Euphoria Recap: Tinseltown

Cassie and Maddy's reunion could be a commentary on sex work, OnlyFans, and American prosperity, but it just feels like a misogynistic joke.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:03am

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An extreme close-up of shattered glass reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the fragmented and exploitative nature of the show's treatment of sex work and celebrity culture.The shattered dreams and exploited sexuality at the heart of Euphoria's Tinseltown fever dream.Los Angeles Today

The latest episode of Euphoria explores the show's continued portrayal of female characters engaging in or facilitating sex work, with Cassie turning to OnlyFans and Maddy managing a young influencer's rise. Meanwhile, Rue takes on more responsibilities at the strip club owned by Alamo, and Jules reconnects with Rue after two years of estrangement.

Why it matters

Euphoria has long been criticized for its depiction of women, with the show often accused of indulging in misogynistic tropes and exploiting female nudity. This episode continues that trend, as the female characters are either degraded through their involvement in sex work or cynically manipulated by those around them.

The details

Cassie continues to pursue a career on OnlyFans, with her photos becoming increasingly demeaning. Maddy, meanwhile, takes on a young influencer named Katelyn and helps build her following, eventually convincing her to do nude photoshoots. Rue is tasked with cleaning up after a girl's overdose at the strip club, and later helps convince another dancer, Angel, to go to rehab. Jules, who has been absent for much of the season, reappears and is revealed to be in a relationship with a wealthy older man.

  • Cassie's OnlyFans photos start innocently but become more demeaning over time.
  • Maddy begins working as a 'career architect' for Katelyn a year before the current events of the episode.
  • Rue has been estranged from her mother and her former girlfriend Jules for two years.

The players

Cassie

A young woman who has turned to OnlyFans in an attempt to achieve fame and fortune, but is being increasingly degraded in the process.

Maddy

Cassie's former friend who now works as a 'career architect,' helping to build up the social media following of young, attractive women and convincing them to do nude photoshoots.

Rue

A recovering addict who has taken on more responsibilities at the strip club owned by Alamo, including helping to convince a dancer named Angel to go to rehab.

Jules

Rue's former girlfriend, who has been absent for much of the season but reappears in this episode, now living in a lavish penthouse apartment with a wealthy older boyfriend.

Alamo

The owner of the strip club where Rue is working, who is seeking revenge against a drug dealer named Laurie.

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What they’re saying

“It's important to have a moral code, but it takes only a few photo shoots, and maybe some checks, for Katelyn to be comfortably naked in front of the camera.”

— Maddy

“California is a strange place: 'More people go missing here than anywhere else in America. It's like there's a big magnet under the soil attracting evil.'”

— Angel, Dancer at the Silver Slipper strip club

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This episode highlights the show's continued reliance on misogynistic tropes and the exploitation of female characters, particularly through their involvement in sex work. The lack of nuance and empathy in the portrayal of these issues raises concerns about the show's underlying values and its impact on viewers.