After drudging through five episodes of The Idol, it's clear the show was bound for failure. We held out, hoping the show would right its ship. In fact, the first two episodes were imperfect but interesting experiments. For Sam Levinson and Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, there was something percolating on the outskirts of the series. … Continue reading TV: ‘The Idol’ Wrap-Up – HBO’s Series Collapsed Under Its Own Weight
The Idol – Episode 5 – Finale – ‘Jocelyn Forever’ Recap
What was one of the year's most interesting shows stumbles to the end. While the art of Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye and Sam Levinson continues to hit on some interesting ideas, it has almost nothing to say about them. Add tonal inconsistency and a non-sensical plot, and you found The Idol gasping to be put … Continue reading The Idol – Episode 5 – Finale – ‘Jocelyn Forever’ Recap
The Idol – Episode 4 – “Stars Belong to the World” Recap
Tedros (The Weeknd) has fully taken over. Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) let the wolf into the hen house, and now Tedros controls every aspect of her life. While a few members of her team attempt to help, only Leia (Rachel Sennott) has put herself in between the two. It’ll be curious to see how long that … Continue reading The Idol – Episode 4 – “Stars Belong to the World” Recap
‘The Idol’ – Episode 3 – “Daybreak” Recap
After a sexually explicit Episode 2, Tedros made more headway into Jocelyn’s life. Her team did an abysmal job of keeping her close. Instead, he found an in-roads while boosting her confidence. To this point, The Idol has not asked much of Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye apart from his songwriting. However, Episode 3, “Daybreak,” puts … Continue reading ‘The Idol’ – Episode 3 – “Daybreak” Recap
‘The Idol’ – Episode 2 – “Double Fantasy” Recap
Already one of the most controversial shows on cable and streaming, The Idol made a splash. Lily-Rose Depp received raves, but the rest of the series struggled. The talent is all over the ensemble. The problem seems squarely on Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. While the show continues their aesthetics and interests, it’s … Continue reading ‘The Idol’ – Episode 2 – “Double Fantasy” Recap
The Idol – Episode 1 – “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales” Recap
The controversial Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. “The Weeknd,” feel like a match made in heaven. They both love Hollywood glitz. They often explore the darker sides of sex and pleasure. Neither hits 100% with their target audiences. You would argue they often alienate their fans. Yet at the same time, both find ways … Continue reading The Idol – Episode 1 – “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales” Recap