Long Before ‘Euphoria,’ Sydney Sweeney Was Pure Chaos in This Criminally Overlooked 72% Netflix Series

Although Sydney Sweeney was already a working actress long before becoming Cassie Howard in Euphoria, nothing shot her to fame quite like it. From one day to the next, Sweeney not only became one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, but became a Hollywood sex symbol too. But while Sweeney’s performance on the show is certainly buzz-worthy, and will likely continue to make headlines when Season 3 of the show drops on April 12, 2026, there’s another project of Sweeney’s that’s definitely worth a watch. In 2018, she starred in Everything Sucks!, a Netflix underrated show that has teens in the ’90s navigating all the ups and downs of school, love, sexuality, and much more.

What Is ‘Everything Sucks!’ About?

Everything Sucks! follows high school freshman Luke O’Neil (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) and his two best friends, Tyler Bowen (Quinn Liebling) and McQuaid (Rio Mangini). When their freshman year starts, Luke feels the urge to branch out and expand his friend group. To do so, he comes up with the idea that the small A/V club is making a movie, and needs the help of the Drama Club to film it. With that, the trio gets to spend more time with Emaline Addario (Sweeney) and Oliver Schermerhorn (Elijah Stevenson), the beautiful upperclassmen who rule the Drama Club.

Throughout the series, relationships between the nerdy A/V club and the cool Drama Club begin to develop. While Luke has a crush on the A/V club’s newest member, Kate Messner (Peyton Kennedy), and they start dating, McQuaid also begins a sweet friendship with Oliver. Another huge storyline in the series is the growing connection between Kate and Emaline, who have a will-they-won’t-they throughout the show and leads to major revelations about their own sexualities. Another surprising romance sparks between Luke’s mom Sherry (Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako) and Kate’s dad Ken (Patch Darragh), who just happens to be the school principal.

Sydney Sweeney’s Most Controversial Project Is Suddenly a Streaming Sensation

The series served as a breakout hit for Sweeney.

Sweeney Is a Secret Weapon in ‘Everything Sucks!’

While Everything Sucks! came to an end after only one season, the series was beloved by critics and the audience alike, scoring 72% from critics and an impressive 91% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes. Among its highlights is Sweeney’s performance as Emaline, whose impulsive, over-the-top energy becomes the catalyst for many of the show’s central conflicts — from her turbulent relationship with Oliver to her increasingly complicated connection with Kate.

In the beginning, Emaline comes across as dramatic, loud, and even scandalous, but the series, and Sweeney’s layered performance, gradually peels back those layers. As the audience gets to know her, especially during her quieter, tender scenes with Kate, a softer and more sincere side emerges. As the two girls grow closer, Emaline lowers her guard, and together they begin navigating their complicated feelings. In doing so, Emaline evolves beyond the stereotypical drama queen, becoming one of the show’s most endearing and emotionally resonant characters by the season finale.

With all that said, while Sweeney’s Cassie Howard might continue to be her most famous role, her performance in 2018’s Everything Sucks! is certainly worth a watch. By playing a character that’s miles away from the sexy bombshell that Cassie is, Sweeney shows her softer side, one that defines her own character’s stereotypes and becomes one of the most beloved characters in the series.