You Have Been Watching The Idol All Wrong, Apparently
The Idol is much more rewarding to watch if you adjust your critical lens.
One of the most talked-about shows of this broadcasting season, The Idol continues to generate more and more controversy with each new episode released. The consensus among most viewers and critics remains that Sam Levinson's new project is not what it attempts to be — satire and social commentary.
However, some people think that The Idol is really not that bad, and all you have to do to appreciate the story is adjust your critical lens and see beyond the excessive nudity and other explicit content. According to the fans, Sam Levinson's show is a sort of distorting mirror reflecting the toxic and exploitative side of the music industry, and in this respect, even those disgusting sex scenes serve as a great enhancement to the overall message.
Fans see The Idol as the story of Joselyn trying to overcome the trauma of sexual abuse by reliving a similar experience — but this time with a man she loves. Yes, Tedros is obviously manipulating Jocelyn into having sex with him, but without this sexual context, she wouldn't be able to deal with her traumatic past that has hindered her musical career.
The Idol's supporters also point out that contemporary movies and series don't have to be overtly moralistic in their critique of moral issues. On the contrary, the more controversy they stir, the more disgusted and alarmed viewers become — and that's exactly the outcome that The Idol is likely aiming for.
Still, most viewers and professional critics disagree with the above arguments, seeing them simply as a weak attempt to justify the controversial vision of The Idol's creators. Instead of satirizing and criticizing the exploitative nature of the show business industry, The Idol itself seems to indulge in exploitation, romanticizing and even glorifying all the crazy stuff happening on screen.
Perhaps the show's message was indeed great, but the poor script just failed to deliver it properly. We still have three episodes of The Idol to make our final judgment about the show — Episode 4 will land on HBO on June 25, 2023.