With Labrinth now a stranger to the series, “Euphoria” may still not know its name.
Over four years since the second season was released, HBO Max’s “Euphoria” episode releases returned April 12. However, this time, it sounds very different. While serving as the foundation for the show’s musical identity for the first two seasons, singer-songwriter Labrinth has decided to refrain from crafting the soundtrack for Season 3.
Despite the season’s score being initially intended as a collaboration with Hans Zimmer, Labrinth announced March 14 via an Instagram story that while he acknowledges the importance of supporting another creator’s vision, he would no longer accept the mistreatment and dishonesty he faced behind the scenes. Little explanation remains for what explicitly happened, leaving fans feeling empty as the show itself now stands without his artistic components.
“Euphoria” – a show known for its depiction of unsettling, heavy topics – highlights teenagers’ emotions and raw experiences. Covering themes such as substance use, challenges to sexual identity and experiences of living with depression, the show allows young adults to feel both seen and heard. However, it is not only the plot that brings light to these experiences. The songs also serve as a voice to the emotional and mental health experiences depicted on screen. Without Labrinth’s musical contributions, Season 3 holds a hollow feel, lacking its prior nostalgic and emotionally immersive identity.
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Through his music, Labrinth chronicles Rue’s journey with substance use. In Season 1, viewers follow Rue’s non-linear experience with substance use disorder. As she attempts to pursue recovery in support of herself and her loved ones, she experiences setbacks and returns to substance use. In the season finale, these challenges are underscored by Labrinth’s piece “All for Us.” Accompanied by a marching band and choir, this scene is turned into a musical performance that reflects both the temporary feelings of euphoria and the long-term effects associated with substance use.
In Season 2, Episode 4, the song “I’m Tired” is performed directly by Labrinth when Rue, following a return to substance use, enters a church. This moment encapsulates Rue not only confronting her substance use disorder but also the trauma and loss that have shaped her behavior. The song is later played in the season finale as Rue reflects on her efforts toward recovery, and the challenges that accompany the process. Through his work, Labrinth creates music that also acts as art which reflects the complexities associated with substance use disorder and recovery, helping viewers connect with experiences that are often difficult to articulate and understand.
With Rue’s story in Season 3 emphasizing her isolation as she becomes involved in drug cartel activity, the absence of Labrinth’s music makes it more difficult to translate Rue’s complex emotions and experiences. In Season 3, Episode 5, for example, Rue becomes buried in a hole on the ranch of Alamo Brown – a criminal involved in arms trafficking and human trafficking – leading her into a situation where she could be potentially run over by a horse. While this scene reflects Rue’s physical danger, it also symbolizes how substance use can make one feel emotionally trapped and alienated from others, as Rue’s confinement underground mirrors her psychological isolation and dependence on people who threaten her safety. With this scene carrying intense symbolism, the absence of Labrinth’s score causes such a message to not carry the same emotional weight and makes it less powerful than its depiction of Rue’s experiences in prior seasons.
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Labrinth not only evoked an emotional response to his music but also created an online culture. In Season 1, Episode 8, viewers are introduced to the winter dance, where characters enter the neon-lit space in glittery makeup and sequined outfits. The aesthetic of this scene made a massive global impression. On platforms like TikTok, users made videos replicating such looks to Labrinth’s song “Still Don’t Know My Name” – a song that ultimately shaped Season 1. Through this trend, it becomes evident that Labrinth’s music not only enhanced the season storytelling but also left a lasting impression, influencing social media and bringing people together to express creativity. Such an impression failed to make a mark in Season 3, as it lacked the artistic identity to connect with people and instead created disillusionment among the show’s prior community.
Without Labrinth’s distinctive vision, “Euphoria” has been left feeling silent, lacking the emotional depth and artistic resonance that once made the show feel euphoric.
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