The Idol wrapped up its reign as essentially the most WTF-worthy present on TV with an absolute doozy of a finale.
Titled “Jocelyn Eternally,” the fifth and last episode of The Idol’s first season noticed pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) seemingly finish her relationship with cult chief Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), obtain nice success, and kick off her world tour. However it would not be an episode of The Idol with out some completely bonkers twists alongside the best way.
SEE ALSO:
‘The Idol’s finale twist makes completely zero sense
From Jocelyn’s expertise present to a really baffling ending, listed below are the ten most WTF second from The Idol’s finale.
Jocelyn stands as much as Tedros.
The solid of “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
“Jocelyn Eternally” opens with a pleasant change of tempo. As an alternative of regularly bowing to Tedros’ whims, Jocelyn seems fully bored of his antics. “I am accomplished with you,” she tells him. Spoken like a real viewer of the present.
As nice as it’s to see Jocelyn lastly arise for herself, her change in angle comes virtually out of nowhere. In episode 4, we noticed her distraught on the reveal that Tedros and Dyanne (Jennie Ruby Jane) engineered her first encounter with Tedros. Now she’s simply cool, calm, and picked up as she takes over his cult? It undoubtedly appears like some connective tissue is lacking between episodes 4 and 5, so we begin the finale off on very wobbly footing.
Jocelyn throws a expertise present.
Ramsey in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
When Dwell Nation consultant Andrew Finkelstein (Eli Roth) tells Jocelyn he has considerations about her tour, she springs into motion. She recruits cult members Chloe (Suzanna Son), Izaak (Moses Sumney), and Ramsey (Ramsey) to be her openers, and tells them they’ll “placed on the very best fucking present they’ve ever seen.” The entire sequence has enormous “we have to placed on a present to avoid wasting camp” power — besides as a substitute of camp, it is a tour value thousands and thousands of {dollars}. And as a substitute of a cute musical by campers, it is a lineup of seedy musical performances stuffed with awkward gyrating and dry humping.
SEE ALSO:
Essentially the most WTF scenes from ‘The Idol”s second episode
The scene might need been bearable in fast montage kind, however what we get is an interminable sequence that lasts over 20 minutes. In between performances (the place even Troye Sivan’s Xander will get in on the motion), Jocelyn’s group lauds how gifted these singers are and Tedros’ “genius” in bringing all of them collectively. Nikki (Jane Adams) even says she needs to work with Tedros. The place did this come from? What are we doing right here? Why do I really feel the urge to by no means hearken to any of those artists ever once more?
Jocelyn’s ex Rob is falsely accused of rape.
Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
Because the expertise present slogs on, Leia (Rachel Sennott) tries to get Jocelyn’s consideration a few breaking information story regarding her ex Rob (Karl Glusman). Seems that Xander and cultist Sophie (Sophie Mudd) orchestrated a suggestive picture with Rob in episode 4 to fabricate a false rape accusation and damage his profession. When Jocelyn hears about this, she is aware of instantly it was Tedros’ doing. It is the ultimate straw for her, and he or she will get Chaim (Hank Azaria) to kick Tedros out. (Why did not she do it prior to now? Who is aware of.)
I really like nothing greater than seeing Tedros get ousted, however is The Idol actually the present to attempt to deal with false rape accusations? This can be a present that is made intimacy coordinators the butt of a joke(opens in a brand new tab) and been labeled “torture porn.”(opens in a brand new tab) With its rape storyline, it perpetuates myths of false accusations(opens in a brand new tab) for an odd aspect plot.
Chaim tells a fairy story.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
You understand what I actually wanted from The Idol? Story time with Chaim. He tells Tedros a model of Little Crimson Driving Hood that is purported to be threatening, all intercut with Jocelyn making ready to carry out for Andrew. (The Idol loves reducing between scenes greater than Jocelyn loves brooding whereas smoking cigarettes.) Identical to the expertise present, the story goes on for too lengthy, till Chaim concludes with the assertion that he’s the hunter within the fairy story. Cool. Simply say that and get Tedros out of right here.
Jocelyn performs her new track “Dollhouse.”
Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
The expertise present lastly winds down, which suggests it is time for the primary occasion. Jocelyn performs her new track “Dollhouse” for Andrew, and it’s…so much. She writhes and crawls alongside the ground, in choreography I can solely describe as “lap dance meets The Exorcist.”
SEE ALSO:
Essentially the most WTF scenes from episode 3 of ‘The Idol’
Props to Depp for committing totally to the theatricality of the efficiency although, and props to Roth’s deliciously slimy supply of Andrew’s response. “As a dad or mum determine, I could not fucking be extra pleased with you,” he says as Jocelyn kneels suggestively between his legs. Sure, it is wildly on the nostril, but it surely did earn a significant snort from me.
Dyanne will get screwed over.
Jennie Ruby Jane in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
The Idol appears to have a tough time remembering that Blackpink’s Jennie Ruby Jane is on this present, as a result of we barely see her character Dyanne within the finale. (Or within the present’s different episodes, to be trustworthy.) In “Jocelyn Eternally,” we get one fast scene of her, the place Nikki reveals that Dyanne’s profession will take a backseat whereas her file label offers with authorized troubles in regards to the single “World Class Sinner.” Dyanne clearly is aware of Jocelyn had one thing to do with it, however earlier than we get extra of her response, she’s despatched off in an elevator to who-knows-where.
SEE ALSO:
Can Jennie Ruby Jane save ‘The Idol’ from itself?
Given Blackpink’s draw and Jane’s starpower, Dyanne’s storyline appears like main wasted potential. We may have explored a brand new starlet’s rise to energy, or the competitors between Dyanne and Jocelyn. However no, we have now to make room for the Chloe/Xander/Izaak/Ramsey live performance from hell. Can we at the very least get “World Class Sinner” (Dyanne’s Model)?
The time soar.
The solid of “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
With Tedros out of the image, The Idol jumps six weeks into the longer term. Jocelyn is about to open her tour, her singles have all been smash hits, and Vainness Honest reporter Talia (Hari Nef) printed an exposé about Tedros. All of that is revealed in sloppy expositional dialogue from Jocelyn’s group. “Your workers stage a walkout claiming Jocelyn’s music is misogynistic and you were not scared?” Nikki asks Andrew. Later, she says: “‘Fill the Void’ jumped 8,000 p.c simply that day.” Truthfully, I’d have been far more curious about seeing these scenes play out and Jocelyn’s preparations for her tour as a substitute of all of the Tedros mess. (Additionally, how did Jocelyn arrange a tour in six weeks off of three profitable singles? She did not also have a music video six weeks in the past!)
Jocelyn and Tedros reunite.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
And simply once we thought Tedros was gone… he comes crawling again. Jocelyn invitations him to her tour, and the world is worse off for it. “None of this implies as a lot with out you,” she says as they reunite in her dressing room. “I do not like being aside.” Jocelyn, come up with your self!
The worst second of the entire episode comes when Tedros finds the hairbrush Jocelyn’s mom used to beat her with. “It is model new,” he says, eliciting a smirk from Jocelyn. Apparently, she’s been mendacity about her mom’s abuse this complete time, manipulating Tedros when he thought he was manipulating her. Not solely is that this a ridiculous plot twist — it additionally makes completely zero sense.
Jocelyn brings Tedros onstage.
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
Jocelyn takes the stage in a white robe, greeting her followers with Tedros’ culty catchphrase: “Howdy, angels.” After that, can we get to see her carry out and unleash any of her star high quality? Completely not. As an alternative, she introduces Tedros because the love of her life, brings him onstage, and kisses him earlier than telling him he is hers endlessly. Her group seems to be on in horror in what needs to be the one most relatable second of the season.
One, Jocelyn is operating again to her abuser, albeit underneath the pretense that she’s been in management the entire time. (I do not care what The Idol tells us, there isn’t any manner I am shopping for that assertion.) Two, how does she assume that is going to play out? Tedros was torn aside in Talia’s Vainness Honest article. He is misplaced his membership, the IRS is after him, and he or she needs to publicly align herself with him? It is a career-ruining transfer. (Though the screaming followers weirdly appear to counsel in any other case.)
The Idol ends with…a montage?
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol.”
Credit score: Eddy Chen/HBO
As Tesfaye croons over The Idol’s closing credit, we’re subjected to a montage of clips from the present, behind-the-scenes footages, and bloopers — together with pictures from the notorious Rolling Stone clip that by no means truly made the present. You understand, in case you wish to relive all of the mess we simply went via.
The Idol is now streaming on Max.(opens in a brand new tab)