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Trouble Don't Last Always – Euphoria

Play trailer Poster for Trouble Don't Last Always – Euphoria 2020 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Rue celebrates Christmas in the aftermath of being left by Jules at the train station and relapsing.
Euphoria — Trouble Don't Last Always

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Critics Consensus

Euphoria slows down the tempo without losing the beat in a special episode that pairs a raw Zendaya with a steady Colman Domingo to create small screen magic.

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Critics Reviews

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Brodie Lancaster Sydney Morning Herald Domingo, a stage veteran, is brilliant in this exchange, while Zendaya shows why she beat out Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Colman, Jodie Comer, Laura Linney and Sandra Oh for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the recent virtual Emmys. Dec 29, 2020 Full Review Drew Gregory Autostraddle Colman Domingo and Zendaya are so f--king good and there is so much good about this show and yet it continues to frustrate me deeply. Dec 15, 2020 Full Review Angelica Jade Bastién New York Magazine/Vulture In whittling Euphoria down to what's most essential, Levinson and his collaborators reveal the great strengths of the series that they'd do well to rely on further going forward. Rated: 4/5 Dec 11, 2020 Full Review Michael Cuby them. While this holiday special probably won’t bring any uplifting holiday cheer, at least we’ll have Zendaya’s Emmy-winning face back on our TV screens. Sep 28, 2022 Full Review Rhian Daly NME (New Musical Express) Where things go from here is still unclear but, in beginning to unpick Rue's current mindset, it gives us a better understanding of her as a whole. Rated: 5/5 Jul 7, 2021 Full Review Valerie Ettenhofer Film School Rejects Euphoria is designed to be discussed, which makes the bait-and-switch of a quiet, existential episode one of its boldest moves yet. Apr 19, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (26) audience reviews
Stewart F Change of pace episode that adds depth to characters. Necessry if you're a fan, but in isolation not too special in my opinion. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/18/25 Full Review Aydan A this episode did NOT feel like an hour...i don't know how the directors managed to make a single conversation so immersive. the special episodes are for sure worth watching Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/25 Full Review Christophe S Outstanding episode both in acting and scripting. The show beautifully captures the excitement of young adulthood. It excels at showing the possible danger, joy and struggles many face everyday or faced in their past. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/23/24 Full Review Carol M Outstanding!… this episode will live in my soul forever!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/28/24 Full Review Molly M Sam Levinson's Emmy-winning show returns for the 2020 festive season with two-hour long specials that focus on Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer) respectively after the events of the season 1 finale. Featuring knockout performances from Zendaya and Colman Domingo, ‘Trouble Don't Last Always' sets itself up as one of the best episodes of the show so far as we're shown things from Rue's (Zendaya) point of view in the first of two bridge episodes. The episode opens with a loved-up sequence between Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer) that appears to be an insight into what could've been. This idyllic life is short lived as viewers are then transported to a diner bathroom with Rue as she wipes her nose, fixes her hoodie, and walks out to meet Ali (Colman Domingo). What ensues is an incredibly deep, thought-provoking conversation that covers everything from sobriety, to faith, and how addicts are seen as selfish individuals, when in reality, addiction is a harrowing disease Despite giving an already sensational turn in the show's first season, Zendaya's performance across the 64 minutes somehow tops her previous run as the troubled teen. If Zendaya's performance wasn't enough, Colman Domingo's portrayal, is outstanding. The ‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' star gives a captivating performance, reprising his role of Ali, Rue's confidant and mentor. ‘Trouble Don't Last Always' keeps up with ‘Euphoria's consistently high-quality by featuring mesmerising cinematography from Marcell Rév and brilliant editing from Nikola Boyanov and Julio Perez IV. Ali and Rue being the main character throughout the episode allows Sam Levinson to directly focus on the consistent, powerful performances Zendaya and Colman give and the relationship between these two characters. Much like the show's first season, ‘Trouble Don't Last Always' once again shows off ‘Euphoria's perfect music choices, featuring songs from Labrinth and Moses Sumney. The simplicity of the plot (2 people sat in a diner sharing hard truths over a plate of pancakes) makes the special incredibly captivating and makes something that could be seen as an hour of boring television, is instead a thematically rich, enthralling affair that grasps viewers' attention all the way up until the closing shot. The special directly continues on from the season 1 finale, informing viewers that after Jules (Hunter Schafer) left Rue at the train station, Rue went home and relapsed and that's how Rue and Ali came to be celebrating Christmas in a random diner in Burbank, California. ‘Trouble Don't Last Always' also delves into the question of what it means to be a good person. When Ali discloses to Rue that he was abusive to his ex-wife and became the man he once hated (his father), he asks Rue if she still believes he is a good person, and she agrees. Not only does the conversation question what defines someone as a good person, but it also asks the question of do your actions define if you're a good person or not. The topic of faith also comes up in Ali and Rue's conversation, and the idea of there being a form of higher power angers Rue. But this idea of there being an omniscient figure makes Rue ask Ali why her father had to die, and she goes on to ask why survivors are ‘blessed by God' and not just plain lucky. This then puts forward the idea of if there's a difference in being ‘blessed' or if those people are just lucky. ‘Trouble Don't Last Always ' is an emotional special that tackles challenging themes through powerful performances from Zendaya and Colman Domingo. Shot on 35mm film, the 64-minute episode features more incredible cinematography from Marcell Rév (Malcolm & Marie, Euphoria S1) and brilliant editing that makes for a captivating viewing experience that still manages to maintain the feel of Euphoria season one despite being considerably less explicit or fluorescent. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/23 Full Review Nicky S this special episode is amazing. this shit got me emotional Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Euphoria — Trouble Don't Last Always

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Season Info

Synopsis Rue celebrates Christmas in the aftermath of being left by Jules at the train station and relapsing.
Executive Producer
Drake, Adel Nur, Sam Levinson, Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Tmira Yardeni, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokadi, Gary Lennon, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin
Screenwriter
Sam Levinson
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Dec 6, 2020