Sam Levinson created HBO Original drama The Idol gained much hype after its announcement on June 29, 2021. It was indeed, as many fans expected the successor of the acclaimed Levinson show Euphoria.
Currently, Euphoria is one of the most popular shows enjoying the height of critical success collecting several accolades and The Idol set out to walk alongside the fame of Euphoria. Well, it didn’t and the expectations are over after the release of the show the reception is plummeting.
Lily-Rose Depp Defeneded S*xual Portrayal of Jocelyn in The Idol
The Idol premiered at Cannes Film Festival with two episodes and the reviews are not that welcoming. Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye starrer show is nowhere near Sam Levinson’s previous show. Many critics dubbed the show as “s*it show” or “torture porn.”
Exactly where did the show go wrong? Perhaps the overhyped marketing and expectation as Zendaya starrer HBO show. Following Cannes’ premier, the show currently has a 27% Tomatometer score on 15 reviews. Most critics are calling the show vulgar, s*xist, grim, and gross, even the music is not up to the mark. Of course, not all reviews are negative but the majority of critics exposing the series ahead of its HBO release is terrifying.
Lily-Rose Depp, who plays the show’s protagonist, Jocelyn, however, is quite defensive of the s*xual portrayal of her character. “Jocelyn is a born and bred performer — and I think that extends to every aspect of her life, not just her professional life,” she said recently.
“The way that she dresses, for example, is her trying to tell you something all the time … Or express herself in some kind of way. I also think that the occasional bareness of the character physically mirrors the bareness that we get to see emotionally in her.”
The Idol also stars singers Troye Sivan and Jennie Kim alongside Suzanna Son, Rachel Sennott, Hari Nef, Eli Roth, and co.
Fans’ Reaction to The Idol Ahead of its HBO Release
It’s highly unlikely that Rose Depp’s defense of Sam Levinson’s exploitation of Jocelyn could be any consolation to the fans. Rose Depp further said that she was privileged to play the character in the show. “I was given the privilege of being really involved in the creation of this character and the ins and outs of how she expresses herself,” she said. Yet, fans went on digging into the critic’s evaluation of the show to express their opinion. Several fans took to Twitter to discuss the fate of the show.
When one user was hopeful about the show and the audience’s reception, another user brought up the Rotten Tomatoes score.
Perhaps, it’s reassuring for the show as some fans do not care much about the critic’s score saying that the discussion is enhancing the hype further.
While the debate over the show further promotes the hype, one user wrote that they are not particularly hopeful for the show but judging The Idol based on just 15 reviews is pretty narrow.
One user commented on the official HBO post sharing a meme recalling the success of other HBO shows Barry and Succession.
Another user pointed out the musician The Weekend’s ability to act, saying that music videos are not acting.
Another user also recalled Succession.
Well, there is a mix in the fan’s perception of the show. Some are expecting the best of it while others are comparing the show to the standard of Euphoria, Succession, and Barry. The Idol will be open for everyone from 4 June 2023 which will be aired on the HBO network and streamed at Max (formerly known as HBO Max).
Source: Twitter.
