Disappointment in HBO‘s “The Idol” Debut Episode
The debut episode of HBO‘s “The Idol” left much to be desired, as it offered super-stylish presentation yet proved to be oddly inert. The series stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star recovering from a mental health crisis and seduced by a hipster club owner/self-help guru/cult leader portrayed by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. The opening episode of the show offered bursts of nudity and sex that may have been intended to distract from the lack of action on-screen, and there were issues with male gaze in the scenes as well. The producers have also been criticized for turning the show into a toxic, male-oriented fantasy.
Issues with Presentation and Writing
The biggest problem with the show’s debut episode is that there wasn’t much happening. The story seemed stuck in a claustrophobic bubble with little scope for action. The fact that the producers relied on bursts of nudity and sex to distract from the lack of action is a disappointing and predictable strategy. Some scenes in “The Idol” recall the steamy, sordid vibe that “Euphoria’s” party scenes effectively carried. However, there’s a crucial difference between “Euphoria” and “The Idol,” and that is the inventive and surprising storytelling that made “Euphoria” feel so special is nowhere to be seen in “The Idol.”
Moreover, the show’s writing lacks subtlety. Every scene laboriously lays out a chunk of backstory. Jocelyn’s handlers are as vulgar, focused on commerce, and oblivious to their client’s pain as expected, even as they try to gauge her reaction to news that an explicitly sexual picture of her is public and trending on Twitter. The writing also failed to handle the revenge porn story arc well, which didn’t make sense as Jocelyn’s reply seemed blasé.
Genuine Storytelling or Toxic Fantasy?
The show’s potential exploitation of women to pique male interest is worrisome. Choking, pain, and humiliation can have various meanings for women, and the show’s portrayal functions in the male gaze. The larger concerns about the show- is it a toxic male fantasy posing as an empowerment tale, or an ode to power, wealth, and fame masquerading as a critique of it- remain unanswered. In the first episode, not much happens to truly understand where the story is headed, and that’s a warning sign.
Final Verdict
The debut episode of “The Idol” seems to offer an uninspiring and too-predictable story, lacking the small-screen magic that viewers have come to expect from HBO productions. The show has been predicted to disappoint audiences, just like many other shows that have been recently featured on the streaming giant. The producers should work on improving the storytelling to give viewers a reason to anticipate the remaining five episodes.
After all, viewers have high expectations from HBO productions, and “The Idol” has failed to meet those expectations with its debut episode.
<< photo by Trym Nilsen >>
