Bend the knee: 'Euphoria' is now HBO's biggest show after 'Game of Thrones'

The Zendaya-led teen drama has become the second-most watched series of channel.

Bend the knee, Euphoria is now HBO’s second-most watched show, behind only Game of Thrones since 2004, as per the premium television, reported Variety.

The Zendaya-led drama hit yet another series high with its Season 2 finale episode that aired on Sunday, drawing 6.6 million viewers. According to HBO, Euphoria Season 2 episodes are now averaging 16.3 million viewers. That is the best performance for any season of an HBO series over the past 18 years, with the exception of Game of Thrones.

Its Season 2 premiere’s viewership is about to hit 19 million viewers in the US, according to the outlet. Euphoria became the top title on HBO Max in the US for the seventh week in a row, as well as the top series for the week in both Latin America and Europe. And if you think that’s impressive, the scandalous and visually sensational series is also the most talked about show of the decade, provided it is now the most-tweeted about show with 34 million tweets from only the US, so far.

It has also been renewed for a third season. As per the outlet’s report from February 1, the first three installments of the Emmy-winning teen drama’s Season 2 had doubled in per-episode viewership in comparison to its freshman season. Season 2’s premiere episode on Janurary 9 had garnered 14 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max to date.

That was close to an increase of 100% from the 6.6 million average audience size that was drawn by Season 1’s episodes during its summer 2019 runtime. Furthermore, the Season 2 premiere was the No. 1 most social premium cable episode since the Game of Thrones finale in May 2019.

“Sam, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew of Euphoria have taken Season 2 to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form, while maintaining its heart,” HBO Programming’s executive vice president, Francesca Orsi, had announced. “We couldn’t be more honoured to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into Season 3.”

The series’ Season 2 revolves around the intertwining lives of high schoolers in the town of East Highland, where 17-year-old Rue (Zendaya) must find hope while balancing the pressures of love, loss and addiction. The finale episode saw many of the season’s biggest conflicts come to fore with more than being violent in nature.

Euphoria is created, written, directed and executive produced by Sam Levinson. Executive producers also include Kevin Turen, Ravi Nandan, Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Zendaya, Will Greenfield, Ashley Levinson, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Gary Lennon, Mirit Toovi, Tmira Yardeni and Yoram Mokady. Aside from Zendaya, it features Hunter Schafer, Nika King, Eric Dane, Angus Cloud, Jacob Elordi, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow, Javon Walton, Dominic Fike, Storm Reid and Austin Abrams.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.