Euphoria: Every Main Character's Age - CBR

Euphoria, the hit teen show on HBO, has become a cultural phenomenon and the second season, which premiered in early 2022, sparked weekly viewer discussions on social media. The raunchy drama stars a group of incredibly complex teenage characters dealing with addiction, societal issues, and high school drama.

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Due to the kids' situations, it can be hard for some viewers to believe they're still incredibly young. As the series has progressed, characters have grown in different ways, and fans can't wait for the return of Rue and her friends in season 3 as they approach the end of high school.

10 Rue Is So Young, Yet Deals With So Much (17 Years Old)

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Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, is Euphoria's main character. In season 2, Rue is a 17-year-old high school junior who battles dangerous drug addiction, and viewers see her reach her lowest point. To feed her habit, she convinces a big-time dealer that she'll sell $10,000 worth of drugs, but she takes the drugs for herself.

It's heartbreaking watching Rue fall deeper and deeper into her disease, destroying her relationships in the process. Zendaya puts on the performance of a lifetime in this teenage role. Her accurate, heart-wrenching and disturbing portrayal of the reality of addiction has won her well-deserved praise and awards, and it fits Rue's youth perfectly.

9 Kat Struggles With Societal Pressure (17 Years Old)

Kat Hernandez, played by Barbie Ferreira, is a 17-year-old junior who deals with body image issues. In the first season, Kat finds confidence and learns to love her body as it is.

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Kat's story takes a turn in the second season, where she's struggling with society's idea of the perfect body and pressure on social media. Kat, who was previously sweet and confident, is now rude, crass, and even lies about having a terminal illness to break up with her boyfriend. Fans hope the self-assured and kind Kat comes back in season 3.

8 Maddy Faces The Ultimate Betrayal (18 Years Old)

Maddy Perez, portrayed by Alexa Demie, is an 18-year-old senior in a toxic, on-and-off relationship with Nate Jacobs and is best friends with Cassie Howard. The two girls are like sisters until she learns about Cassie's betrayal when Rue mentions seeing Cassie and Nate in his truck together around New Year's Eve.

Maddy feels heartbroken after discovering that Cassie has been dating her ex-boyfriend behind her back. She comes across as tough and secure, but of course, her armor isn't impregnable. This betrayal feels like another blow that someone so young shouldn't have to face.

7 Cassie Becomes A Different Person In The Second Season (18 Years Old)

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Cassie Howard, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney, is an 18-year-old senior who becomes an entirely new person in Euphoria's second season. At the show's beginning, Cassie is sweet, shy, and a loving sister, friend, and partner. However, she changes for the worst by the second season.

She sneaks around with Nate and tries not to feel anything when Maddy finds out. She appears sad about losing her best friend but refuses to stop seeing Maddy's ex. Instead, she separates herself from everyone but him and even physically fights Maddy in front of the whole school. Teens often try on many roles when they're searching for identities but this is a bad look on anyone.

6 Nate Continues To Be Toxic And Abusive (18 Years Old)

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Nate Jacobs, portrayed by Jacob Elordi, is an ultra-masculine football player who verbally and physically abuses women and seems to struggle with his sexual identity. He's an 18-year-old high school senior, and although he's terrible in season 1, he seems even worse in season 2. Not only does he engage in emotionally destructive fights with Cassie, but he also threatens Maddy's life.

When Maddy comes into possession of Nate's dad's compromising tape, Nate hides in her room and threatens them both with a gun until she gives it back. This may be the worst thing Nate ever did and he only slightly redeems himself when he turns his father into the cops. Nate is still maturing, so fans hope he'll become a better person in the coming season.

5 Fezco Develops A Loving Relationship (19 Years Old)

Fezco, or Fez, played by Angus Cloud, is a 19-year-old dropout and Rue's previous drug dealer. To his credit, when he notices how bad Rue's addiction is, he refuses to sell her any more drugs. Despite his faults, he's also an incredibly kind and loving person who takes care of his little brother, Ashtray, and his ailing grandmother. Sadly, his mistakes are clearly the result of poverty and youth.

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Fezco and Lexi Howard talk at the New Year's Eve party and develop mutual crushes in the process. They begin hanging out constantly, and their relationship grows into something sweet and pure. When Lexi puts on her big play, Fezco plans on bringing her a card and roses before a SWAT team ambushes his home.

4 Jules Takes A Backseat In The Second Season (17 Years Old)

Jules Vaughn, played by Hunter Schafer, is a 17-year-old high school junior who plays a much smaller role in Euphoria's second season. Jules is Rue's girlfriend and initially helps keep Rue clean. However, after Jules leaves town, she and Rue have difficulty getting back to where they were before.

Although they continue to date, they face issues as Rue falls deeper into her addiction, and Jules grows close to the new kid, Elliot, eventually cheating on Rue with him. This infidelity is her main storyline this season, and many fans aren't happy with the direction she's gone and how the show's underused a complex fan favorite. She deserves a chance to grow out of the place she's currently in.

3 Cal Deserves What He Gets (43 Years Old)

Cal Jacobs, portrayed by Eric Dane, is Nate's 43-year-old father. Cal sleeps with the 16-year-old Jules in season 1, defining the character as a predator. He also struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality and being a family man. Cal suffers a beating from Ashtray, and in his concussed state, he comes out to his family and abandons them while obviously not in control of his actions.

After Cal leaves, Nate tracks him down and brings the cops to his door, catching him red-handed with the tapes of him, Jules, and other partners he illegally filmed. Cal treated Nate terribly throughout his childhood, turning the young man into the monster he is. In the end, he's finally able to stand up to his emotionally and physically abusive father. Despite his struggles, Cal's too old to be forgiven. He's a bad person who deserves everything he gets.

2 Lexi Gets Her Moment To Shine (17 Years Old)

Lexi Howard, played by Maude Apatow, is a 17-year-old high school junior. She's Cassie's younger sister and has been Rue's best friend since childhood. The two grow apart at the height of Rue's addiction, but Lexi proves she'll always be there for her. Lexi, who's always been in Cassie's shadow, finally gets her moment to shine when she presents the play she wrote to the world

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The story, "My Life," is a not-so-subtle fictionalized autobiography where Lexi plays the main character. She exposes secrets about Rue, Cassie, and even Nate in the piece as she talks about the sexuality of football players and the pseudo-masculinism attached to the sport. Her play is a massive hit and while it leads to an explosive fight between Cassie and Maddy, it's lovely to see Lexi in the spotlight, accomplishing so much at such a young age.

1 Ashtray Is Too Young To Face Such Terrible Challenges (14 Years Old)

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Ashtray, or Ash, portrayed by Javon Walton, is the 14-year-old brother of Fez. Ashtray has helped Fezco sell drugs for years and is the muscle of the operation, not afraid to intimidate people or harm them physically. Unfortunately, he and his brother run into trouble in the finale.

Law enforcement comes to their door on the day of Lexi's play after learning Ash killed a fellow dealer. Fez is willing to take the blame, but Ash refuses his offer and barricades himself in the bathroom, where he shoots at the SWAT officers and is killed when they return fire. The scene is terrifying and heartbreaking, and it's terrible to watch such a young child die so violently.

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