The Idol

The Idol is a dramatic series that explores the dark side of the music world, created by Sam Levinson (Euphoria), Reza Fahim and The Weeknd for HBO. The series tells the story of Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), a young pop star who tries to revive her career after a stormy interruption caused by the death of her mother. Jocelyn falls in love with Tedros (The Weeknd), a shady nightclub owner and leader of a secret cult, who manipulates her and involves her in a spiral of abuse and addiction.

The series was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and received mixed reviews. On the one hand, some appreciated Levinson’s direction, The Weeknd’s soundtrack and Lily-Rose Depp’s performance, who proves to have talent and charisma. On the other hand, some criticized the plot for being too confusing, superficial and predictable, and the characters for being poorly developed and stereotyped.

Personally, I found the series interesting but not exciting. I liked the way the series shows the dark side of fame and success, and the psychological and physical consequences that result from it. I also liked the contrast between the glamorous and sparkling world of pop music and the dark and violent one of the secret cult. However, I found the series too repetitive and monotonous, with scenes of sex and drugs that follow each other without adding anything to the story. I also found the characters unbelievable and unlikable, especially Tedros, who fails to convey any emotion or motivation.

In conclusion, The Idol is a series that can appeal to lovers of the dramatic and musical genre, but that fails to convince completely for its lack of originality and depth.