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"Doom watching" has become a big part of the Euphoria phenomenon

  • Euphoria fans find the teen drama's storylines dealing with addiction, grief and betrayal to be anxiety-inducing. Yet they keep coming back for more, as shown by the rise in viewership for the more traumatic Season 2. Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist in New York, attributes the show’s success to a phenomenon she calls “doom watching,” a cousin of doomscrolling, consuming bad news ever-present via our phones. Romanoff tells The Times that with “doom watching,” people watch intense shows that feed off their own anxieties, especially at night when other distractions might not be as readily available. She sees it as a method of projection, specifically “projecting the personal fears and stressors of oneself to the collective group or external and fictionalized television characters.” Romanoff adds: "There is a parallel process between the characters they’re watching onscreen and viewers’ own willingness and ability to adapt to the pandemic. Viewers are watching various stories unfold that center on the question: Would you do whatever is necessary to get what you want?” But Romanoff sees Euphoria as being positive in teaching about education and understanding mental health and drug addiction struggles. “The show has important implications when it comes to increasing awareness and empathy for addiction, mental health, sexuality and relationships," she says. "It encourages important conversations and self-reflection.”

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    TOPICS: Euphoria, HBO, Angus Cloud, Chloe Cherry, Labrinth, Maude Apatow, Zendaya