Don't Get It Twisted: 5 Crucial Differences Between The Idol & Euphoria

After watching trailers and teasers for The Idol, many people thought that the show premiering on HBO in June is Euphoria 2.0. After all, the two series share the same network and director, Sam Levinson. More than that, The Idol will follow in the footsteps of Euphoria, focusing on the modern pop culture and music scene, depicting some sexually explicit scenes, and possibly delving into drug addiction. But is this enough to say that the shows will be exactly the same?

In fact, the two projects have many differences that will surely set The Idol apart from Euphoria or any other Levinson project for that matter, and here are the most crucial of them.

Character Age

The main thing that will separate The Idol from Euphoria is its adult characters. The show will tell the story of a pop singer on her way to stardom and an enigmatic leader of a cult, played by Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd. The protagonists' complicated relationship will be the main highlight of the series, while most of the other characters will be professionals connected to the music industry in one way or another.

In contrast, Euphoria focuses on the lives of teenagers, and the only adult characters are their parents. In fact, that was one of the few criticisms viewers had for the show because it dealt with addiction and other serious topics and would benefit from more mature characters.

Big Names

Euphoria sent several of its cast members to stardom and solidified their acting careers. Aside from Zendaya, who was already a star when the show premiered, Euphoria's cast was relatively unknown to the public.

The Idol is changing that by casting some of the biggest names in the music industry. In addition to The Weeknd, the new series will feature Blackpink's Jennie Kim and hip-hop producer Mike Dean in supporting roles.

Number Of Protagonists

It's hard to pinpoint the main character in Euphoria. Yes, Zendaya's Rue Bennett is the lead, but the storylines and backstories of the other characters are just as important as hers.

In contrast, The Idol will focus on Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd's characters, Jocelyn and Tedros, their relationship and attempts to conquer the modern pop culture world.

The Setting

While Euphoria is mostly set in the fictional town of East Highland, The Idol will feature real locations in Hollywood. Given its main theme of fame and fortune, there is no doubt that viewers are in for a luxurious ride!

Creative Approach

With its complex narrative, abstract style, and theatrical elements, Euphoria was a one-of-a-kind show that earned its creators much praise. The Idol is likely to use a simpler and more conventional approach.The plot will revolve mostly around the two protagonists, and there is no indication that Euphoria's creative experiments will find their way into The Idol.