Stand Still Like The Hummingbird
Episode 5 of Euphoria Season 2 is a hard-hitting drama from start to finish. ..
We’re at Rue’s house and Leslie confronts Rue over taking pills. Rue puts up a big defence and plays it cool. When she finds out Jules is who told her, her entire complexion changes. Rue threatens her mum, blames her for suicidal thoughts and even rasps that she’s “not a good person.”
Rue is a woman in search of her pills. She’s kicked down Gia’s door and turned the house inside out in an attempt to find them, but she’s unsuccessful. In the end, she realizes that they were flushed down the toilet.
Rue goes through a range of emotions in this scene, including anger, sadness, and joy. Jules and Elliot are in the living room and hear everything, which makes the experience even more incredible.
Rue turns her anger across to Jules, calling their entire time together a mistake and lashing out in a pretty horrible way. Elliot feels the guilt rise up and eventually leaves, wishing for the old Rue to come back. ..
Leslie breaks down and admits to Rue that she misses her dad, agreeing to go to rehab. En-route though, Rue admits nonchalantly that she relapsed the minute she got out of rehab last time.
Rue returns to Rue’s house after running away from traffic and finding Lexi’s house. She is worried about her friend and tells Lexi in confidence.
Rue immediately begins looking for pills in the cupboard but when she settles on pawning jewelry instead, she finds Leslie there, who is also looking for pills. Rue and Leslie share a look and then both of them quickly sneak downstairs and find everyone else, concerned looks on their faces. ..
When Cassie tries to speak up, Rue deflects and asks her how long she’s been screwing Nate. Good grief. Maddy kicks off at Cassie, threatening to get violent.
When Cassie rushes upstairs, Maddy follows. Rue slips out the front door and tries to find solitude with Fezco. An addict will do anything for a fix and it doesn’t take long for Rue to begin searching through his stash of pills. So naturally, Fezco kicks her out too. ..
Rue eventually resorts to robbing a rich couple in town, snatching up their jewelry and cash. She then shows up at Laurie’s in an absolute state. She’s yawning, clutching her stomach and clearly addicted. ..
Laurie is trying to get by on jewelry and stolen cash, but that’s not going to last. She knows all about addiction, pointing out that she used to be addicted to Oxycontin and understands what she’s going through. Although she seems sympathetic, there’s a chilling undercurrent of uneasiness in this entire conversation. ..
Laurie’s casual suggestion that Rue take to the street and be a sex worker is alarming. She’s implying that Rue will do something that will endanger her safety.
Laurie takes her to the bath, undresses her and injects her with morphine. Rue drifts in and out of consciousness, returning to memories involving her father as a child.
Unfortunately Laurie also locks her in the house, leading Rue to creep through the hallways in the early morning hours and make it out in one piece. If she hadn’t got out now, who knows what may have happened to her.
As the episode ends, we cut across to Leslie, at home and worried sick. The door opens and as she calls out for Rue, we fade to black.
The Episode Review
Euphoria’s lack of direction and numerous subplots have left many viewers frustrated. This episode was no different.
Zendaya gives an excellent performance in this masterclass, displaying a wide range of emotions from anger and fear to despair and nonchalance. Her writing is so well executed that I’m surprised she doesn’t receive an Emmy for it. ..
Rue’s bombshell at the party throws everything into disarray for Cassie. It’s a great way of showing the instability that’s been brewing there and it had to be Rue didn’t it?
The entire chapter is a rollercoaster ride of emotion and easily one of the best slices of drama this year. The fact it comes right off the back of 1883’s excellent episode yesterday is just the icing on the cake for what’s been a very solid bit of drama.
