Mónica Marie Zorrilla Lexi Howard, indisputably one of the most underrated and underutilized characters in Sam Levinson’s glitter-and-grit-infused teenage fever dream “Euphoria,” has finally been given more purpose than being the preppy-in-plaid sidekick to her sister Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and best friend(ish) Rue (Zendaya) in Season 2.
Fans of Lexi, portrayed by Maude Apatow, have gotten to see the character not only open up a potential romantic relationship with other fan-favorite Fezco (Angus Cloud) but also work on her high school theater magnum opus, a play about always being the ancillary character and never in the spotlight — not even in your own life.In Episode 7 of the show’s second season, entitled “The Theater and Its Double,” viewers are given a glimpse into Lexi’s complex relationship with the young women around her, her father, her mother and herself.
Meanwhile, the problems that Cassie and Rue contend with are given significantly more attention through a meta-theatrical production that Apatow told Variety was fun, but challenging to film — a difficulty that is evident when watching the intricate episode.
Lexi’s theatrical debut ends with a high note — literally — as Austin Abrams, who plays Kat’s boyfriend Ethan in the show, gyrates his hips in golden spandex with hordes of high school boys clad in what can only be described as “football, but make it sexy” costumes, dancing around him to the tune of Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” and striking suggestive “workout” poses.
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