Premiered: June 16, 2019

On: HBO

Starring: Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Jacob Elordi, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, Austin Abrams, Colman Domingo, Keean Johnson, Lukas Gage, Alanna Ubach, Sophia Rose Wilson, Bruce Wexler, Elpidia Carrillo, Ruben Dario, Nolan Bateman, Tyler Timmons, Tristan Timmons, Javon Walton, Shiloh Fernandez, Cranston Johnson, Nick Blood, Paula Marshall, Zak Steiner, John Ales, Bobbi Salvör Menuez & Quintessa Swindell

Brilliantly crafted from the cinematography to the score to the acting, HBO’s debut teen drama Euphoria manages to transcend every barrier set by its genre.

Rue Bennett (Zendaya) is a recovering drug addict when she meets new girl Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer). High school football star Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) is in a toxic relationship with Maddy (Alexa Demie) and deals with his overbearing and philandering father Cal (Eric Dane).

Each episode focuses on one of the teen characters while also flawlessly moving between and advancing the storylines of others. The fourth episode, “Shook Ones, Pt. II,” portrays this best in a perfectly executed story.

Zendaya leads the cast and continues to emerge from her Disney Channel past. She commands Rue’s every emotion.

And equity is brought to the small screen showing more male nudity than female.

Final say: Groundbreaking. ★★★★★