Euphoria Review: Stand Still Like the Hummingbird (Season 2 Episode 5)

Rue finds herself at rock bottom on Euphoria Season 2 Episode 5, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird.”

Euphoria has had its issues with proper character progression and intertwining many storylines between the main cast and side characters. But where the show never fails is when it focuses on Rue.

If anything, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” is the perfect example of how Zendaya is the backbone of Euphoria. Her performance on Season 2 Episode 5 is mesmerizing, dark, raw, and if she doesn’t win another Emmy for it, it’ll be a shame. She is a force to be reckoned with, and if the general public has not figured that out yet, it’s their loss.

There is no real substance to the show without her because there’s no worthy storyline for any side character. The petty, minuscule drama that the rest of the group goes through is nothing compared to what Rue has to endure daily, even if she does it to herself.

That’s not to say that sometimes it isn’t exhausting focusing on Rue all of the time. Most of the time, she digs herself into a hole that she can’t get out of without help but fails to speak up to the ones closest to her. She alienates herself and makes things ten times harder than they have to be by not speaking up.  

As much as she loves to blame everything on her father’s death, Rue always seems to forget that Gia and Leslie lost him as well. She isn’t the only one still grieving, but the thought never enters her mind.

Breaking Down

Shying away from the ugly truth of addiction and the consequences is something that Euphoria avoids effortlessly, and as messy as it is, it’s precisely what needs to be televised.

Throughout the episode, the intervention between Rue and all of her friends and family is a valid example of what happens with addicts. It’s raw, scary, violent, and something tough to endure. Rue is the epitome of what an addict looks like, which is unknown, but the audience has yet to see her spiral in this manner. She ruins almost all of her relationships in the span of one episode because that’s all she knows to do so she can continue her addiction.   

While Rue’s interventions have been a long time coming, it doesn’t make it any easier to watch. She’s at her lowest, and instead of simply telling the truth to the ones who love her, she’s spiraling out. The sad part is that Leslie would probably understand and help Rue if she were honest. If she knew that Rue was in deep with drug dealers, there’s no question that she would do what she could to help.

This season, Jules has made some poor decisions, Elliot being the main one, but her going to Leslie is not one. Rue needs help, and she knows that she can’t give her what she needs to get better. Nobody will be able to help Rue like her family, and Jules isn’t doing it to be malicious.

Jules has dealt with her mother’s addiction and has been in the same situation multiple times, so she knows how to react. Giving in to Rue and fighting back is what Rue wants; she wants a reaction out of people.

Who needs to take the heat in this situation is Elliot. From the moment of his introduction, he’s been a snake that has only enabled Rue’s addiction and helped force her off the deep end. He is also an active high-functioning addict who’s worse off than Rue, which makes his actions ten times worse. 

He’s been enabling Rue to continue doing hardcore drugs, sleeping with Jules, and now he’s snitching on Rue only to turn around and say he shouldn’t have because he liked her the way she was. Then, he dares to smoke outside her house as she’s taken away to rehab.

One smack to the head is not satisfying enough. Elliot deserves to have his entire life dragged for what he does to Rue. He knows that the drugs aren’t hers and that she owes people, but he still allows them to flush it all down the drain. No bone in his body truly cares for Rue or her well-being. All he wants to do is be closer to Jules.

Cassie’s Early Grave

Cassie’s storyline this season does an impeccable job degrading her character thanks to her nasty attitude and actions. Instead of sitting back and staying silent in an obviously emotional moment, she decides to give some watered-down version of solidarity to look cool in front of everyone. What she doesn’t expect is for Rue to ruin her entire life with one question.

Overall, the reveal is pleasing and an intimate blow Cassie deserves, but Maddy doesn’t do enough for me. And frankly, neither does Cassie. Her imitation of a badass who thinks she’s crazier than Maddy disappears with a quickness the moment Rue drops the bomb.

There’s nothing badass or hard about Cassie at this moment whatsoever. Instead of owning up to her wrongdoings, she immediately breaks down, denies it, and ruins whatever relationship left with Rue by calling her a drug addict.

Maddy’s reaction to Cassie trying to spin the situation to Rue’s addiction is a clear indicator that she and Rue have been close at one point. She doesn’t doubt Rue, doesn’t question whether it’s a lie, or even ask Rue if she’s sure because she knows that’s not something that she’d lie about.

The only reason why Cassie isn’t assaulted within moments is because of how close she and Maddie are and how far back they go. But even then, Maddy will get her revenge for Cassie’s betrayal. That’s no question.

Maddy and Rue’s relationship has never been explored in detail, and it’s a shame because it would make for a great episode. She’s had a few intimate moments with others this season, but that’s about it, and I hope it changes quickly. It’s time that she teams up with Jules and uses the tape she has to take Cal and Nate down.

Sex Trafficking?

Laurie is one of the most horrifying characters to be introduced, and with a show like Euphoria, that’s saying a lot. Her ability to send chills down my spine with nothing but an emotionless stare is actual insanity.

Rue doesn’t suspect much about Laurie because of her calm composure throughout every interaction. However, Laurie has had plans for Rue from the moment they met, fantasizing about the ways she can use Rue for her own gain.

It’s one of the good parts about being a woman. Even if you don’t have money, you’ve still got something people want. – Laurie

She knew that Rue wasn’t clean when she initially asked for a suitcase full of drugs, but she saw an opportunity. Laurie knew she’d have Rue under her thumb because she’d never be able to resist using the product.

Laurie acts as if she’s helping Rue by getting her cleaned up and offering her morphine, but in reality, she’s grooming her. The intentional track marks in Rue’s arm are so that it looks like she’s worse off than what she really is if she escapes. Fortunately, Rue does flee with only a second to spare before Laurie’s goon realizes what’s happening.

This is not the last that Rue will see of Laurie, and unless she opens up about the situation, things are going to get much worse for her. Laurie has made it known that she will sell Rue to bad people if she screws her over, and she means every word of it. It’s very faint, but if you listen closely, you can hear someone clawing on the padlocked door in Laurie’s home.

If Rue isn’t careful and doesn’t watch her back, she’s going to be the next.

Other Thoughts:

• I will be agitated if the next episode doesn’t open up with Maddy attacking Cassie upstairs.
• I wish we could get to see Gia and Leslie having one enjoyable day where they aren’t emotionally damaged. Storm Reid deserves more dialogue and screen time than she’s given.
• On top of Zendaya’s spectacular performance, no Nate or Cal contributes to this being one of the best episodes of the 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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