WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Euphoria Season 2, Episode 6, "A Thousand Little Trees of Blood," now streaming on HBO Max.
At the end of Euphoria's most recent episode, "A Thousand Little Trees of Blood," Leslie has a heartbreaking conversation with the rehab facility that she has been trying to get Rue into, in which she's seemingly refused. In doing so, the show sheds light on a tragic reality.
Following up on one of the most traumatic episodes of the series to date, Euphoria Season 2, Episode 6 explores some of the immediate aftermaths that Rue finds herself in after going on a poignant rampage caused by her withdrawal. In the most intense fashion possible, Rue severely damaged relationships with just about everybody she cares about. Left to support her in this wake of destruction is her mother and sister, along with her addiction sponsor, Ali. Seeing as Rue has hit "rock bottom," according to Leslie, Rue states that she is ready to go back to rehab and become sober. However, the action of seeking mental health treatment is the beginning of a world of wait times and being put on hold, as Euphoria tragically highlights during Leslie's conversation.
After a visit to the emergency room for severe withdrawal, Leslie discovers that there is a possible opening in an inpatient mental health facility for her daughter. For Rue, it's a necessity; as the previous episode pointed out through her vicious tirades on those she loved, she is absolutely in need of severe help. As Leslie has the conversation with the representative over the phone, she pleads for her daughter's admittance to the rehab program and explicitly states her fears that her daughter will kill herself. It's gut-wrenching to watch as Leslie begs for her daughter to receive help, especially after all that they've been through.
For those with severe mental health issues, taking the first step towards seeking help is often the most difficult. The struggles that Leslie experiences, addressing that her daughter needs immediate medical attention, are an unfortunate reflection of reality. The tragic truth is that people typically don't seek out help until they are much further down the spiral of affliction, furthering the point that they require immediate mental health attention. It's not uncommon for people to have to wait weeks or months for any sort of mental health treatment, whether that's an appointment with a therapist, psychiatrist or inpatient facility. But as it's made clear by Leslie, Rue needs help now, and the consequences of not receiving this are very real and severe.
Euphoria, while being under fire for romanticizing drugs and alcohol, has seemingly made its response in Episodes 5 and 6 of the series, taking an unfiltered look at what addiction can turn somebody into. While later elements of Episode 5 made things a bit more ridiculous with the drawn-out police chase scene, it served as a way of illustrating how to put Rue further and further into a dark night of the soul. As Rue has fortunately returned to a home with the unconditional love of her family and support of Ali, there is hope for the character on a path of arduous recovery.
New episodes of Euphoria premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
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