Where Does Euphoria Take Place and Is It a Real Town?

If you’ve watched all 26 episodes of 3 seasons of Euphoria, you definitely had this query in your mind: where does Euphoria take place?

It’s one of those details of the how that the creators never spell out in public. As a fan, you may know everything about Rue, Jules, Cassie, Nate and the rest of the gang, but only a few know about the setup.

It is a fictional town in East Highland, California. It is a man-made suburb that is similar to the areas of Southern California. The location is not real, but the places used to create it certainly are.

Where Does Euphoria Take Place in Reality?

It was an artificial town in East Highland, California.

You will have déjà vu here if you live in California. It has the same palm trees, shopping centres and bright days. It looks so similar that you will feel like you live somewhere between reality and memory.

Unlike other shows that remind viewers where they are, Euphoria is quite different in that aspect. The spotlight is always on the characters.

East Highland simply exists because Rue and the others need somewhere to live, make mistakes, fall in love and make terrible decisions in their lives.

Everything else comes next.

Also Read – Where is Home and Away Filmed?

Is the Series Set in a Real Location?

No, East Highland is not an actual geographical location.

This fact has surprised millions of Euphoria Stans. The place looks real, though. The school seems authentic. The neighbourhoods are on the dot. Even the random parking lots and suburban streets are like you’ve seen them before.

According to PopSugar, that was intentional.

Creator Sam Levinson never wanted the story tied to one particular location. So, he built an imaginary town that could vibe with viewers almost anywhere.

And honestly, it works.

Viewers who have watched did not raise a single question about the Euphoria set. They were so engrossed in the story and characters that they were literally thinking about what would happen next.

Which State is the Show Supposedly Located In?

The town is fictional for sure, but the state is not. You can see California in every single scene.

It has dry hills in the distance and weather that rarely changes. Nobody is worried about rain or freezing temperatures.

The architecture resembles Californian architecture too. So do the schools, the roads and the neighbourhoods.

There’s also an early mention of Jules moving from the city to the suburbs, which has led plenty of fans to assume East Highland is outside Los Angeles.

The show never confirms that outright, but it makes sense.

What Specific Areas are Featured in the Show?

The building of East Highland High School in the show is actually Ulysses S. Grant High School in Valley Glen. Earlier, it has been used in multiple Hollywood projects.

You can see the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, and El Matador State Beach in Malibu in the show.

According to Sky, these locations played a vital role in making a fictional town look like a real one. It was a pure masterclass by the makers.

Why Los Angeles Is Basically Euphoria’s Unofficial Home

According to Giggster, a big part of the show was shot across Los Angeles County, such as Valley Glen, Culver City, Temple City and Torrance.

Some scenes are shot in a studio. The famous scene where Rue appears to be thrown around a spinning room was filmed at Sony Pictures Studios. The production team built a rotating set and then edited it with digital effects.

It’s the sort of detail most viewers never notice, but it helps explain why the show was such a hit.

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The Texas Detour Nobody Expected

Season 3 was unexpected for everyone.

Rue was travelling through Agua Dulce, Texas, a place that is the complete opposite of East Highland. There is no sign of suburbs. It just has open areas and small villages.

The episodes of this season were on everyone’s lips. As Yahoo Entertainment noted, some viewers felt the portrayal leaned into a few well-worn Hollywood ideas about Texas.

But it was for a short time.

Before long, Rue came back to deal with the people and problems waiting for her in East Highland.

FAQs

1. Is East Highland from Euphoria a real place?

Ans: No, East Highland is a fictional town. It was created for the series. The production team built the interior sets on soundstages at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.

2. Where was Euphoria filmed?

Ans: Most filming took place across Los Angeles County and nearby parts of Southern California.

3. Is Euphoria supposed to be set near Los Angeles?

Ans: The show never confirms this, but there are many claims that the East Highland is located somewhere in the wider Los Angeles area.

4. What school was used as East Highland High?

Ans: Ulysses S. Grant High School in Valley Glen, California.

5. Why doesn’t the show reveal its exact location?

Ans: Sam Levinson wanted the themes and characters to feel universal rather than tied to one specific city.

Sources and References:

• Yahoo – In the show, you can see the typical Texas as shown in all Hollywood films and series.

• PopSugar – The use of a functional place for the show was intentional.

• Sky – The surrounding areas also helped the place to look real.

• Giggster – A big part of the show was shot outside Los Angeles County.