Rue’s Best And Worst Moments On "Euphoria"

    2024 need to hurry up!

    Kasim Kabbara
    by Kasim Kabbara

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Rue Bennett is one of the most complex TV characters we have ever seen on HBO. Rue has been through a hell of a life in her teenage years, including the trauma of losing her dad while being diagnosed as bipolar and having ADHD.

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    "Rue Rue" *Cassie Voice* made it hard for us stans this season but we made it through, and Zendaya’s Emmy should already be waiting on her doorstep. As Season 2 came to a crazy end yesterday, I list out some of the best and worst moments we had seen of Rue Bennett in both seasons of Euphoria.

    1. WORST: Rue taking a suitcase of drugs worth $10,000

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    I’ll keep it 8 more than 92 with everyone, this may not be the worst thing Rue has done (ok after further review it might be) but it’s for sure the wildest and dumbest. Rue knows damn well she had no intentions selling those drugs when she went to Laurie the drug dealer's house in "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys." Laurie being the world’s most patient drug dealer and willingly giving away a crazy amount of drugs to a minor who's also an addict scares me since Rue doesn’t have the money to pay her and doesn't seem like she’s hitting the lottery anytime soon.  

    2. BEST: Rue Causing Chaos by telling Maddie about Cassie/Nate Sneaky Links

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    LOOK... everyone was waiting on the episode that Maddy would find out about Cassie hooking up with her Ex, Nate Jacobs. All Euphoria fans thought it would be exposed in Lexi’s play but instead, Rue decided to make Christmas come early by giving the tea during what was already the best episode of the season “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird.” Rue kept Cassie getting in Nate Jacobs’ Truck in “Out of Touch" a secret until the right time to cause mayhem... this is Classic Rue and was a changing point in the season.   

    3. WORST: Rue ruining her friendship is Fez

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    Fez is one of the only characters that allows Rue to be her true self and carefree. We see their closeness in (02x07) when they are high and painting a beard on Lexi. Fez also always has had Rue's best interest in mind as we see in the undeniable best scene of Season 1. When Rue gets caught stealing pills (02x05) from Fez’s Grandma, that was his last straw. That’s the last time we have seen the duo share the screen which is a travesty. 

    4. BEST: Rue being a supportive bestie at Lexi’s Play

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    During the course of Euphoria, we know that Rue and Lexi were best friends, but it’s been very one-sided for most of it. That changes in "The Theater and its Double" (02x07) where we see a sober Rue for the first time in a long time smile in joy and have true happiness of the success of her best friend's play. In the Season 2 finale, we see an even more adorable moment when she starts a Lexi chant and reassures her about how good the play was.

    5. WORST: Causing Gia to cry every episode.

    6. BEST: Rue Narration

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    Rue’s Narration every episode is truly THE moment. The narration is the backbone of the show. Whether she's displaying her dark humor or witty remarks about everyone else's situation. Rue has an interesting perspective and, on the episode, where there was no narration (02x04) or (02x07) when Lexi narrated, Rue’s Narration was extremely missed. 

    7. WORST: Rue’s Narration

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    I know this looks nuts after I just claimed Rue’s Narration as “THE moment,” but my mama didn’t raise any liar. As the series goes on, the audience has come to notice that Rue’s narration is not always “honest.” The most apparent case was the entire Rue’s Special episode where Rue confessed to Ali that Jules and herself didn’t get matching lip tattoos after making such a big deal of it in (01x05). It made me question how much of the storyline is just Rue’s imagination and actually not happening. Our Friendly neighborhood drug dealer, Fezco did once say "I never take anything a drug addict says seriously it’s all bullshit"                            

    8. BEST: Rue grilling Troy by referencing The Wire

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    “The Wire” is one of the best shows of all time and the only show on its level is the fellow HBO show “The Sopranos”. When Rue and Lexi dressed as Bob Ross (So Iconic) in (01x08) and threatened Mckay’s younger brother Troy to stay away from Gia by saying she met some good friends from rehab and proceed to name the characters from The Wire. When this moment happened I literally LOL’d before realizing their kids out there today that don’t know what it means to hear “Omar Coming”.           

    9. WORST: Rue heartbreaking scene with Mr. Ali.

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    Coleman Domingo and Zendaya have the best chemistry out of any duo in Euphoria. It resonates through this distressful scene in (02x03) as Ali is the only person who sees through Rue’s façades, and she proceeds to use his own life experiences he confided to her against him. When she does, you can see the heartbreak on his face as this scene might truly be the most gutting of the series.   

    10. BEST: Rue apologizing to Mr. Ali

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    Rue owning up to her mistakes of what she said to Ali followed by him forgiving her is as powerful of an opening scene we can get to start an episode of a TV show. (02x06)  Rue may feel like she can’t repay Mr. Ali but if she gives him the blessing to court her mother, I think all might be well.

    11. WORST: The teacher has Rue go on stage to give a summer memory.

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    In (01x02) when a teacher made Rue go on stage to tell a summer memory that impacted her when the entire school knows her OD situation, I felt for Rue. The teacher even put a spotlight on her causing Rue to have a panic attack. I now want to go on record to say this teacher is as big of a villain as the Jacobs family. 

    12. BEST: Rue and Jules in the carnival episode!

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    The carnival episode (01x04) showed me that despite maybe not being the best for each other at the moment, they truly are soulmates. When Rue first sees Jules at the carnival and runs to her looking looney as ever, it reminds me of me and the homies as teenagers who would do outside of the box things for the girls we were crushing on while trying to play it cool to everyone else. This episode shows the happiness and quirkiness of Rue and Jules's relationship when everything is all on one accord. 

    13. WORST: Meeting Elliot.

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    Elliot once stated to Rue “I’m not sure it’s a good thing we met.” And you know what .... he’s absolutely right. Elliot played by the talented Dominic Fike has been nothing but a bad influence for Rue since he showed up and I haven’t seen dirty maccing so good since Mario in the song “Let Me Love You.” He’s been manipulative to Rue, love bombed Jules, and enabled Rue to take drugs all in a short time.

    14. BEST: Rue Hatred for Nate Jacobs is on 10!

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    In the Season 2 opener “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door”, we see Nate get the beatdown of a lifetime from Fezco and that wouldn’t have been possible if Rue didn’t plant the seeds in Fez's head in Season 1. Rue has never been a fan of Nate but after figuring out what he did to Jules she got Fez involved and the rest was history.                                                                                                                             

    15. WORST: Rue threatens her mother with a broken mirror piece.

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    Despite what the bird app might say Rue’s Mama is one of the strongest TV moms on television right now. Leslie Bennett has never given up once on Rue, not even an ounce. When Rue is at the school and had to replay a memory that impacted her summer, she shows a scene where Leslie and herself have a physical altercation and break a mirror where she takes a piece and holds it like a knife to her mom. Leslie gets a lot of unwarranted hate and I hope to see her get more peace next season.

    16. BEST: She’s a Runner, she’s a track star!

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    I’m just going to say it. Rue missed out on her calling of being an Olympic Gold Medal Cross Country Runner. In (02x05) She literally runs from her house to Fez’s house to Lexi’s house, steals some jewelry there, runs back to Fez’s house to a random person's house, steals more jewelry, evades police, runs to Laurie’s house then runs to escape Laurie’s house in an episode that will have your heart beating fast the entire time. Someone needs to get Rue some cleats and put her back in rehab so I can see my girl in the 2040 Olympics.     

    17. WORST: Rue having to sit down to hear Elliot sing

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    Okay lol, this is not that bad and the song was actually very beautiful and sung well by Mr. Elliot in the Season 2 finale. I'm just hating because that 3-4 minutes could have been used to answer some more questions but we move.

    18. BEST: Rue looking like her doppelganger Zendaya slaying at the Winter Formal

    19. WORST: Rue Relapse

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    After Jules left Rue at the train station, we see Rue relapse after being sober for a long time. Rue's reasoning for not doing drugs was to be friends with Jules and she left. Rue's currently at a place where she's doing good and stays sober for the rest of the school year. Let's hope in Season 3 we don't see Rue relapse again.

    20. BEST: Rue not doubling back with Jules

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    One of the closing scenes in Season 2's finale shows Jules approaching Rue by telling her how much she misses her and loves her. Instead of giving in, Rue kisses her on the head and proceeds to leave and remain clean. This is such a mature moment for Rue and shows she got the power to do what's best for her.

    LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?

    Any moments I missed? Or did I nail it? Comment your thoughts or I'm inclined to believe you are a hater.