The Idol (2023)

HBO | Release Date: June 4, 2023

0.7	USER SCORE Overwhelming dislike based on 177 Ratings

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VeyniJun 10, 2023

A rather provocative series that immerses us in the world of the music industry, along with all the difficulties and problems of the stars. Sam Levinson was once again able to present us with an unusual story.

Lily-Rose Depp plays her roleA rather provocative series that immerses us in the world of the music industry, along with all the difficulties and problems of the stars. Sam Levinson was once again able to present us with an unusual story.

Lily-Rose Depp plays her role superbly, in my opinion, even somewhere on the level of Zendaya in Euphoria. Perhaps not everyone will like her acting, but I was definitely impressed with her. And what about The Weekend? For a character who is likely to be with Jocelyn all the time in future episodes, he doesn't have much screen time at the time of the first episode (he appeared closer to the middle of the series). But his acting abilities can already be appreciated. All in all, it's not bad for a debut, but there's room to grow.

Although I don't think this series is better than Euphoria yet, I did manage to enjoy it yesterday. However, it's difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the series after just one episode. It will need more time to be fully evaluated, but I'm inclined to give it a higher rating than what the critics have given it.… Expand

32 of 173 users found this helpful32141

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DmasaprllJun 5, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Damn, all actor & actress deeply immersed in their role, anwy congrats for your debut as actress Jennie!… Expand

28 of 170 users found this helpful28142

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jpmistJul 12, 2023

I'm quite shocked at the negative reviews. It seems the series is being punished for it's X- rated content and not the quality of it's production. My "7" score is because the end twist could have been presented better along with the awful 10I'm quite shocked at the negative reviews. It seems the series is being punished for it's X- rated content and not the quality of it's production. My "7" score is because the end twist could have been presented better along with the awful 10 minute exposition bomb her "team" dropped in the last 15 minutes which hinted that an entire episode was written out mid-production. That Tedros is so hated shows how effectively his character was written! He was supposed to be hated! One of the most awful villains in recent memory. Too much cringe is hard to argue, I skipped thru quite a bit of it, but that's the creative choice of the producers and if you can't handle it, there are a million cop procedurals you might enjoy instead. Heat/kitchen, guys.

I saw quite a few impressive performances and scenes that felt original and smart. Her "team" was hilarious and spot on. Being an old fart, none of the music is to my taste, and I care even less about dancing, but the energy, style and commitment of the series' presentation exceeds quite a few of the 80-90 rated shows I see here.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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albertbanaJun 13, 2023

I really can’t understand why this show has such bad reviews. It’s very interesting, looking forward to the rest of it.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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Thunder0Jun 18, 2023

"En mi opinión, la serie de streaming en cuestión es simplemente 'ok'. Si bien tiene algunos aspectos positivos, también presenta ciertos elementos que no lograron cautivarme por completo.

Uno de los puntos fuertes de la serie es su premisa"En mi opinión, la serie de streaming en cuestión es simplemente 'ok'. Si bien tiene algunos aspectos positivos, también presenta ciertos elementos que no lograron cautivarme por completo.

Uno de los puntos fuertes de la serie es su premisa interesante y prometedora. El concepto inicial y la premisa central tienen potencial, y puedo reconocer los esfuerzos creativos y la originalidad que se han invertido en ella. Además, los aspectos técnicos, como la calidad de la producción, la cinematografía y el diseño de producción, son satisfactorios.

Sin embargo, donde la serie se queda corta es en la ejecución de la trama y el desarrollo de los personajes. A pesar de contar con un elenco talentoso, sentí que los personajes no estaban lo suficientemente desarrollados y carecían de profundidad. Además, la narrativa se volvió predecible en varios momentos, lo que afectó mi nivel de emoción y compromiso con la historia.

Aunque la serie tenía algunos episodios o momentos emocionantes y entretenidos, no logró mantener ese nivel de intriga y emoción de manera constante a lo largo de la temporada. También hubo algunos subtramas o giros argumentales que no fueron del todo satisfactorios o que no se exploraron en profundidad.

En resumen, considero que la serie es aceptable y ofrece entretenimiento en ciertos aspectos. Sin embargo, no alcanzó su máximo potencial y quedó un poco por debajo de mis expectativas. Aunque podría recomendarla a aquellos que buscan una opción pasable para pasar el tiempo, no puedo decir que sea una serie que destaque o que recomendaría con entusiasmo".… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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truerockJun 26, 2023

The HBO series The Idol includes a lot of graphic sex and nudity. It portrays issues that have generated a huge amount of analysis in the press and continues to be extremely relevant and critical to today's social context.

The series hasThe HBO series The Idol includes a lot of graphic sex and nudity. It portrays issues that have generated a huge amount of analysis in the press and continues to be extremely relevant and critical to today's social context.

The series has garnered incredibly poor reviews which reflects individual's inability to perceive the difference between real world reality and the fiction in a film or literature. Sometimes it is comical how people involve themselves in fictional entertainment and somehow forget that it is not real.

In the case of The Idol the subject of the series and the series itself are actually very close to each other. I just finished reading a review in my local newspaper of the Idol where the critic completely lost himself in the character Tedros portrayed by Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (aka The Weekend) and was beside himself in his obvious emotional hatred of Tesfaye. Yes, it is absolutely universally accepted the Tesfaye is not a good actor, or a good person - perhaps even loathsome. But, in the context of The Idol that would be type-casting Tesfaye for the Tedros role. And, that is the issue of reality and fiction in The Idol having a juxtaposition that professional critics (and most individuals watching The Idol) cannot separate.

The issues covered in The Idol are extremely important and extremely relevant in the context of today's social environment. But, I rate film on the quality of its product. Obviously, with an HBO/Cinemax/Discovery budget the size here - it is an almost automatic that the quality of the technical aspect of the film will be good. The editing, cinematography, staging, costumes, etc, etc will be good. The creative aspect of the film... casting, writing, acting, directing (and, well editing) can not necessarily be purchased for any amount of money. Talented people are talented and paying them more money does not make them more talented.

So - anyway - casting Tesfay to play the role of a bad character is a completely rational thing to do. And lets' be clear... Samuel Levinson creates film that stares at things that normal people cannot abide. I find myself looking away when I can't stomach what is in his film - but, what is in Levinson's film is relevant and worthy.

And to reiterate - the subjects of The Idol are important, complex and currently not well understood (in my opinion). I've only watched part of The Idol. I may change my rating when I have seen more of the series.

And... oh... I almost forgot to comment on the blatant nudity and sex in The Idol. I'm not going to fractionate the issues of sex and nudity in films, literature or just life in general. Obviously, sex and nudity are an aspect of reality and there are a lot of very, very strong opinions regarding all kinds of aspects of them - especially in today's environment. I watch films that I find difficult to watch. Difficult to watch because they contain depictions of the most horrible things humanity has. Nudity and sex in and of themselves are not bad things - of course. Depicting them in film and literature is something beyond the scope of my film review of The Idol.

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I had an additional thought. I have recently written 2 reviews of films I rated highly that had a rapper for one of the lead roles. This is the second time I have said I did not like the rapper's acting. There may be something about a rapper's artistic skill set that I do not understand. I'm going to self-evaluate this issue in the future.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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junjinightsJun 26, 2023

The Idol is pure aesthetic. Drugs and erotism, love and death, art and life. It put on screen the most depraveted california youth without any filter. The sexual scenes between lilly-rose and the weeknd feel very real. The perversion are wellThe Idol is pure aesthetic. Drugs and erotism, love and death, art and life. It put on screen the most depraveted california youth without any filter. The sexual scenes between lilly-rose and the weeknd feel very real. The perversion are well screened. Nothing to say, a good example of how you can show the "fast life" of popular people in LA.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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EludiumQ36Aug 5, 2023

"The Idol" (S01, 5-eps, 45-60min, MAX) is one of those shows that comes out every 5 yrs or so that just blows you away. This is heavy, NC-17 aka TV-MA material so you need to be a real adult to understand all the nuances at play in this"The Idol" (S01, 5-eps, 45-60min, MAX) is one of those shows that comes out every 5 yrs or so that just blows you away. This is heavy, NC-17 aka TV-MA material so you need to be a real adult to understand all the nuances at play in this incredible portrayal of a hyper-sexualized top-of-her-game pop singer and the seriously dysfunctional people in her inner circle. Lily-Rose Depp breaks out as title character, Joselyn. This 23yo gives her all in this performance that would normally see her capture an Emmy except for the hyper-sexuality of her performance. There are so many interweaved subplots featuring betrayal and sociopathic manipulation that it's simply hard to stop watching, definitely one of the most bingeable series you'll ever watch. This hasn't yet cleared for a second season, but so much happened in this one that I'm not sure I could take another!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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