Thought The Idol Ending Was Confusing? Here's What Really Happened
The plot’s baroque complexity can make it a challenge to make sense of.
Max's The Idol was highly controversial and extremely confusing from the very beginning. Produced by Abel Tesfaye, widely known as The Weeknd, The Idol was highly anticipated by audiences but ended up being a major disappointment from season one.
The overly sexualised plot and exaggerated gloom and filth of show business made the show impossible to watch for some people.
With each new episode, the show became more shocking and confusing, disappointing and alienating more and more viewers. With each new episode, it seemed as if it had finally reached the limit and there was no room for more shock and confusion. And yet The Idol kept outdoing itself, with the final fifth episode muddying the waters and shocking viewers even more. If you've watched the season finale and feel at a loss as to what you've just seen, here's a comprehensive guide to help you make sense of it all.
This episode sees Jocelyn record a new (highly controversial) song in the studio with Mike Dean, Tedros's producer. When The Weeknd's character tries to interfere, she tells him off, demonstrating who's calling the shots here. Later, we see Joss dissing the man while talking with her friends. Then, she meets with Andrew Finklestein, a Live Nation representative. Jocelyn is late, and Mr. Important takes his anger out on Tedros.
When Joss finally arrives, she is dismissive of Tedros and eventually orders that he be removed from her life, one way or another. Security guards drag Tedros out. Chaim then offers him a million dollars to get lost, but Tedros initially rejects the offer. We don't see what happens next, but Chaim then comes back and says that Tedros is 'done'.
Andrew then gets in touch with Vanity Fair writer Talia and offers her a scoop on Tedros's dark past as a pimp. His reputation is ruined, the club is sold, and the impression is that Tedros is dead. However, he then turns up at one of Jocelyn's gigs about six weeks later. We learn she has booked an artist pass for him under his real name, Mauricio Jackson. The two reunite, and Jocelyn kisses him and caresses his face as her crew look on in utter astonishment.
Yes, it's as clear as mud, but one thing is clear: Jocelyn has been the master manipulator all along. She strung Tedros along, allowing him to believe he was in control while pulling his strings and taking advantage of him the whole time. The Idol finale sees Jocelyn show her true colours as she completely breaks Tedros down, taking away everything he has, including his identity, only to then tell him he's now hers forever.
In other words, the fifth episode reveals Jocelyn as a manipulator extraordinaire who defeated Tedros at his own game and made him pay a dear price, and that's exactly what we were predicting for the finale. Anyway, all The Idol episodes are now available for streaming on Max, so if you feel so inclined, you can watch it again from start to finish and see if it makes more sense.