Cassie Howard: Do We Hate Her?

Graphic by Bailey Kretschmer

So, let’s assume that you’re all caught up on Euphoria and desperately waiting for Sunday night to arrive quicker. And let’s assume that you love the complex and relatable characters, irresistibly dramatic plotlines, and stunning visuals. But has anyone else been grappling with Sydney Sweeney's character, Cassie Howard? Like should viewers despise her because of her forbidden relationship with her BFF’s ex-boyfriend, Nate? Or are viewers supposed to sympathize with Euphoria’s classic daddy-issues girl who wants what everyone else has and what she is missing?

Now, fucking your best friend’s ex is a definite “NO” in the girl code handbook, so why is Cassie, who is portrayed as a good friend, doing it? Ah, yes. Media’s tried-and-true trope: the girl with daddy issues. Many female characters in TV, film, and literature follow this formula of being abused by a man so severely to the point where she “acts out” against what is recognized as acceptable. This reinforces many gender stereotypes, including Cassie being the hated one because the female should have greater morals than the male (“boys will be boys” idea). Or that Cassie must be hated for satisfying her own sexual needs and desires, and that desire must be attributed to a male’s absence in her life. Like girls needing to get off or want affection isn’t a side effect of a bad childhood. It’s called being a human being.

And sure, Cassie isn’t the only hated character on the show. Nate gets heat because of his toxicity, but, why are we so quick to blame the girl in the duo? Two people consented to this disaster of a relationship. However, after all the shit that Nate pulled in season one, his lack of morality and consequences is expected from viewers. And it’s even more expected that the “bad boy” brings down the “good girl BFF” down to his level.

Because Nate (who is struggling with his own toxic masculinity and closeted sexuality shaped by his also-closeted father) continues to bounce his love off of Cassie and Maddy, which creates the classic love triangle that every high school it-group needs in order to function. So is Euphoria really providing a new show or portraying the same tropes in glitter and sparkles? As you’re watching this Sunday’s new episode, remember that high school norms have shaped many of us to lose ourselves, so can viewers honestly hate the character that does the same thing?