“Game of Thrones” may have come to an end, but HBO is just getting started when it comes to graphic nudity, extremely violent sex scenes, and obscene language with its new show, “Euphoria.”
The new teen-lifestyle series, which premiered June 16, is based on the real-life, harrowing experiences of showrunner, Sam Levinson as a young drug addict. But critics say [the] first episode is arguably more explicit and obscene than GOT was in all eight years.
The Hollywood Reporter described it like this: “Thirty penises in one episode? Zendaya’s new series, filled with graphic nudity, violence and drug use among young people, is so extreme that one star quit mid-shoot…”
In the pilot episode alone, viewers are subject to watch the statutory rape of a trans girl, as well as a handful of other graphic scenes from a gut-wrenching drug overdose by star Zendaya, to a sex scene between teens involving choking.
Let’s just call it like it is: HBO is selling violent pornography, and calling it subscription television.
Though HBO requires a paid subscription in order to access its content, cost was not a factor when it came to the widespread, global popularity of GOT.
What’s worse is that despite being rated for “mature audiences,” “Euphoria” is being targeted to teens and pre-teens.
“Just as MTV did with ‘Skins’ and as Netflix is doing with ‘13 Reasons Why,’ HBO, with its new high school centered show ‘Euphoria,’ appears to be overtly, intentionally, marketing extremely graphic adult content — sex, violence, profanity and drug use — to teens and preteens,” said Tim Winter, President of the Parents Television Council.
”HBO might attach a content rating suggesting that it is intended for mature audiences, but let’s be real here: Who watches a show about high school children, except high school and junior high school-aged children?” he continues. “Parents urgently need to be aware of HBO’s grossly irresponsible programming decision.”
Zendaya Warns Fans
Hours before the show was set to premiere Sunday night, actress Zendaya took to social media with a warning to would-be viewers about the jarring content.
Some fans, she said, should not tune in.
“Just a reminder before tonight’s premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences,” the actress, who got her start on Disney Channel, wrote in her post. “It’s a raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today.”
