Euphoria Review: You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can (Season 2 Episode 4)

Euphoria tries its hardest to push a Jacobs family redemption arc on Season 2 Episode 4, “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can.”

To say that “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can” is a dumpster fire of insanity is to put it lightly. Season 2 feels like it’s struggling with its lackluster storylines and attempt to rely on its aesthetic and breathtaking shots. Since Season 2 Episode 1, “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door,” it feels like everything is one note.

Cassie is so obsessed with Nate that she can barely live, and Kat hates Ethan’s guts. But, instead of doing something about it, she’ll complain about it each episode, and that’ll be that.

Lexi is working on a play and has the hots for Fezco, and Maddy does nothing but babysit. Jules is oblivious that Rue is rolling every day right in front of her, and Rue has no care in the world for anything but getting high. It’s the same thing week by week with no change or character progression.

The fascination with giving Cal and Nate a redemption arc is disappointing and nauseating. After one beating, Nate’s entire list of atrocities is forgiven or forgettable? The idea is downright laughable. Is Nate’s daddy not loving him sad? Meh, a little. Is it a reason to overlook his past actions? Absolutely not.

Cal doesn’t get any slack, either. While I love that we’re exploring his backstory and getting a sense of understanding of why he is the way he is, it doesn’t excuse his actions. I’m torn between loving the volatile explosion that erupts out of Cal because it’s time that he finally is honest with himself and the ones around him. However, him blaming them for why he’s so damaged is the definition of toxic.

Nobody forces Cal to sleep with underage teenagers (knowingly or not), secretly record them, and continuously step out of his marriage. Hell, nobody forced him to stay in the relationship that made him miserable. Those are conscious decisions that he made and needs to learn to live with, without blaming others. 

Eric Dane’s performance in “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can” is remarkable and easily one of the best so far from Season 2. You know, besides Fezco taking Nate out. Dane makes it so easy to forget all of the horrifying acts that Cal commits, allowing the viewers to fall for the gentle boy inside who was snuffed out by the cruel world.

There’s no telling where Cal would be or what he would be doing if he had been allowed the freedom to live his life how he intended. If he continues to have a presence throughout the season, I hope viewers see him living his life to its fullest extent.

Euphoria would be wise to revert to its old style of focusing primarily on one character each week. At least with that format, the show succeeds in giving individual characters proper screen-time and provides more depth to the overall picture. But, for that to work, there have to be decent storylines available for said characters.

Currently, Lexi is the only one semi-worth rooting for, which is upsetting. When the most exciting thing to happen halfway through a season is the “regular” girl planning a school play, it shows the lack of creativity.

With the rate that the show is moving, Lexi’s play will end up being one of the central events in the finale, and it will probably be the most we’ll see from Lexi’s character all season long. There is so much potential for these characters, and it’s exhausting to see it thrown away on drivel.

If the current trajectory of Rue’s actions is leading to anything, it’s her death. Getting rid of Zendaya would be one of the most deranged decisions made throughout the series’ entirety but could also potentially be a blessing in disguise. It feels like there’s no real direction for Rue’s character other than what we continuously see.

Yes, being a drug addict tends to lead to one being strung out and barely getting by, but nine times out of ten, they also end up dead. Unless loved one’s force intervention and real help is given to them, things rarely get better, and Rue has already been through most of the “help” that addicts receive when trying to recover.

It could be way out of the ballpark, but my theory is Rue will die before the end of the season, in the season finale, or she’s been in a coma the entire time. Between the Jules/Rue lovers montage, Rue’s lack of narration throughout the episode, her grieving pain for her father, and her overall attitude towards life, it doesn’t look good for her.

Plus, Jules takes the narration over at the end of “You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can,” signaling a change to come.

Other Thoughts:

• It’s laughable and outrageous that Jules can’t tell that Rue is high as a kite around her nonstop. How do you love someone and know them so well but don’t know when they’re visibly checking out right in front of you? AND Elliot tells Rue that she shouldn’t be “drinking on that shit” while less than a foot away from Jules. Yet, she hears absolutely nothing. Her obliviousness is infuriating.
• It’s so clear that Kat was supposed to have a bigger storyline this season, but most scenes were cut to make room for other characters. In the end, the random shot of her and Ethan is so misplaced and out of sync with the rest of the shots that it only makes sense it was meant for another scene.
• The Jules/Rue/Elliot love triangle storyline is stale and unoriginal. 
• I lowkey forgot that Nate has a brother seeing as how he’s only on-screen once a season. 

What did you think of this episode of Euphoria? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Euphoria airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.

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