The Idol is cringe at best.

After producing Euphoria, one of the most watched but controversial teen dramas of the century. Sam Levison strikes again this time he gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of the wild music industry with his latest TV show called the Idol. The series streams on HBO and is filled with awkward sex scenes and sadism. It stars Lily-Rose Deep, Abel Tesfaye aka the Weekend, Jennie Ruby and Trove Sivan among other notable names. Deep plays the main character Jocelyn a renowned pop star who has to get her music back on the charts after she has a temporary mental breakdown after her mother dies. She has a team of fast-talking and no-nonsense music executives who are betting on her new album like their lives depend on it. Jocelyn has to deliver and time seems to be ticking as a tour hangs in the balance. She is clearly feeling the pressure as she has a mini meltdown in a music video shoot.

Deep's performance starts off hobble in the first episode but she does a terrific job in the second episode when she draws you in and makes you feel sorry for Jocelyn, it is clear that her character has been through a lot, but has to pull herself together despite all that she has encountered in the past year because pop stars are not seen as human but just products who are sold and marketed to millions. The music industry is a business and the Idol lays bare how this massive engine works. The weekend who plays Tedros is introduced to us as a nightclub owner who meets Jocelyn after encouraging her back up singer played by Jennie Ruby of Blackpink fame to make sure the pop star comes to his club.

Tedros is cringe, he has a whispery voice and a rat tail which is mentioned by other characters several times. He quickly worms himself into Jocelyn's life and ends up becoming a permanent house guest in her mansion and bed. Tedros doesn't come alone. He is somewhat a cult leader of a group of very talented musicians whom he treats like pets. He also punishes one of his artists by using an electric collar which is just cringe to watch. Tedros moves in with his followers and becomes the self-appointed executive producer of Jocelyn's new album much to the dismay of music executives who think Tedros is just a shady character using Jocelyn for his own gains. The weekend's performance makes Tedros the most annoying character on the show. I don't know if that is how he was supposed to be portrayed but it seems like he is trying too hard to breathe life into a character who is just plain boring. He is not charismatic nor entertaining.

In the first few episodes Tedros seems to have the upper hand and is in complete control, but things turn around as Jocelyn seems to have been operating from the shadows all along and was using Tedros to make her chart-topping hits. The unpredictable twist of the story isn't exciting. It feels like one writer just woke up and decided to make Jocelyn as a manipulative person who would do anything to get what she wants. The final episode sees Jocelyn doing her tour and thanking Tedros for being her inspiration. Watching them kiss on stage seems like torture and you can see this from the faces of the music executives who watch in horror as in earlier episodes they tried to get rid of Mr rat tail. Confusing is the word to desribe that one particular scene. It is unknown whether the show will be given a second season. Only time will tell.