Warning: the following contains spoilers for Euphoria episode 4.

Euphoria Episode 3 left Rue on a knife edge: Alone in her room patching Laurie’s terse suitcase (which she was supposed to sell) with fentanyl. Fentanyl, a deadly opiate, is the drug that nearly killed Rue last season when Mouse forced her to take it. Fans had speculated that Episode 4 might see Rue flirting with an overdose again. This was not the case; however, this outcome, at this point, seems almost inevitable.

No, Episode 4 instead mimicked a late night binge – taking place for something like six hours – where we experience a pregame, high and comedown for multiple characters including Cal, Elliot, Jules, Rue , Maddy and Cassie. The occasion: Maddy’s birthday. The other occasion: the surrender of Cal. The other other opportunity: just another night for Rue, Jules and Elliot.

While no character overdoses, dies, or incriminates themselves, episode 4 significantly alters the relationships between the characters in the series. Jules finds out about Rue’s relapse. Jules cheats on Rue with Elliot. And Cal Jacobs takes off the mask of shame and accepts his sexual fluidity, a moment that, for perhaps another INXS-scarred period, may have been redemptive, but somehow feels sad. and morose and, as far as his family is concerned, somewhat cruel. But are we happy for him? Yippee for accepting you, Cal.

As for other developments, Cassie continues to mock Lexi, likely reinforcing her intention to direct a school play primarily about their strained relationship, a play that will likely humiliate Cassie. Kat seems ready to be done with Ethan after realizing that what she wants isn’t what society tells her she wants, which is a healthy relationship. And Fez is visited by another drug dealer who insinuates that laconic Laurie might know about Mouse – dealer Fez and Ashtray totally smoked. (Laurie’s acquaintances might explain why she entrusted Rue with a drug supply: she knows Rue will fail, and then she’ll get revenge on Fez.)

So. There’s a lot going on.

Here’s what happened in Episode 4.

The night begins

The episode opens with Rue narratively explaining her love for Jules over a series of visual romantic allusions where the two are dressed to mimic famous works of art and film –Birth of Venus, Titanic, Brokeback Mountain, etc The sequence ends with Rue faking an orgasm with Jules; she’s too stoned to feel any sensation. Later, Jules empathizes with Elliot and the two have another Moment. They are kissing. Rue then introduces himself, but is unaware. And the night begins.

Maddy and the girls have a birthday cake as Maddy and Cassie reminisce about their respective times with Nate. We see Maddy and Nate talking at the guard house (episode 3 ended with Nate delivering his flowers). The two express their toxic love for each other and then kiss, implying that they will try to iron out the insurmountable kinks in their relationship.

Cassie and Nate are then seen in her bedroom, where Cassie accuses Nate of trying to get back together with Maddy while he is with her. Nate counters by enlightening Cassie, saying that’s exactly what Cassie did with Nate while Nate was dating Maddy. Cassie says that Nate had broken up with her at that time. Cassie then leaves, warning Nate that he should be afraid of her. In a last desperate attempt to retain power over Cassie, Nate tells her he loves her. Cassie pauses. She goes out anyway.

Back at the birthday party, Maddy and company start drinking under the clearly skilful supervision of Maddy’s mother. At Nate’s, Cal has already started and tells Nate he’s going for a ride. (Wow, who would have thought Cal was some sort of happy/fun drunk? We were expecting more violence.)

Back at Elliot’s house, Rue, Jules, and Elliot start making out before Elliot suggests they go for a drive and steal some booze. (Elliot also discovers that Rue took some kind of opioid that night.)

The night intensifies

HBO

Cal drives dangerously down the road in his jeep (which looks a lot like Derick’s jeep). Elliot, Rue, and Jules rob a liquor store, with Elliot’s car knocking a bottle out the window in the process.

Rue starts drinking in the back seat. Elliot mutters that she shouldn’t mix alcohol with other drugs, but she doesn’t care. Jules expresses similar concern, asking Rue why she is drinking. Rue says she just wants to go home because she “can’t stand” Jules. Jules is visibly injured.

Meanwhile, Cassie begins to slip into meltdown mode.

Meanwhile, Cal is having the time of his life.

He arrives at the bar where he and Derick kissed 20 years earlier. He plays music and slow dances with a stranger he imagines to be Derick. He says, “I thought I lost you.” He then tries to playfully wrestle with the stranger and is then dragged out of the bar laughing the whole time. (Again, Cal is a loud drunk? Who would have thought.)

Meanwhile, Nate shows up at Maddy’s party, prompting Cassie to start drinking like a fish. Cassie then puts on a bikini to play with Nate and the whole group decides to have a hot tub session. In the tub, Nate is confronted about his relationship with Maddy, who denies having another chance. Maddy bursts out. Cassie seems to be waiting to say something. Nate looks extremely uncomfortable. Maddy begins calling Nate over all of his false claims, including that he wants Maddy to have children with him. At this memory, Cassie vomits into the pool and begins cathartically apologizing to Maddy.

Night crashes

HBO

Rue returns home and takes more drugs. She has an extended view of herself at church where she reunites with her father, apologizing for the way she behaved and saying she is a bad person. His father forgives him. The whole thing unfolds like an intervention/exorcism and hopefully represents a turning point for Rue.

Elliot and Jules are about to hook up when Elliot admits that he may have allowed Rue to continue using drugs. Jules is upset but later returns to Elliot’s bed.

Cal returns home and begins to urinate in the hall. Marsha, Nate and Jacob stand on the balcony as Cal begins to speak. He says he is tired of living his double life. He admits to having had sex with men and transsexuals. He exposes the hypocrisy of the family who also lead a double life – Marsha guarding another man’s love letters, Jacob having filthy porn habits, and Nate being so elusive Cal knows nothing about him. After exclaiming about the toxicity of family secrets, Cal then says he’s been released and is leaving. He takes a family photo on the wall then calms down.

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