HBO's new drama "Idol" had no chance of endearing itself to television critics. The behind-the-scenes bluster throughout the work on it shifted the talk around the series in disturbing directions, when it was announced that the project's director had been fired (after filming about 80 percent of the six episodes) because the creative team, Sam Levinson and The Weeknd, did not like the female gaze through which she chose to tell the plot they had put together.
And that's how the controversial Levinson - who signed on to the hit series "Euphoria" - volunteered to sit in the director's chair. They re-filmed, changed, stirred, inflated expenses to astronomical proportions, and yet, according to the premiere episode released this week, it seems that the change sucked in the many ills and provocation that the Jewish creator specialized in in his previous television hit.
Ill evils and provocation in divorce. "Idol," Photo: HBO
Add to the saga media reports of toxic human relations and testimonies of Levinson's exploitation and abuse on the set of "Euphoria" — and you'll understand why "Idol" can't be called the new "Euphoria," and why for now it's just interested in softening the virulent criticisms that have been leveled at it since its launch.
Perhaps as a result of that production zigzag between male and female perspectives, "Idol" opens confusingly. Over the course of about 20 minutes, she erupts like witty and sweeping satire, cleverly describing a complex and toxic atmosphere on the set of a provocative singer promoting female empowerment, while she is a puppet on a string controlled by an entire industry.
The sequence of events deals with trends and provocations, dripping with criticism of the entertainment industry, raising conflicts over nudity and exposure, digging into mental health issues, and fluttering Britney Spears. Then, all at once, the narrative is reversed.
Confusing. "Idol," Photo: HBO
Suddenly, a villainous character representing classic toxic masculinity (played by musician The Weeknd) enters the story and takes control of the narrative. Slowly, the red colors take over the frame like red flags raised one by one, and suddenly the strong man knows best how to design the queen of industrial popularity at will, and gives her an expedited process of amplification, at the end of which she surrenders to him totally.
This surely explains why lead actress Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of the infamous Johnny Depp and Vanessa Faraday) finds herself almost naked throughout the entire episode, and even when she is dressed she still looks exposed, vulnerable and unsettled; Like plasticine in the hands of a poisonous man with the vibe of a potential rapist. Which is a bit like "Euphoria," but also really, really not.
A bit like "Euphoria," but also really, really not. "Idol," Photo: HBO
"Idol" was dying to be a groundbreaking series, to walk with glitter on your face on the path of yellow stones paved for it by "Euphoria." In the first episode, she really makes such signs for a few moments. However, the rest of the time she behaves more like cheap and old-fashioned erotica. If you will, a journey back in time to a patriarchal time, when unfulfilled male fantasies shaped a twisting and amplifying television for us.
"Idol" - Premiere Episode, yes, HOT and Cellcom
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us