Was The Idol’s finale one of the worst in recent TV history? Quite possibly.

By Morgan Cormack

Published: Monday, 03 July 2023 at 12:00 am


WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS FOR THE IDOL EPISODE 5.

Despite being the kind of show you watch in the hopes of it improving as the weeks go by, The Idol didn’t deliver on its much-anticipated finale. Are we surprised? Not really.

But the optimist in myself and many viewers meant that, for the past five weeks, we’ve tuned in hoping that the series – which has mainly been a mixture of sleazy sex, chain-smoking cigarettes and gratuitous torture scenes – would deliver the kind of mind-bending final act we’ve been hoping for.

It’s been teased throughout the past weeks, with the actors and creators claiming that the story isn’t quite what we think it is – but, unfortunately for them, the major reveal was a lesson in how not to conclude a series.

Sure, the plot twist that Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) was the “bad guy” all along marked a turning point, and it should have been the jaw-dropping climax we’ve all been waiting for, delivered with the kind of bone-chilling confrontation you’d want from such a turn of events.

Instead, the moment comes far too late into the episode, as both Tedros (Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye) and the viewers are left to realise that Jocelyn has lied about her childhood of physical abuse – and likely much more.

She’s been the person pulling the strings, and yet the Cluedo-like delivery of the fact (it’s the hairbrush, Tedros) not only leaves much to be desired, but also left a sour taste in my mouth.

Along with Jocelyn, the finale also deals with the subplot of Xander’s ‘friend’ lying about the fact that Jocelyn’s ex-boyfriend Rob (Karl Glusman) raped her.

We knew something was coming when Xander randomly took Rob’s picture at the end of episode four, after being ordered to do so by Izaak and Tedros.

It was yet another act of Tedros’s jealousy, but lest we forget, it was also the only way Xander could escape the electrocution lead that Tedros had put around his neck.

But the notion of women lying about physical abuse and sexual assault is an even odder note to wrap this series up on – and doesn’t bear thinking about as a plot line for any TV series, really.

"Lily-Rose
Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in The Idol finale.
Eddy Chen/HBO

Aside from that disturbing point of contention in The Idol’s finale, we could at least breathe a sigh of relief that we weren’t subjected to bouts of torture porn or forced heavy-breathing.

While the episode wasn’t home to more sexual fantasies, though, it did revolve around Tedros and Jocelyn’s stark change in power dynamics.

We obviously learnt that Tedros was actually Jocelyn’s muse in the end, and not vice versa, as we were led to believe. While Tedros did pull the strings to meet Jocelyn in the first place (sorry Dyanne), Jocelyn stopped at nothing to get what she wanted.

She wanted a sell-out tour, hit singles and increased fame – and boy, does she have it now. She used Tedros, and you can tell by the changed air about her that she finishes the series triumphant.

Read more: The Idol isn’t just sleazy and controversial – it’s also a wasted opportunity

But what’s even more confusing about this whole mess is the fact she brings Tedros back into her fold. She’s not only ordered Chaim (Hank Azaria) to take care of him and make sure he’s never in her life again, but Chaim has destroyed Tedros.

It’s something Jocelyn’s entourage laugh about but with the help of quotes, evidence and one cutting Vanity Fair exposé, Tedros is outed as a pimp and fraud. So why on earth has Jocelyn invited him back?

You almost want to laugh and squirm when Tedros approaches the SoFi Stadium hoping an artist pass has been left for him – because why would there be?

But lo and behold, there’s one ready for him to collect under his government name. Not only that, but Jocelyn also invites him on-stage in front of thousands of fans as the “love of my life”.