The Idol has been cancelled at HBO, after only one season. HBO has chosen to not renew the controversial collection from Sam Levinson and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye, which was subjected to poor reception from each critics and audiences alike. Season 1 ended after merely 5 episodes, regardless of initially mentioning six deliberate episodes. This prompted many to marvel if the studio was pulling the plug on the present early on resulting from hate-watching, albeit it was claimed later that it was a communication error. When rumours concerning the cancellation of a second season started making rounds in June, HBO’s PR staff stepped in to say {that a} choice had not been made.
“The Idol was one in all HBO’s most provocative authentic applications, and we’re happy by the sturdy viewers response,” an HBO spokesperson instructed The Hollywood Reporter. “After a lot thought and consideration, HBO, in addition to the creators and producers have determined to not transfer ahead with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, forged, and crew for his or her unimaginable work.” Whereas some actors signed on for the present pondering it was a restricted collection, star Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph claimed in an interview that The Idol was at all times deliberate to have a second season and that HBO was ‘pleased’ with the way it turned out. Regardless of her feedback, HBO stopped exhibiting viewer information after the primary two episodes.
The premiere drew 913,000 views throughout HBO cable and Max (previously, HBO Max), which was 17 p.c decrease than co-creator Levinson’s earlier hit collection Euphoria (1.1 million viewers). Episode 2 dipped barely to 800,000 viewers, after which the studio stopped placing out information. On the time, HBO attributed the drop in view rely to linear tv viewers, which made sense contemplating The Idol is focused at a youthful demographic — most of whom would ideally want streaming platforms over the TV channel. In India, the present was made accessible to stream on JioCinema, although Viacom18 hasn’t revealed any metrics but. The Idol opened to a 19 p.c common ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, with key factors of criticism being the overtly graphic sexual scenes and the shortage of route.
Dialogue from the present was closely memed on the web, particularly, the soiled discuss uttered by The Weeknd, who performed the cult chief Tedros who invaded pop star Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) life. Again in March, a Rolling Stone report touched upon The Idol’s on-set turmoil, the place its authentic director Amy Seimetz (Upstream Colour) exited the venture when 80 p.c of the work was executed. The main target was meant to be on the struggles and exploitation of a rising pop star in Los Angeles, earlier than Levinson got here on board and overwrote most of Seimetz’s work to glorify the poisonous relationship between Depp and Tesfaye’s characters. He additionally ended up directing all episodes. It was additionally revealed that co-creator Tesfaye/ The Weeknd felt just like the present was initially leaning ‘an excessive amount of right into a feminine perspective.’
All 5 episodes of The Idol at the moment are accessible to stream on JioCinema in India, and Max wherever accessible.
