Review: HBO‘s ‘The Idol’ offers stylish yet oddly inert debut episode
Introduction
HBO‘s new series ‘The Idol’, featuring Lily-Rose Depp as the lead character, premiered on June 5, and it has raised some attention with its super-stylish but oddly inert opening episode. Despite the hype, it did not answer the big questions surrounding the show and left some wondering if it’s a male-oriented fantasy that is trying to pass as an empowering show.
Overview
The series has already faced criticism when two episodes debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in France, and a Rolling Stone expose accused producers of increasing the show’s sexuality to toxic levels. So, what story is ‘The Idol’ trying to tell?
The show revolves around a pop star named Jocelyn, who has come through a mental health crisis, and is now getting seduced by a hipster club owner/self-help guru/cult leader played by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. The first episode displayed some bold scenes that seemed questionable, such as Jocelyn’s scene where she pleasures herself while choking herself. Additionally, some viewers found her comments about liking a “rapey” vibe from Tesfaye’s character Tedros uncomfortable and felt it appealed to the male gaze instead of authentic choices.
Analysis
It’s worth noting that women may have different preferences, and some may agree with Jocelyn’s ideals. The show’s co-creator and executive producer, Sam Levinson, is also behind the hit series ‘Euphoria’, which features similar themes to ‘The Idol.’ The show tries to portray the steamy, sordid vibe of ‘Euphoria’s party scenes’, with a sequence in Tedros’ club where he seduces Jocelyn to the pulsing beat of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” However, ‘The Idol’ seems to be lacking the storytelling magic that made ‘Euphoria’ such a popular series.
Editorial
The debut episode of ‘The Idol’ doesn’t offer much in terms of plot development, and the action is scarce, even if there are bursts of nudity and sex. Jocelyn’s handlers come off as vulgar and focused on commerce. However, they seem very oblivious to their client’s pain, raising concerns about revenge porn and its consequences for a pop superstar.
There are also some concerns about the show’s direction. Is it a story about power, wealth, and fame, masquerading as a critique of it? Or is it just an empowerment tale that caters to a male audience? Judging by the first episode, it seems hard to tell.
Advice
The Idol’s debut episode was stylish but lacked substance, which may leave some viewers uninterested or uncomfortable with its direction. The next five episodes will need to bring the magic of ‘Euphoria’ and provide us with meaningful character development to engage the audience fully. While The Idol may be worth keeping on your radar, it’s not a must-watch series yet.
<< photo by Mike Meyers >>
