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The Idol

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Photo: Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO

We meet Jocelyn, a pop star whose mother has died a year earlier and who may or may not have had a psychological breakdown thereafter. She’s since taken eight months off and is ready to reintroduce herself with a single called “World-Class Sinner,” but she isn’t sure she likes it. (It sounds sort of like a Dua Lipa/Charli XCX castoff.) Jocelyn is a perfectionist, hard on herself, and desperate to succeed at any cost, and she also likes to masturbate while choking herself (something we see her do twice in the first two episodes alone). She meets Tedros Tedros (yes, that’s his full name), a club owner, manager, and possible cult leader of several fledgling artists, all of whom seem to be under his control financially and emotionally. — Rachel Handler, “All Your Burning Questions About The Idol’s Cannes Premiere, Answered”

  1. Episode 5 Jocelyn Forever
    The Idol Finale Recap: Jocelyn on Top “You’re mine. Forever. Now go stand over there.”
  2. Episode 4 Stars Belong to the World
    The Idol Recap: Jocelyn’s House of Horrors “Shock him again.”
  3. Episode 3 Daybreak
    The Idol Recap: All That Trauma Truly an awful episode of television.
  4. Episode 2 Double Fantasy
    The Idol Recap: Team Dyanne Dyanne’s coming for you, Jocelyn.
  5. Episode 1 Pop Tarts & Rat Tales
    The Idol Series-Premiere Recap: Frosted Like a Pop-Tart The Idol on HBO is about a pop star bored by her own music.

More on The Idol

  1. dysphoria
    Sam Levinson’s Most Powerful Ally Is Over ItZendaya reportedly “cooled” toward the Euphoria creator over The Idol and season-three delays.
    By Zoe Guy
  2. tv review
    If Only Someone Had Overthrown The RegimeHBO’s latest limited series is desperate to say things about fascism but can only get as far as noticing them.
    By Kathryn VanArendonk
  3. weak end
    Max Tells The Idol ‘You’re Leavin’, Son’The controversial series from Sam Levinson and the Weeknd ends after one season.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  4. i feel the sad
    Troye Sivan Must Watch MoonstruckA gay crime (not watching Cher’s Oscar-winning role) was revealed through lie detection.
    By Jason P. Frank
  5. into it
    Why Are Intimacy Coordinators Still the Butt of the Joke?It’s 2023 and Hollywood is still confused about what they do and how to use them.
    By Sam Sanders
  6. abel’s angels
    What’s Going On With The Idol?HBO said a second season is actually still possible.
    By Charu Sinha and Bethy Squires
  7. lingering questions
    14 Questions I Had After Watching The Idol Season FinaleWhy did anyone do any of the things they did, ever?
    By Bethy Squires
  8. vulture recommends
    Prep for The Idol Season Finale by Watching D’Angelo Wallace Tear It ApartThe Idol season one finale drops tonight.
    By Bethy Squires
  9. close read
    This Should Have Been a No-BrainerThe Weeknd and Sam Levinson aimed for greatness with The Idol. The result was as subtle as a Lifetime film.
    By Craig Jenkins
  10. idol chatter
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph on What Was and Wasn’t Supposed to Happen in The Idol“It’s everyone’s desire and intention to do a season two, and until we hear differently, that’s the plan.”
    By Rachel Handler
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