{"id":34461,"date":"2023-07-03T15:34:58","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T13:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1852836"},"modified":"2023-07-03T16:44:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T14:44:03","slug":"the-idols-big-finale-reveal-was-a-disappointing-end-to-a-disappointing-show","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/the-idols-big-finale-reveal-was-a-disappointing-end-to-a-disappointing-show\/","title":{"rendered":"The Idol\u2019s big finale reveal was a disappointing end to a disappointing show"},"content":{"rendered":"

Was The Idol’s finale one of the worst in recent TV history? Quite possibly. <\/p>

By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 03 July 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS FOR THE IDOL EPISODE 5.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite being the kind of show you watch in the hopes of it improving as the weeks go by, The Idol<\/a> didn\u2019t deliver on its much-anticipated finale<\/a>. Are we surprised? Not really.<\/p>\n

But the optimist in myself and many viewers meant that, for the past five weeks, we\u2019ve tuned in hoping that the series \u2013 which has mainly been a mixture of sleazy sex, chain-smoking cigarettes and gratuitous torture scenes \u2013 would deliver the kind of mind-bending final act we\u2019ve been hoping for.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been teased throughout the past weeks, with the actors and creators claiming that the story isn\u2019t quite<\/em> what we think it is \u2013 but, unfortunately for them, the major reveal was a lesson in how not to conclude a series.<\/p>\n

Sure, the plot twist that Jocelyn<\/a> (Lily-Rose Depp) was the \u201cbad guy\u201d all along marked a turning point, and it should have been the jaw-dropping climax we\u2019ve all been waiting for, delivered with the kind of bone-chilling confrontation you\u2019d want from such a turn of events.<\/p>\n

Instead, the moment comes far too late into the episode, as both Tedros (Abel \u2018The Weeknd\u2019 Tesfaye) and the viewers are left to realise that Jocelyn has lied about her childhood of physical abuse \u2013 and likely much more.<\/p>

She\u2019s been the person pulling the strings, and yet the Cluedo-like delivery of the fact (it\u2019s the hairbrush, Tedros) not only leaves much to be desired, but also left a sour taste in my mouth.<\/p>\n

Along with Jocelyn, the finale also deals with the subplot of Xander\u2019s \u2018friend\u2019 lying about the fact that Jocelyn\u2019s ex-boyfriend Rob (Karl Glusman) raped her.<\/p>\n

We knew something was coming when Xander randomly took Rob\u2019s picture at the end of episode four, after being ordered to do so by Izaak and Tedros.<\/p>\n

It was yet another act of Tedros\u2019s jealousy, but lest we forget, it was also the only way Xander could escape the electrocution lead that Tedros had put around his neck.<\/p>\n

But the notion of women lying about physical abuse and sexual assault is an even odder note to wrap this series up on \u2013 and doesn\u2019t bear thinking about as a plot line for any TV series, really.<\/p>\n

\""Lily-Rose\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in The Idol finale.<\/span><\/figcaption> Eddy Chen\/HBO<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Aside from that disturbing point of contention in The Idol\u2019s finale, we could at least breathe a sigh of relief that we weren\u2019t subjected to bouts of torture porn or forced heavy-breathing.<\/p>\n

While the episode wasn\u2019t home to more sexual fantasies, though, it did revolve around Tedros and Jocelyn\u2019s stark change in power dynamics.<\/p>\n

We obviously learnt that Tedros was actually Jocelyn\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

She wanted a sell-out tour, hit singles and increased fame \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong> The Idol isn\u2019t just sleazy and controversial \u2013 it\u2019s also a wasted opportunity<\/a><\/p>\n

But what\u2019s even more confusing about this whole mess is the fact she brings Tedros back into her fold. She\u2019s not only ordered Chaim (Hank Azaria) to take care of him and make sure he\u2019s never in her life again, but Chaim has destroyed Tedros.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something Jocelyn\u2019s entourage laugh about but with the help of quotes, evidence and one cutting Vanity Fair expos\u00e9, Tedros is outed as a pimp and fraud. So why on earth has Jocelyn invited him back?<\/p>\n

You almost want to laugh and squirm when Tedros approaches the SoFi Stadium hoping an artist pass has been left for him \u2013 because why would there be?<\/p>\n

But lo and behold, there\u2019s 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 \u201clove of my life\u201d.<\/p>\n