Prior to its premiere, HBO’s The Idol had gained a lot of buzz as one of the most anticipated shows of 2023. However, Sam Levinson and Abel deviated significantly from expectations.
With each episode’s publication, the show’s lacklustre premise, overblown characters, and questionable narrative choices drew considerable criticism and unfavourable response.
To complicate matters further, HBO decided to end the series before the last episode had even aired. The studio just acknowledged the discontinuation of The Idol after its first season in a recent announcement.
Even though it inspired curiosity and excitement, HBO, the creators, and the producers unanimously decided not to proceed with a second season this week. The series, which ended its first season after only five episodes, left both viewers and cast members perplexed about its fate. While performers Moses Sumney and Da’Vine Joy Randolph expressed opposing views on its prospective continuation, HBO remained silent on the matter, creating confusion.
Previously, the show drew attention far before its premiere due to changes in directors and extensive reshooting. The Weeknd, who co-starred with Lily-Rose Depp in the film, was also accused of creating a hostile work atmosphere, as documented in a Rolling Stone exposé. These elements, along with a lukewarm critical response, played a role in its decline. The series garnered a blend of responses, registering a modest 19% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show, which was dubbed a “troubling male fantasy” by critics, did not fare well either. Although it began with 913,000 viewers, a 17% decrease from Sam Levinson’s last HBO film ‘Euphoria,’ viewership increased to 3.6 million within the first week, eventually reaching 7 million. Regrettably, the series was unable to maintain its initial ratings.
It became evident that neither the fans nor the studio wanted to bring the story back to the big screen. This is not to say that the star-studded group, which includes Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, will not continue to act. It will be interesting to see where these artists go from here.
