As the wait for the third season of HBO’s Euphoria becomes increasingly painful for die-hard fans, the past two seasons of the jaw-dropping series remain a major topic of conversation. With its string of iconic characters, one of the show's most beloved is the new girl in town Jules Vaughn, who is played by Hunter Schafer.
Jules is not only an integral part of Euphoria, but also brings some much-needed Transgender representation to the small screen and mainstream media, allowing fans who struggle with gender dysphoria to relate and for those who aren’t familiar with the topic to see through the eyes of an LGBTQ+ character. Schafer, who’s trans herself has even helped to write for her Euphoria character, making the dialogue of Jules' story raw and authentic to real-life experiences.
10 “I feel like high school is super f-king suffocating.”
Jules says this line in Season 1, Episode 8 titled, “And Salt the Earth Behind You,” which is the first season’s finale. This line perfectly embodies everything that not only Jules has experienced throughout the season's duration but all the other characters as well.
They are all in their own way being suffocated by their high school lives, so much so that they turn to drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships, and even violence as a way to release the pain they are experiencing. Many young viewers can also relate to this line, as the pressures of being a teenager commonly become too much to bear from time to time.
9 “I feel like my entire life, I’ve been trying to conquer femininity, and somewhere along the way, I feel like femininity conquered me.”
In the special bridge episode, titled “F--k Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob,” Jules expresses her feelings about femininity during a therapy session. Not only are her feelings incredibly relatable to many of the show's younger viewers but they're also expressed in a delightfully eloquent way.
This episode is one that Schafer heavily helped write for the character as she delves deep into her experience as a transgender woman. It's an incredibly touching episode and one that is made all the more powerful by this powerful and thought-provoking line from Jules.
8 “At least for me, being trans is spiritual.”
Again in Jules's special bridge episode during the therapy session, Jules continues to beautifully depict her experience with her gender identity. She explains to the therapist that being trans for her has nothing to do with religious beliefs or anyone else for that matter.
She goes on to explain how for her and herself only being trans is a spiritual experience. Knowing that Schafer wrote this line makes it even more of a beautiful moment for Jules's journey of self-acceptance and healing in Euphoria.
7 “I wish you could see yourself the way the rest of the world does.”
In Season 2, Episode 2 titled, “Out of Touch” Maddy, who is played by Alex Demie, confides in Jules about how she might get back with her ex-boyfriend Nate Jacobs, who physically and verbally abused her over the duration of the show's first season. Maddy makes it clear that she knows she shouldn't go back to her abuser, but she doesn’t believe she is strong enough to continue being apart from him.
This is when Jules tells Maddy that she wishes she could see herself in a different light, referring to Maddy’s natural confidence and strength that everyone around her sees. This is one of the most heartbreaking and relatable lines in Season 2 because it shows audiences that even the most confident and powerful-looking people have moments where they break down and consider succumbing to their demons.
6 “For what it's worth everything I ever said was true.” “Same here.”
In Season 2, Episode 6 titled, “A Thousand Little Trees of Blood” Nate comes to Jules' house in the pouring rain to give her a CD. On the disk is a video his father recorded secretly of his sexual encounter between him and Jules, which happened back in the first episode of the series. After giving Jules the disk and telling her she can do whatever she wants with it, Nate references the virtual relationship he had with Jules under the alias Tyler.
He tells Jules he meant everything he said to her, and as she gets out of the car she looks back and agrees. This moment brings the tension between Jules and Nate full circle and further instills the true heartbreak Jules felt when she found out her whole relationship with Tyler was Nate hiding behind a screen with other motives.
5 “When did you relapse?”
In Season 2, Episode 1 titled, “Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door” which is set on New Year's Eve at a house party, Jules and Rue have one of their first conversations since winter break. In it, Jules asks Rue when she fell back into her drug addiction.
Rue tells her after the events of the first season finale where Jules ran away, leaving Rue alone at the train station. This sets the scene for the season and shows how heavily Rue allows her addiction to affect and reflect the decisions of people around her.
4 “I didn’t know what else to do.”
In Season 2, Episode 5 “Stand Still Like A Hummingbird,” Jules tells the truth about Rue’s relapse, leading to Rue’s mother holding an intervention. As Rue gets into a loud, violent argument with members of her family, she enters the living room to see Jules and begins to scream hurtful things at her.
Through the pain and tears of seeing someone she loves so dearly in this state, Jules helplessly mutters, “I didn’t know what else to do”. The episode, and this scene in particular, perfectly embody how addiction affects loved ones as viewers get to see many different reactions to Rue’s relapse.
3 “I definitely haven’t reached my full power.”
In Season 1, Episode 7, which is titled, “The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed,” Jules describes her childhood and what it was like to be drawn to feminine products before her transition. That's just the beginning though.
She goes on to talk about how she feels like she has yet to reach her full potential. This moment is one that many can relate to, feeling as though they have so much more to give to become the true version of themselves.
2 “I want you to want to kiss me so bad that you don’t even ask.”
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During the homecoming dance in Season 1, Episode 8, “And Salt the Earth Behind You,” Jules and Rue stand alone in a bathroom stall. While in the stall, Jules asks Rue why she doesn’t kiss her, and as Rue stutters not knowing what to say, Jules comes out with this iconic line.
She tells her, “I want you to want to kiss me so bad that you don’t even ask.” This is one of the sweeter moments that Rue and Jules share with one another. It also serves as a sweet memory of their relationship before Rue’s addiction started to take over again.
1 “I feel like I’ve framed my entire womanhood around men.”
The best line that Jules has said over the past two seasons of Euphoria comes from the special bridge episode. As she talks to the therapist, Jules reveals why she’s been considering going off her hormones. She then reveals, “I feel like I’ve framed my entire womanhood around men.”
This line expresses the deep-rooted misogyny that comes with the experience of being a woman from the very start. Many women feel that they have to do things to change their physical appearance because of the societal standards set by men and this line perfectly articulates this experience that most women have felt at least once in their lives.