Zendaya stars in new HBO drama series ‘Euphoria’

HBO’s “Euphoria”

9 p.m. today. HBO

There are no dragons on “Euphoria.” There are no poisonings, beheadings or epic battles. But that doesn’t mean there are no monsters or casualties. And heads are definitely going to roll. The new HBO drama stars Zendaya (“The Greatest Showman,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”) as Rue, a fresh-out-of-rehab drug addict who is looking for trouble in a world that is happy to give her plenty. That world would be high school, where Rue’s classmates are struggling with body issues, sexual traumas, identity questions and various social-media nightmares. Rue’s dramatic life gets an extra jolt when she meets Jules (Hunter Schafer), a trans girl with dramas of her own. Based on the Israeli series of the same name, the eight-episode “Euphoria” was created and written by Sam Levinson (“The Wizard of Lies,” “Assassination Nation”), and its huge cast of executive producers includes Drake and Canadian DJ Future the Prince. If you are a parent, it will probably freak you out. But as a certain other HBO show taught us, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Karla Peterson • U-T