HBO’s Miniseries “The Idol” Culminates in Disappointment and Confusion as Finale Leaves Fans Searching for Answers.
The controversial miniseries “The Idol” has finally concluded, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. After five hours of viewing time and weeks of viral discourse, the finale has left many scratching their heads in confusion. The series, helmed by Sam Levinson and featuring The Weeknd, promised an incisive look at the music industry’s sexist dynamics but devolved into a lurid show of sensationalism, leaving fans disappointed. In this finale analysis, we delve into the puzzling ending, attempting to make sense of the story’s twists and turns while exploring the show’s narrative shortcomings.
The Enigmatic Finale:
The last episode kicks off with Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) recording with real-life producer and The Weeknd’s friend, Mike Dean, completing a song with lyrics about her relationship with Tedros (The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye). However, a dramatic confrontation ensues when Tedros tries to take over the session, claiming to be Jocelyn’s sole inspiration. She puts an end to his control, exposing his obsession with her since his prison days, orchestrated through her assistant/bestie Leia (Rachel Sennott) and former co-star/frenemy Xander (Troye Sivan).
The twist’s seeds were sown in the previous episode when Jocelyn learned of Tedros’s involvement with Dyanne, leading to a rapid and unconvincing 180-degree turn in her attitude toward him. She now wants nothing to do with Tedros but allows his artists to stay, and the finale centers on a bizarre meeting/showcase that takes an unexpected turn when news of a scandal involving Rob (Karl Glusman) breaks. Amidst the chaos, Jocelyn’s true intentions and manipulation of the situation come to light.
Unanswered Questions and Plot Holes:
Throughout the series, “The Idol” failed to provide satisfying explanations for various plot points, leading to confusion and frustration among the audience. The show never properly addressed the beef between Jocelyn and Xander, leaving a significant gap in the narrative. Additionally, certain scenes felt disjointed, hinting at content left on the cutting room floor during the reworking of the show from six episodes to five.
The character development of Tedros also left much to be desired, as he appeared more like “just A Guy” with inexplicable influence over talented artists. Viewers struggled to grasp the dynamics of his supposed cult-like hold on Jocelyn and her colleagues, further contributing to the unsatisfying ending.
Jocelyn’s Alleged Master Manipulation:
The finale heavily implies that Jocelyn had been the master manipulator all along, subtly pulling Tedros’s strings while appearing to succumb to his influence. However, this revelation fell flat for many viewers, as the series failed to effectively build up Jocelyn’s character as a convincing manipulator. Her sudden transformation into an empowered world star lacked proper development, leaving her actions feeling incongruous and jarring.
Critical and Audience Consensus:
“The Idol” failed to live up to its promise of dissecting the music industry’s sexist dynamics and instead veered towards shock value and exploitative storytelling. Both critics and audiences alike have expressed disappointment with the series, particularly the finale’s attempt to depict Jocelyn as a mastermind. The show’s narrative gaps and lack of character depth left viewers feeling unsatisfied with the overall.