"The Idol" Is Ending Sooner Than Expected With 5 Episodes Instead Of 6

The Idol , HBO's contentious new drama, will wrap up its season earlier than expected. Initially slated for six episodes, the series will culminate with episode 5, "Jocelyn Forever," slated to air this Sunday. A source reported to TVLine that the series' trajectory altered significantly when Sam Levinson took over and instigated major changes, leading to the story concluding in five episodes instead of the planned six. HBO's The Idol Is Ending Sooner Than Expected The Idol stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop starlet who falls under the charismatic influence of a club promoter, portrayed by The Weeknd. This controversial series has been under fire since its inception, even before its premiere. A telling Rolling Stone article revealed turmoil behind the scenes, including the departure of original director Amy Seimetz. Accusations of creating "sexual torture porn" were leveled at co-creators Sam Levinson ( Euphoria creator) and The Weeknd, adding fuel to the fiery controversy. Despite its highly anticipated premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Idol met with scathing reviews and failed to win over audiences. TVLine readers accorded the series premiere a harsh "D" grade, indicating a rocky start for this drama. Amid the storm of criticism and controversy, rumors of a swift cancellation by HBO began to circulate. The New York Post quoted an insider saying: "This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series." In an attempt to quell the rumor mill, HBO rebutted these claims on Twitter, stating, "It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.” Some speculate that the sixth episode got dropped when Seimetz left the project in April. HBO didn't really explain why she left and just made it sound like the show was undergoing a big creative overhaul due to her departure. Reportedly, The Weeknd was unhappy with the direction that Seimetz was taking the show; apparently, it was "leaning too much into a 'female perspective.'" The Idol Was Poorly Rated from the Very Beginning The disturbing imagery and plot elements of The Idol elicited an unsettling response from attendees of the Cannes Film Festival. From viral revenge porn of Jocelyn, Depp's character, to a 10-minute masturbation scene and instances of violence, the series has pushed boundaries to an uncomfortable extreme. The show's frequent ventures into explicit sexual content serve little to advance the narrative, but rather appear to be there merely for the shock factor. But this is to be expected from Levinson . What is even more concerning are the scenes that were never shot, including ones with brutal violence and degradation. The disturbing propositions give us a glimpse into the warped thinking behind these scenes, pushing the boundaries of the narrative far beyond acceptable limits. Despite the explicit content, both Levinson and Depp have come out in defense of the series. Levinson posits that the show accurately reflects the influence of pornography on young people’s psyche, while Depp interprets her character's physical bareness as a mirror of her emotional state. This defense, however, overlooks the objectification and exploitation of young women showcased throughout the series. Levinson’s history of pushing for nudity in his works raises further questions about his motivation. Instances from Euphoria , where he insisted on actresses going topless, suggest a concerning pattern. Even his film Assassination Nation reflects similar themes of abuse and sexualization of women. Despite the creators' justifications, the poor reception of The Idol underscores its flawed narrative. With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 15%, it stands as a testament to the collective rejection of gratuitous violence, sexual objectification, and exploitation in entertainment. For perspective, the much-ridiculed film Cats holds a higher rating at 19%. Ultimately, the resounding backlash offers a glimmer of hope. Even the smallest action of rating a series poorly sends a message to creators and producers. It's time to shift the narrative away from misogyny and abuse, and reject the romanticization of violence and exploitation in entertainment. Support our cause and help women reclaim their femininity by subscribing today.