LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Idol' has been the narrative of a young woman who has had a difficult day at work and wants to let off some steam, then invites a rando over for filthy sex reasons. But, if you take the first episode at its value, 'The Idol' is about young people left in a wasteland after their parents forsake them.
The series, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival last month, stars Lily Rose-Depp as Jocelyn, a pop diva attempting to make a comeback after a mental breakdown, and Abel Tesfaye aka The Weekend as a nightclub manager and self-help guru assisting her. Sam Levinson, Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim developed it. Early on, the show's promotional materials emphasized its edginess, referring to Sam and Abel as "the sick & twisted minds" behind "the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood" in a teaser. However, the show received negative attention after Rolling Stone published an exposé labeling it a "rape fantasy" and stating that it went "wildly, disgustingly off the rails" following cast changes and the departure of original director Amy Seimetz.
When will 'The Idol' Episode 2 release?
'The Idol' Episode 2 will air June 11, 2023, at 9 pm ET.
How to watch 'The Idol' Episode 2?
You can watch the second episode of 'The Idol' on HBO and streaming service Max (HBO Max).
What to expect from 'The Idol' Episode 2?
The synopsis of the episode reads, "After clashing with her team over her album's first single, Jocelyn pushes herself to the limit on the set of her new music video, while Nikki sees potential in backup dancer Dyanne; Tedros introduces Jocelyn and Leia to Izaak and Chloe."
In episode two, Jocelyn's label rejects her "new sound," which includes a lot of orgasmic groaning and Weeknd-esque production; shortly after, she emotionally disintegrates on the set of her new music video and fears she will lose everything. Tedros played by The Weeknd invites several buddies over for cocaine and sex, then chooses to stay for two weeks to assist Jocelyn in rerecording the whole album.
What happened on 'The Idol' Episode 1?
We meet Jocelyn, a pop singer whose mother died a year ago and who may or may not have had a psychiatric collapse as a result. She's taken an eight-month break and is preparing to reintroduce herself with a track called 'World-Class Sinner,' but she's not sure if she likes it. Jocelyn is a perfectionist who is harsh on herself and anxious to succeed at any cost. She also enjoys masturbating while choking herself, which she does twice in the first two episodes. She meets Tedros Tedros, a club owner, manager, and probable cult leader of numerous aspiring musicians, all of whom appear to be financially and emotionally under his control. He's been described as "rape-y" and "sketchy," with his rattail, scary attitude, and the tendency for creeping about in the dark in black trench coats and shocking his painters. And, according to Jocelyn's worried management team, he's suddenly vanished.
The two begin hooking up in his club, but are stopped by her closest friend and assistant, Rachel Sennott's Leia, who does not approve of his vibe. Undaunted, Jocelyn asks Tedros to her house the next night, where he urges her to recreate her song, but this time sing it "like she knows how to fuck," or, as he explains, "like Donna Summer in 'Love to Love You, Baby." They record a new version of 'Sinner' after he suffocates her with a silk robe. He pulls out a pocket knife, cuts a small hole in her mouth, and orders her to sing through it before (possibly?) fucking her. This everything happens in the first episode.
'The Idol' airs new episodes every Sunday on Max at 9 pm ET.
