Euphoria season three has been met with fierce backlash from viewers following a string of deeply unsettling scenes, reports the Mirror.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Euphoria season 3, episode 1

The long-awaited third series of Euphoria has finally made its return to HBO Max, featuring a substantial five-year time-jump that sees Rue Bennett (played by Zendaya) finding herself south of the border in Mexico.

Rue was working to repay the considerable debt she had accumulated after the drugs she had been transporting for drug queenpin Laurie (Martha Kelly) were flushed away back in season two.

Rue and Faye Valentine (Chloe Cherry) had turned to drug smuggling, swallowing fentanyl capsules to carry them across the border into America before passing them once they reached their destination.

In a succession of deeply nauseating scenes, the pair were forced to ingest the narcotics as they undertook the perilous process of "body packing", before retrieving them upon arrival at their destination.

The drugs were collected in a strainer that was subsequently used to strain spaghetti served to Rue and Faye, leaving viewers utterly revolted.

Scores of audience members flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their reactions to the repulsive sequence — and they were far from restrained in their criticism.

One viewer posted: "This first episode has completely ruined the show, was so disgusting n doesn't feel like #euphoria, this show was so beautifully done before and now it seems a f*t!sh s**t show that'll have no depth [sic]."

A second wrote: "I wonder how can this first episode be a pleasant introduction to the season when half of it is disgusting and uncomfortable, seemingly just for kicks."

A third commented: "Like it just kept on going, even if there is a story behind it, it's just incredibly discouraging #euphoria."

While a fourth wrote: "soo that was absolutely disgusting #euphoria [sic.]"

Yet another person explained: "Euphoria was always provocative but it was never gross. This episode was GROSS #Euphoria."

Someone noted: "I almost throw up watching that pill scene that was so intentionally gross #euphoria [sic]."

Yet another person added: "Not even 20 minutes into euphoria season 3 and....yeah sam levinson is DISGUSTING #euphoria."

The third series opener resumed with Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) preparing for their forthcoming nuptials, with Cassie harbouring envy towards her former closest friend Maddy Perez's (Alexa Demie) apparently glamorous lifestyle.

In a bid to cover some of the more extravagant wedding expenses, including $50,000 for flowers, Cassie launched an OnlyFans account.

Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schaefer) had departed for art school while simultaneously working as a sugar baby.

Elsewhere, Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow) had secured a position in a writers' room on a soap opera, working alongside legendary showrunner Patti Lance (Sharon Stone).

Her former flame Fezco O'Neill (Angus Cloud) was shown to have received a 30-year prison sentence following a police raid on his flat during the season two finale.

Euphoria's showrunner Sam Levinson revealed that the third series had been crafted as a tribute to the late star Cloud, who passed away in 2023 following a Fentanyl overdose, as well as other young people whose lives have been touched by addiction.

The opening episode of the third series concluded with Rue taking up work for the menacing Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) after the pills she had delivered proved fatal for one of his girls.

As glimpsed in the trailer for the coming weeks, Rue assumes the role of manager at Alamo's strip club, with suggestions she could also venture into sex work.

In true Euphoria fashion, the tension will continue to mount as the pressure intensifies for every character involved.

Whether further series of Euphoria will follow remains uncertain, particularly after lead actress Zendaya was quizzed on The Drew Barrymore Show about whether this would be the final instalment.

Zendaya said: "I think so." She teased that "closure is coming", strongly hinting that the curtain may soon be falling on the acclaimed drama.

Euphoria season 3 airs on HBO in the USA on Sundays and on HBO Max, NOW and Sky on Mondays