The Idol: HBO’s Controversial Drama Is Ending One Week Early — Here’s Why (Exclusive)
The Idol‘s tour is ending sooner than we thought.
Next week’s Episode 5 of the controversial HBO drama is being billed as the “season finale,” even though the series was originally reported as having six episodes. The finale, titled “Jocelyn Forever,” will air this Sunday at 9/8c.
An HBO rep declined to comment, but a source tells TVLine, “The season ended up being five episodes when it was all said and done after Sam [Levinson] took over and made significant changes. The story only ended up requiring 5.”
The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp as a pop starlet who falls under the spell of a club promoter played by The Weeknd, has been mired in controversy since before it even premiered, with an explosive Rolling Stone article detailing turmoil behind the scenes, including the exit of original director Amy Seimetz and accusations of creating “sexual torture porn” leveled at co-creators Sam Levinson (Euphoria) and The Weeknd. The Idol premiered to scathing reviews at the Cannes Film Festival before debuting on HBO earlier this month. (TVLine readers gave the series premiere a stinging “D” grade.)
Rumors swirled of a swift cancellation by HBO, with the New York Post quoting an inside source as saying: “This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series.” But HBO pushed back on that by tweeting out a denial: “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
Are you still watching The Idol? Would you watch a Season 2? Hit the comments to give us your thoughts.
This is a very beautiful show. It’s just that Americans, especially from New York, have become like Victorians.
Yes, I would like a second season. I’m Europeian. We have sex and erotica.
It isn’t that we Americans have a problem with sex and erotica, it is that we have a problem with the boring writing and bad acting. I keep falling asleep when I try and watch it and The Weekend is so bad. If it wasn’t for Dan Levy, Devine Joy Randolph and some of the other characters I would have already dropped it.
Up to now, I feel “Showgirls” deserve a Oscar compared to “Idol” 🤣
Dan Levy was only in the first episode and for like 10mins. Weak comment bro.
Yes, and the trailer suggested he would be there more. That is the only reason I keep watching, in case he shows up again. His “I’m in a Twilight Zone episode” line was the best of the whole show.
Why especially and specifically from New York? And what part of Europe are you from that they spell it “Europeian” and not “European”?
Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, Alina, and it’s great that you’ve found some value in the show, but honestly, it’s dull and horribly written. I’m sure the idea was great when it was pitched, but the execution has left a lot to be desired.
I’m not sure it was ever a beautiful idea. I think it was bog standard HBO fare in the “soft core porn” only with “name actresses/actors.” It gets ratings, but doesn’t have a lot of quality.
Alina is a Russian name, maybe Europeian = European + Russian? 🤣
Good call. Probably a Putin sockpuppet.
Who else would be so ignorant to think that New Yorkers are the least sophisticated Americans? For better or worse, they have to be among the most. I’m speaking as a Californian by the way (middle sophistication at best ha ha).
I’m an Americaian and I LOVE sex and erotica. However porn has better acting and stories than The Idol.
lol what’s being portrayed in The Idol is not sex and erotica. Are you quite young/inexperienced? Only asking because what’s being portrayed on The Idol is completely unimaginative and in no way erotic.
I don’t know where you’ve been that you’ve been under the impression that sex is underrepresented in American media? Lol. Especially sex of the kind that’s shown in this show: i.e. perfectly slim young female bodies ogled by men. That’s basically all of American music and other media, right? The idea that this show is somehow “daring” is so weird – it’s only doing a hyped up version of what most media is already doing. Imagine actually featuring regular looking people’s desires and bodies – now that would be different and beyond most boundaries of current representation!
Are you including Rap & Hip hop in “all of American music,” because I’m not sure their standard is slim…
Here in Indonesia we love the show, I can see why people find the sex scenes a bit too much but I let my family watch as it doesn’t seem that bad compared to our local shows.
Just confirms my desire to never visit Indonesia.
If you change your mind you you’re welcome to stay with us, you can watch Idol with my family and I!
Well that’s mean. Franky W clearly doesn’t have anything good to watch if The Idol looks good! Hey Franky you have HBO right if you are watching The Idol? There’s an insanely great back catalog and current series to tap into.
The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Game of Thrones (terrific until they botched the ending but still worthwhile), Rick & Morty, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Last of Us, White Lotus, Succession. Just some ideas for starters, all of which are a million times better than The Idol. Upgrade your family’s viewing!
I guess you oh so sophisty-cated Europeans can’t tell the difference between art and trash or a watchable show vs an intolerably stupid one.
The Idol reminds me of the old 1995 film, Showgirls. They’re are a lot of similarities, but the main thing is that they are both so bad they are actually good. Like a horrific car accident, I can’t look away, no matter how hard I try!
OMG that movie was so bad, but you are absolutely right it was hard to turn away. Even the good actors were horrible!
Showgirls has a following for being camp and so over the top and cringe that it reaches “The Room” status of being so bad starts to come back around and become good in how bad it is. My problem with “The Idol” is that is doesn’t ever reach that tipping point of so bad it’s good.
It’s a bad show. Like, Sam and Abel are not treading any new ground here – men abusing women and exploiting them has been done forever.
They couldn’t even come up with a unique riff on it. It’s not good.
Episode four throws your basic proposal here into serious question.
You think that’s crazy… Originally this overhauled version was only going to be 4 episodes long, so last night’s episode would’ve been the finale. I guess they somehow squeezed out an additional episode with all the stuff they shot?
Originally it was going to be 6 episodes…
As someone who worked on the production, I can say that, yes, the version that was thrown out was supposed to be 6 episodes, but they only shot five before the plug was pulled. THIS version (the one headed by Sam Levinson) was only 4 episodes long, there were only four scripts. After watching episode four and seeing the preview for next week’s finale, I can see that episode four was the filler one, and the original ending/episode four as scripted is what became episode five. So the OP is right, this version was only supposed to be four episodes long and they stretched it to five.
The Idol is boring and very claustrophobic. I gave it 3 episodes and then deleted it from my record list. None of the grit and grime of Euphoria and, I hate to say it, no Zendaya to make it more than it is. Very miscast with The Wekend role. Should have been a real lothario type. He was not strong enough to play that character.
Learn how to spell Weeknd that’s the correct spelling of the artist
Pretty sure that was an autocorrect from “The Weeknd” to “The Weekend.” Too bad there isn’t an autocorrect for your attitude…
What an absolutely bizarre story this show has turned into.
The show isn’t as bad as everyone is saying. I have watched it from day one and it still has my attention. It has been disturbing in some areas, but it’s still an interesting show. I think Lily-Rose Depp is fearless and I think she has a real career in films, not just as a model. Although I am sure Johnny isn’t watching his little girl in this, I am sure he’s still proud of her bravery to tackle such a role. I really love the music in this series as well. If there are additional episodes, I wish they’d tone down the torture and the sex. I am getting very tired of seeing Jocelyn’s nipples. If there is a second season, I’d like to get more great music and more character development. Also, I don’t think the Weeknd is as awful as everyone is saying. I commend all of the actors and actresses who are a part of this series.
Thank you. Finally a nuanced take amongst these swarms of overly exaggerated scathing reviews that try to pretend “The Idol” is a crime against humanity’s progressive values and the art of acting.
This show and The Weekend’s acting are not as bad as the mob will have you believe. The outrage is more ridiculous than any of the controversial scenes in the show, which as a whole is, at the very least, interesting to watch.
Why are people so mad because to me, extreme at times as it is, but it just shows how predatory in nature the music industry is and to act like these type of shady people and things don’t happen is ludicrous. How many real life stories haven’t been heard of girls (Aaliyah) being violated in the industry by creeps like Tedros who actually have pull in the industry due to the fact that they were cash cows for labels, nothing was done instead they made sure these things were hidden deeply. i.e. Dr. Luke. R. Kelly; he only went to jail once he stopped making them tons of money yet evidence was there for many years. As long as you keep making them tons of money, you are PROTECTED.
The show is like watching a train wreck/car crash? The only way THE IDOL could be tolerable is if I WERE in a train wreck/car crash watching it.
I quit watching during the third episode. This show just seems like an excuse to show Depp’s body as much as possible. No real story, really bad writing and acting. I’m no prude; I like good erotica but no reason to waste my time on this sleaze.
One of the most idiotic things I’ve ever seen.
The Weeknd should stick to semi decent music, and the SJP in sex & the city chain smoking is disgusting to be honest.
This show is completely deserving of all the bad press, and if the behind the scenes stuff is true then there should be repercussions as well.
It’s like a horrible car wreck — it’s atrocious to look at it but you can’t stop… that’s why I’m still watching Rape-y The Weeknd on Sundays…
Byeeeee! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out
HBO is going out of its way to not embarrass the show runners, clearly this will never come back but HBO wants to work with these guys again…its the nicest way I’ve ever scene a show get cancelled .
I agree. I think they want to stay in business with Sam Levinson and are trying to save face
Same is the son of multiple Oscar-winner Barry Levinson. Nepo.
I’m curious what this show would have been like before The Weeknd started demanding changes. Would it have been better or worse?
Without his character in a major role, it seems as if this would have been an over-the-top look at humorously grotesque show-biz types that was fun to watch. Most of the really creepy, want-to-look-away stuff involves him and his cult.
Every episode I watch of The Idol leaves me feeling so disturbed and I’m saying to myself “ how is Jocelyn so under this pigs spell? “ She’s so broken, it’s very sad. Once again, these entertainers have so many people around them that don’t say No enough! It’s very hard to see her being so abused in such a disgusting way.
Yea, I feel like the fact she’s into him is just because Sam and Abel lack any accurate self assessment skills. So it’s all just ego.
Like, no, this guy isn’t remotely anything worth it.
Hahaha.
So hating that pig’s spell….wow the Weekend must really being doing a great acting job if you hate him so much. It’s not the actor, it’s not the nudity it’s the topic that offends. Well I’d say go bury your head in the sand cause that happens in real life. I’m sure the Weekend’s not going “I really relate to my character”
This is such a garbage show. Good riddance. I don’t really care about the sex; although, it does seem unnecessarily gratuitous (much like Euphoria). It’s just not an interesting show to story and Abel Tesfaye needs to spend a lot of time in acting class before he gets in front of the camera again.
Any show people seem to hate this much but can’t stop talking about, must have a 2nd season. There hasn’t been anything this much fun in a long time.
I don’t know how this show got aired as is or where the budget went. It’s like some bad incel written fanfic. There are a number of strong performers on this show that deserve better. I watched to see if the reviews were being hyperbolic and to judge for myself. This was definitely a show written with the twisted male gaze.
I gave it two episodes and gave up. Too many good hours out there on streaming, this just wasn’t good enough. I tire easily of these shows where I have no one to root for. Everyone was just too flawed for me. Maybe that’s my issue, but I say it’s a swing and a miss for HBO this time around.
I’ve been watching this out of curiosity more than anything. I was hoping it would eventually become half as good as Euphoria, which I actually enjoy, but with only one episode left, I can’t see that ever happening. I have to wonder if the discarded episodes directed by Amy Seimetz were any better.
I find the series addicting. The episodes fly by, I felt super bad for Troye this week having to be electrocuted the The Weeknd.
Renew it for season 2
yes i would.
I am no prude, but this series was just pornographic garage that just wanted to shock for the sake of shock. The characters weren’t even that interesting. After 3 episodes, I just tuned out.
Has anyone noticed the similarities between the writing style of The Idol and Glamorous? They are both just so awkward and uncomfortable to watch for kind of similar reasons, in terms of the dialogue and narrative development, even though The Idol is obviously much more graffic. Have we entered a new era of cringe tv???