This Little Piggy (Euphoria)

Lore & Background

The cold open depicts a flashback to Rue Bennett's childhood, where she experiences her first panic attack at a carnival. In the episode proper, Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) grows increasingly paranoid about her secret relationship with Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) being exposed, while Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) begins to suspect something is off. Rue Bennett (Zendaya) continues to spiral after her relapse, stealing from her family and manipulating those closest to her. Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer) confronts Rue about her drug use, leading to a tense argument. Meanwhile, Fezco (Angus Cloud) and Ashtray (Javon Walton) deal with the fallout of a violent incident at their home. The episode culminates in a chaotic confrontation at the Howard residence during Lexi's play, where long-simmering tensions between the characters explode.

Reader's Guide

The episode received largely mixed reviews. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was watched by 356,000 people, estimated at 0.07% of the total 18-49 population in the US. The A.V. Club's Emma Fraser noted that the episode offers a taste of Euphoria's signature blend of reality and illusion, with the Cassie-zilla sequence serving as a fantastical interlude. Vulture's Rafaela Bassili gave a two out of five star review, writing that as the season enters its back half, the ensemble's plotlines are at long last converging. The episode received one Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More). The production design for the Cassie-zilla sequence, which parodies Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, took about a year to create, with miniatures built by J.C. Backings and John Merritt Productions. The final scene of Rue buried up to her neck required a container with a box for Zendaya to duck under in case of an earthquake, with two stunt safeties staying in the hole with oxygen and water; Zendaya was buried for three days of filming.

Did You Know?

• Zendaya performed her own stunts during the scene where Rue is chased through the streets.
• The play sequence was filmed over three weeks and featured original choreography by Ryan Heffington.
• Colman Domingo, who plays Ali, improvised much of his dialogue during the diner scene with Rue.