The Idol is one of those shows whose news-cycle fodder may be remembered stronger and longer than the series itself, with its five-episode first(?) season on HBO wrapping up on July 2 without an abundance of fanfare or revulsion, though perhaps its delayed viewership will react more vibrantly. But it’ll be difficult for post-season conversations to be louder than all the reports, rumors, and critical panning that preceded The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp’s big TV collaboration with director and noted “twisted mind”-haver Sam Levinson. Although now such talks might revolve around a new report that puts some of The Idol’s five-star reviews and other positive online reactions under a suspicious light.
I doubt anyone expected The Idol to match up accordingly with FX and Hulu’s The Bear in terms of hitting the 100% Fresh critical ceiling on Rotten Tomatoes, but the budget-stretching drama currently sits at 22% Rotten (from 85 reviews), which itself is a big rise from the initial post-Cannes score of 9%. The audience score is far more positive at 41%, but within that audience pool of reviewers exists a pattern of questionable legitimacy, as pointed out by Rolling Stone.
