two dance to a song and share their first kiss. The next morning, Cal receives a call from Marsha, learning that she is now pregnant. Cal feigns excitement and hangs up, afterwards, he begins to cry.
Rue sings a song while high, unbeknownst to her, she is being watched by Gia. Gia asks Rue if she's high. During a fourth wall segment, Rue reveals that she has tricked her sister into believing that she has only been smoking weed to ease her anxiety. In a flashback, the two sisters argue over Rue's decision to begin smoking weed. A tearful Gia relents, granting Rue permission and confidentiality.
Rue reveals to Jules that she actually does know Elliot, to which Jules is suspicious that he only wants to have sex with Rue. Jules interrogates Elliot about his sexuality and intentions with Rue, to which Elliot deflects back to her. Elliot tells the two that he wants to be friends with them, which Jules rejects. Afterwards, the couple ride their bikes and Rue has an awkward encounter with Cal. Later that night, Rue snorts drugs.
Lexi asks Vice Principal Garcia to put on a play she's producing, which he allows. Lexi, who is unsatisfied with her current life, imagines it as being a TV show called "This is Life" with herself as the writer and director. She plays a self-insert called Grace, accompanied by her sister "Hallie" played by Cassie, both of which are satirized versions of themselves. Having this epiphany, Lexi begins to fervently write her play. Later on, she holds auditions for her play with Bobbi.
Cassie has began to get ready at 4AM every morning before school, spending several hours perfecting her appearance in order to impress Nate, who ignores her in the hallway. Cassie gets more and more obsessive with her routine and with Nate every morning. She finally is noticed by Nate when her makeup and outfit is done similarly to Maddy's, who notices her sudden change in style.
Jules, Elliot, and Rue begin to spend more time together as a trio. During a sleepover at Elliot's house, Rue takes drugs in his bathroom, during which she begins to think of a way to acquire drugs for free. Rue goes to Fez and asks him to front her several thousands of dollars of drugs. Unwilling to trust Rue, Fez immediately rejects her plan before hearing her out.
At school, Lexi begins posting audition flyers for her play. In the bathroom, Kat and Maddy ask Cassie if she's auditioning for another play due to her outfit. Maddy tells Cassie that she looks like a country music star, to which Cassie has a mental breakdown. She seemingly admits that she had been hooking up with Nate, but it is revealed that she actually just stared into the mirror.
At a dinner, Kat meets Ethan's parents for the first time. She feels stressed out, and embarrasses herself when asked by his mother to tell her about herself. Rue meets with Laurie at her apartment in order to propose her plan. Rue tells Laurie that her plan is to have her and her friends become drug runners. Laurie tells Rue that her plan is "genius" and fronts her a $10,000 suitcase of drugs. Laurie threatens Rue, telling her that she will have her trafficked if she's screwed over.
Under the belief that Fez is holding the recording of him and Jules having sex, Cal stalks Faye outside of Fez's apartment, but is caught by Ashtray. Cal tells Fez that he's free to call the cops or to kill him. Cal is held by gunpoint with a shotgun by Ashtray. Ashtray tells Cal to call the cops, calling his bluff. Cal tells Fez that he believes his son is being extorted, and inadvertently admits that he had sex with Jules. Cal asks Fez to leave, promising that he will keep Nate away from their business.
Rue goes to an NA meeting with the suitcase of drugs while Jules and Elliot are together at his house. Rue looks at her sponsor, Ali, ashamed. Elliot asks Jules if Rue is a sexual person, to which Jules admits that she isn't. Elliot flirts with Jules. Ali asks Rue what's inside of the suitcase, aware that she is hiding something. Rue is rude toward Ali and he screams at her, Rue stares at him blankly and taunts him, asking if he's going to hit her. A distraught Ali walks away.
Rue goes home and opens the suitcase of drugs and takes fentanyl. Cassie waits for Nate at the usual pickup location, but he stands her up. Nate arrives at Maddy's boss's house with flowers.
Credits[]
Cast[]
Crew[]
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Directed By Written By
Created By
Executive Producers
Producers Co-Producers Director of Photography Production Designer Edited By Music Composed By |
Casting By NY Casting By Choreography By Unit Production Manager
First Assistant Directors Second Assistant Director Costume Designer Supervising Editor
Associate Producer Music Supervisors Sound Designer Consultants |
Trivia[]
- The title of this episode is a reference to the Robert Rauschenberg painting of the same name from 2000.
- The musical/play “Oklahoma!” is mentioned and is a reference to the 1943 play by duo Rodgers and Hammerstein which in turn is based on the 1931 play by Lynn Riggs, Green Grow the Lilacs. It is also set in the early 20th century in the state of the same name.
- This episode possibly takes place around January 18-25, 2019.
- In the bathroom scene where Cassie has her "meltdown", she states she hooked up with Nate three weeks and 3 days ago, which was Monday, December 31, 2018, the Season 2 premiere.[2]
- The series grew 41% in viewers from the previous episode. The episode drew 3.6 million viewers across all HBO platforms on its premiere night, marking series high viewership.[3]
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist | Album | Scene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mystify | INXS | Kick (Remastered) | Young Cal picks up Derek and they go to wrestling training. |
| Never Let Me Down Again | Depeche Mode | Music for the Masses (Deluxe) | Cal and Derek drink milkshakes. |
| The Look | Roxette | Look Sharp! (Extended Version) | Marsha and Cal go to the drive-in movies. |
| Chains of Love | Erasure | The Innocents | Cal tells Derek about Marsha and Cal’s dad walks in and tells Derek to leave. |
| Lips Like Sugar | Echo & the Bunnymen | Echo & The Bunnymen (Expanded; 2008 Remaster) | Cal and Derek party with their girlfriends. |
| She Sells Sanctuary | The Cult | Love | Marsha and Cal hook up. |
| It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over | Lenny Kravitz | Mama Said | Cal and Derek spar at wrestling and sneak out to go to a bar. |
| I Can Dream About You | Dan Hartman | Streets Of Fire | Cal and Derek drink shots at the bar. |
| Never Tear Us Apart | INXS | Kick (Remastered) | Cal and Derek kiss. |
| Call Me Irresponsible | Bobby Darin | Oh! Look At Me Now/Hello Dolly To Goodbye Charlie | Rue sings and makes herself food while Gia watches. |
| Effigy (I'm Not An) | Ministry | With Sympathy | Cal drives by Rue and makes eye contact. |
| 10k Day | Fleacoo | 10k Day | Rue tells Fezco about her plan. |
| Como La Flor | Selena | Dreaming Of You | Cassie, Maddie, and Theo sunbathe and talk about Nate. |
| Emotions | Brenda Lee | Emotions | Cassie and Nate hook up and talk about their secret relationship. |
| Hand In Hand | Devin Norris | Kat has dinner with Ethan and his parents. | |
| Gangsta Nation | Westside Connection | Terrorist Threats | Rue riders her bike with her suitcase of drugs. |
| If | Jo Stafford | Rue leaves NA; Maddie babysits; Elliot and Jules hang out; Nate texts Cassie he can’t meet and goes to see Maddie. | |
| Watercolor Eyes | Lana Del Rey | Watercolor Eyes (From “Euphoria” An HBO Original Series) | End credits. |
Gallery[]
