The Idol

After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn's latest tour, she resolves to reclaim her place as America's premier and most alluring pop star. Her renewed fire is fanned by Tedros, a nightclub impresario with a shadowy past who becomes a volatile catalyst for her ambitions. Set against neon nights, private obsessions, and the pressure of an industry hungry for spectacle, the series follows her as she renegotiates her image, tests boundaries, and weighs the costs of fame. Along the way she allies briefly with a circle of collaborators while facing traps set by managers and rivals. The show hinges on whether she can keep her humanity intact while chasing fame.

Created by The Weeknd, Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim, The Idol is an original drama that premiered on HBO in 2023. The show blends music with glossy nightlife and a stormy quest for stardom.

The Idol sparked heated conversations about the glamour and danger of fame, power dynamics in the music industry, and how celebrity personas are engineered. Fans and critics debated its bold portrayal of desire, control, and the costs of chasing instant notoriety. The show's controversial tone itself became part of the public conversation, fueling memes, debates about consent in storytelling and the ethics of glamorizing manipulation.

Reception has been mixed, with audiences giving a tepid to excited response and the rating around 5.4 out of 10 from 292 votes. It grapples with fame as both spark and trap, creative control, vulnerability, and the costs of chasing artistic reinvention. Viewers curious about production choices and casting discuss how the show's glossy aesthetic contrasts with its harsher emotional core.

While the series has drawn attention for its ambitious look and performances, there are no major awards to report. The show remains a polarizing entry in contemporary drama and continues to divide viewers and critics alike.