Eddy Chen/HBO
After the news of Angus Cloud’s tragic passing at 25 sent a shockwave through the entertainment world Monday evening, Euphoria fans rushed to share favorite moments of his from the show. A tidal wave of content based on his character, Fez, flooded social media. Overwhelmingly, the screenshots and quotes shared online referenced a specific arc his character had in Season 2—a sweet, tender love story shared with straitlaced Lexi (Maude Apatow).
Fez—a high school dropout and drug dealer—was seemingly the least likely type of guy for Lexi, a quiet, witty teen with a penchant for playwriting. But then again, Fez was a completely unassuming candidate to lead a rom-com storyline in general. And yet, even after just a few scenes, it was clear how perfect Cloud’s beloved character was for the leading-man role in Euphoria’s twisted version of When Harry Met Sally.
Perhaps opposites attract. But consider that Fez and Lexi might never have been opposites—they were two teens with different lives, yet similar personalities. Cloud met Apatow’s performance, who was equally excellent at portraying Lexi’s subdued discomfort, with grace. Fireworks went off in every corner of the internet when the pair shared a drink and a deep talk at a party in the Season 2 premiere, which also, not so coincidentally, finally gave us a humanizing backstory for Fez.