In a not-so-surprising move, HBO pulls the plug on The Idol

The much-confusing, and at times, cringe-worthy yet strangely brilliant in terms of acting, The Idol, will not be returning for a second season – a decision that was largely anticipated.

HBO has chosen not to renew The Idol, a series co-created by Sam Levinson, the mind behind Euphoria, in collaboration with pop sensation Abel Tesfaye (known as The Weeknd), and Reza Fahim.

The show had its fair share of controversies both during its production and after its release.

Overview

HBO has decided to scrap the second season of this drama, co-created by Sam Levinson and starring Abel Tesfaye, also known as "The Weeknd." The series, featuring Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star under the influence of a Hollywood club owner (Tesfaye), garnered negative reviews and lower viewership compared to HBO's recent shows.

Was it expected or inevitable?

Reports have recently indicated that the fate of renewing or canceling The Idol was uncertain. While there was no concrete blueprint for a multi-season story, there were possibilities to extend the series beyond its five-episode season finale.

The series' cancellation is said to have been influenced by uncertainties among viewership and cast members about its future, leading to the decision to pull the plug on the show.

A series filled with everything but quality

Tesfaye's collaboration announcement with Levinson initially ignited anticipation for their upcoming project. Director and executive producer Amy Seimetz, known for her work on series like The Girlfriend Experience and Atlanta, joined the team. However, midway through production, Seimetz left due to significant creative differences, despite the project being near completion.

This marked a turning point, as described in a Rolling Stone article, that steered the show towards a dubious direction. Allegedly, Tesfaye believed the show was excessively embracing a 'female perspective', according to Deadline's sources. Consequently, Levinson took over the director's role, resulting in what a Rolling Stone source termed a chaotic scenario. Another team member lamented how the narrative veered from Seimetz's original vision of a young woman's journey to reclaim her identity and self-worth, evolving instead into something resembling a 'rape fantasy'.

Not exactly a fan-favourite

The series garnered average ratings. Its premiere drew in 913,000 viewers, 17% less than Levinson's HBO show "Euphoria" (2019), which targeted young adults and had fewer initial celebrity connections. However, the viewership rose to 3.6 million within a week, currently resting at 7 million viewers. Episode 2's debut dropped to 800,000 viewers.

This solidifies the fact that not many were left disappointed when HBO announced that The Idol would not be returning.