With the third episode of The Idol now available to stream, the show has been named by the internet as the worst series HBO has ever created… but does this work in the show’s favor?
The new drama, which shares its director Sam Levinson with Euphoria, has cultivated an overwhelming online reputation for its overtly sexual scenes and depictions of domestic violence. Viewers are left disturbed by The Weekend’s portrayal of the sleazy, rat-tailed nightclub owner Tedros, as he works his way into the life of troubled pop star Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp.
Scathing critical reviews aside, the show has retained some following for its star-studded cast, which includes Australian singer Troye Sivan and K-pop star Jennie Ruby Jane from the group Blackpink. The premiere at Cannes Film Festival on May 22nd received a five-minute standing ovation, and Levinson predicted that The Idol would be the ‘biggest show of the summer’ at the following press tour. Even after rumours of its cancellation after only two episodes, the cast and crew continue to defend the show in the face of online backlash. Depp herself said to The New York Times that she always knew the show would be “provocative and perhaps not for everyone”.
Yet people are still hate watching The Idol for a reason. Before you join the hate train, why don’t we discuss what makes us not want to look away? Here’s why Manic thinks The Idol might actually be great television. Warning - spoilers ahead.
It’s Not ‘Torture-Porn’… Because No One Is Glorifying It
If there’s anything we can expect from a Levinson series, it’s sexual content. The series opens with Lily-Rose Depp posed semi-nude in a captivating shot that moves focus from her face to the camera crew around her. For the majority of the first three episodes, Jocelyn is primed and posed, ready to film a music video or hit the club in her convertible. We can object, but Depp shines in a gorgeous array of skimpy dresses and cheeky bralettes that fit right in with the looks from Euphoria.
What audiences didn’t expect was Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye’s stomach-turning performance as a sadistic cult leader. The nightclub owner/self-help guru secretly holds sexual power over several young women, who treat him like an idol, ironically. When Jocelyn turns to her latest fling in search of a stable relationship, she becomes entangled with his sinister exploits (which leaves the audience cringing and skipping scenes).
After the Rolling Stone article that called the show a ‘rape fantasy’, critics take the view that these moments with Tedros hypersexualise Jocelyn’s obviously vulnerable mental state. But are we missing the point? Tedros is undoubtedly the villain in this story - no glorification from The Weeknd here, who described his character as “such a loser” in an interview with GQ.
If we think the show is supposed to be sexy, we’re missing the point.
It Exposes The Trauma Surrounding The Music Industry
As much as we’d like to believe we were supporting her from the start, the #FreeBritney movement only came about years after the public took advantage of Britney Spears’ breakdown in 2007. Britney isn’t alone - female celebrities such as Lindsey Lohan and Amanda Bynes were hounded by the media when they were unwell, putting more stress on the young women and creating a perpetual cycle. The mental health of real women becomes a cultural moment, and Jocelyn is 100% a victim of this.
The second episode of The Idol explores these dark truths with the rawest moment of the series so far: Jocelyn breaks down while filming a music video and calls out for her mother, who passed away a year before. After this harrowing moment, the singer has to clean herself up and prepare to jump back into filming. This scene is a sudden glimpse into Jocelyn’s real state of mind, but it gets brushed under the rug by those closest to her with everything else that’s going on.
It looks like this is the clearest message from The Idol - it’s an exposé of the high costs of fame within the music industry. Lily-Rose Depp’s performance touches a very real issue that hides beneath all the glitz and glamor, and it deserves to be talked about.
Is It Really Bad Writing, Or Are We Just Cringing At Tedros?
The big takeaway from The Idol is that it’s straight up a bad show, which completely ignores the beautiful camerawork, the gorgeous wardrobe and the wonderful satire of it all. It looks like Levinson and Tesfaye wanted the show to be more of a controversial spectacle than a relatable drama, which means that all this bad press is playing right into what the series is really about - media response to celebrity scandal.
But the show is also a lot more. It’s sweet when Jocelyn and her assistant Leia share a quiet moment of friendship as they giggle over Tedros’ ‘vibe’. It’s in-your-face when Jennie performs a steamy choreography to ‘World Class Sinner’ as her character Dyanne. These elements meld together with the tumultuous relationship at the centre of the show to create an entertaining story that awes the audience. There’s so much more to be said about The Idol than what has caused the internet outrage. So if you think The Idol is a genius satirical take on the glamorized abuse of Hollywood, or if you think it’s just fun to watch, you’re absolutely not alone.
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