“The Idol” debuts on HBO with sleek visuals but lackluster content

Review of HBO‘s ‘The Idol’ Debut Episode: Inert Content with Sleek Visuals

Introduction

The debut episode of HBO‘s new series, ‘The Idol,’ starring Lily-Rose Depp, premiered on June 5, 2023. While the series boasted super-stylish visuals, the episode’s content was oddly inert, leaving viewers with many unanswered questions. After receiving savage criticism after two episodes were shown at the Cannes Film Festival, concerns remained over what story the show’s producers were trying to tell.

The Story Line

The story revolves around a pop star, Jocelyn, who has come through a mental health crisis and is seduced by an unscrupulous hipster club owner/self-help guru/cult leader, Tedros, played by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. The fact that Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson, co-creator and executive producer of ‘Euphoria,’ are behind the series was the first sign that the show would be steamy and sordid, with scenes of nudity and sex that appear to be marketed to a male audience.

Lack of Subtlety

The first episode of ‘The Idol’ is disappointingly predictable, lacking in the subtlety and creative storytelling that helped make ‘Euphoria’ so compelling. The very first episode does little more than introduce the main characters and provides little insight into the plot or where it is heading. Jocelyn’s handlers are crudely drawn, materialistic, and callous, insensitive to her psychological pain, which provides little space for character development or the exploration of Jocelyn’s mental health crisis and recovery.

Male-Oriented Fantasy

The show’s producers have been accused of turning ‘The Idol’ into a toxic, male-oriented fantasy, emphasizing nudity and sex that has no bearing on the plot. For instance, a scene depicting Depp’s character in the act of self-choking and enjoying it feels contrived and cheap, aimed solely at creating a controversy rather than adding any depth to the plot. The depiction of Tedros’ character as aggressive, seductive, and dangerous is a direct reflection of how the story perceives masculinity, which could be uncomfortable for many viewers. Some may argue that the show could have been intended to empower women rather than show them as passively vulnerable. Still, the execution is lacking.

Conclusion

The debut episode of ‘The Idol’ was not what one would expect from the creators of ‘Euphoria,’ except for perhaps the portrayal of a hedonistic world filled with sex, drugs, and alcohol. However, the series lacked the subtlety and creativity that set ‘Euphoria’ apart, and the show’s overly sexualized content forced on the audience made it difficult to determine the show’s direction. Perhaps the show will improve in future episodes, but it must explore its characters more deeply and avoid the traps of male-objectification to become a better show.