[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Idol” Episode 2, “Double Fantasy.”]
Nikki (Jane Adams) doesn’t give the impression she likes to be “summoned.” Wearily strolling by way of her consumer’s mansion, passing two framed information which can be simply mendacity in opposition to the barren wall, Nikki plops down subsequent to her fellow handlers and instantly begins complaining: Why would Jocelyn (Lily Rose-Depp) change her single? “What in regards to the sound we created for her?” Her mother’s lifeless? Who cares! “Moms die.”
In the meantime, Jocelyn is ready upstairs. Nervous over the remix she made with Tedros Tedros (Ready “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), she texts him, in search of just a little help earlier than dealing with the jackals downstairs. “Tried u earlier,” she varieties. “Name u after,” she concedes.
The model of “World Class Sinner” her workforce hears is hardly high-art. Further breathy and with a jagged melody, it’s much less fitted to a automotive stereo or an evening membership than to privately play whereas pleasuring your self — which is precisely what Jocelyn does as soon as administration leaves. However within the second, it’s no shock her unsuitable track is met with silence. What are 4 pseudo-adults presupposed to say when a tune meant to relaunch a pop star’s profession has been twisted right into a fantasy combine for one listener and one listener solely? (No, I don’t imagine even Tedros Tedros legitimately likes this minimize.)
Nikki is aware of what to say. After dropping a bunch of compelled exposition about Jocelyn’s current breakdown, she shouts, “You’re going to sit down right here and inform me, ‘It’s not me. I don’t prefer it’? Properly, that’s too unhealthy. It’s too fucking late. That prepare has left the station, and whether or not you prefer it or not, you’re going for that trip!”
From there, we see what “the trip” will do to Jocelyn. She doesn’t contact the wholesome meal ready by her personal chef. She doesn’t react when she scrolls previous the leaked picture of her on Twitter. She tunes out of manufacturing conferences and combs her hair with the pressure of a stylist from Bagglyport. When it’s time to carry out — to report the music video of the track she hates — she will be able to’t keep centered. Between getting negged by Tedros Tedros and mourning her mother’s dying (to not point out the dying of her profession), Jocelyn is emotionally drained and bodily falling aside — all for a single she doesn’t imagine in and folks she’s beginning to mistrust.
It’s apparent how anybody in such a state might fall sufferer to a parasite like Tedros Tedros, however the place “Double Fantasy” falls aside isn’t in convincing us of Jocelyn’s vulnerability; it’s in convincing us to care. Nobody desires Jocelyn to endure. Nobody desires to see individuals exploited and abused, however it’s clear that’s what we’re being requested to observe anyway.
“The Idol,” after two episodes, is promoting itself as a trainwreck. It’s asking the viewers to stare in stupefied horror (with the occasional uncomfortable giggle) as this lady will get wrecked — first by an trade desirous to work her to the bone, then by a membership proprietor able to prey on her feelings. Whether or not that’s to make some extent about how followers deal with pop stars, or how Hollywood creates them, or one thing else fully continues to be too imprecise to pin down. All that’s evident is the trip she’s on finally ends up nowhere good — actually not for Jocelyn, and thus far, not for viewers both.
Simply have a look at Nikki. It looks like she’s meant to be a villain equal to Tedros Tedros (whose full-name is among the dullest, dumbest artistic selections but), however she’s unquestionably the lesser of two evils. “The Idol” loves blunt metaphors, and it’s clear from the episodic construction and all of the cross-cutting that writer-director Sam Levinson desires to juxtapose what Nikki is doing to Jocelyn in opposition to what Tedros Tedros is doing to her. One is brazen, the opposite withholding; one is all the time hovering, the opposite by no means there when he’s wanted; one is emotionally chilly, the opposite approach too scorching. However other than Tesfaye’s charisma-free portrayal working in opposition to that final contradiction, Episode 2 additionally works in opposition to its personal comparability.
Don’t get me flawed: Nikki is an terrible human being. She’s nonetheless pissed at Jocelyn for the refunded live performance tickets and canceled tour. She has no compassion for a daughter in mourning. At the moment, she mocks Jocelyn’s psychological well being struggles, when yesterday she was exploiting them for a “horny” photoshoot. Tomorrow, she could drop Jocelyn altogether — for Dyanne, the “higher” dancer. Nikki is a Dangerous Particular person™ and there’s a lot effort and time dedicated to portray her that approach, so… why am I on her facet this week?
One easy cause is I perceive the place she’s coming from. Nikki could also be working out of her personal self-interest, however she’s nonetheless providing Jocelyn the most secure path ahead. Relatively than threat smash on an unlistenable remix, she pushes for the simple hit. Sure, the brand new minimize of “World Class Sinner” is what the pop star thinks she likes proper now, however it’s not good music. That’s evident simply from listening to it, and it’s much more evident when taking into consideration her rat-tailed collaborator. The unique minimize can also be not good, and Nikki is aware of that, however she additionally is aware of it’s going to promote. It’s going to rack up performs and prop up an album full of “big fucking big-titted hits.” Success will take the strain off Jocelyn, which in flip, will assist Jocelyn get better.
Day off isn’t an possibility for Jocelyn proper now, and “The Idol” might have used Episode 2’s story guilty Nikki for operating the pop star ragged. Nevertheless it doesn’t. The disastrous music video shoot is basically framed as Jocelyn’s fault. She’s an excessive amount of of a perfectionist and too centered on the flawed issues. “World Class Sinner” is a foul track, and the video is a foul thought. (Dancing at a strip membership? That’s it? That’s the entire plan?) Irrespective of how properly Jocelyn strikes, she will be able to’t make candy lemonade from spoiled lemons, and Nikki appears to know that. She’s wonderful with the early takes and able to wrap properly earlier than Jocelyn. She is aware of spending any extra time on that is simply throwing good cash after unhealthy.
Did you see the puppets in Tedros Tedros’ home, or had been you too distracted by Isaac (Moses Sumney) thrusting on command? It doesn’t actually matter, because the membership proprietor’s habits is already so controlling, however that scene pops up proper after Jocelyn’s bloody ft pressure the video shoot to take a break. Had Nikki (or anybody else, actually) been demanding she hold going, to push by way of the ache, then all that point spent watching her endure could have served a goal. There would’ve been telling parallels between Hollywood’s abuse of Jocelyn and Tedros Tedros’ abuse of Jocelyn. However because it stands, the abuse seems rooted throughout the star herself, and any blame or narrative battle falls by the wayside.
Would Jocelyn be higher off with out Nikki and Tedros Tedros? Completely. Would possibly “The Idol” make that argument in coming weeks? Perhaps, however it’s onerous to say. For now, we’re simply watching a lady get overwhelmed down at work and at residence. How way more can she take? And the way for much longer can we be anticipated to stare on the trainwreck?
Grade: D+
“The Idol” airs new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
