[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Idol” Episode 4, “Stars Belong to the World.”]
“The Idol” Episode 4 paints a convincing image of the chaos wrought by Tedros Tedros (Abel Tesfaye). Opening on armed guards patrolling the mansion and maids pulling dildos out of bathe drains, “Stars Belong to the World” solely amps up the atmospherics from there. Psychological torture, bodily torture, and no matter type of torture you need to name listening to Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and Tedros Tedros making music — it’s all right here.
Teeing up what’s meant to be a tense episode of tv is the one and solely Future (Da’Vine Pleasure Randoloph), who — earlier than being despatched undercover to research the goings-on at Camp Tedros Tedros — tells Chaim (Hank Azaria) the thin on their goal. Seems, his actual identify is Mauricio Costello Jackson (“not Italian”). He was arrested in 2012 for kidnapping and torturing his ex-girlfriend, solely to be slapped with “a slew of different fees” through the trial. How he’s a free man is a query left unasked, partially as a result of Future has already determined the most secure plan of action for her, Chaim, and Jocelyn: “I feel we should always kill this motherfucker.”
Chaim calms her down, however the message to the viewers is obvious: Tedros Tedros has obtained to go. He’s the risk. He’s the issue. Besides… is he? Tucked inside the “The Idol” Episode 4 are quite blunt hints that that is all a ruse. That Tedros Tedros solely thinks he’s in management, and there’s a way more manipulative and highly effective pressure at work inside the shadowy L.A. compound. In subsequent week’s “season” finale (however let’s be actual: there’s no manner HBO orders extra of this), are we about to find Jocelyn has been in management all alongside?
Such a twist looks as if a doubtful, if not unimaginable, plan to tug off, given what we’ve seen her undergo to this point — for Jocelyn, what finish may presumably justify these means? — however author/director Sam Levinson lays the groundwork anyway. Most telling is Xander’s torture scene. Introduced in by Tedros Tedros’ muscle to reply for his “lies,” Xander (Troye Sivan) as an alternative paints a quite convincing image of the abuse he’s suffered… from Jocelyn. “You’re extra fucking disgusting, fucked up, and wicked than your bitch cunt of a mom,” he shouts at Jocelyn, whereas Tedros Tedros contemplates sending extra currents of electrical energy by way of the sure pop star’s artistic director. In line with Xander, Jocelyn’s mom made him signal a contract saying he would by no means sing once more (was he a risk to her daughter?), and Jocelyn made him comply with by no means communicate concerning the abuse she suffered by the hands of the exact same mother.
Jocelyn claims he’s mendacity and orders Tedros Tedros to zap Xander into compliance. However I’m inclined to imagine him. For one, the fad Sivan channels in expressing his aspect of the story positive seems like years of repression lastly discovering their essential outlet. For an additional, that positive piece of performing is matched by an one other incoherent but informative response from Tesfaye. “You don’t perceive the fucking years this bitch has taken from me,” Xander says. “The fucking profession I may’ve had, the life that I may’ve had. She controls the whole lot round her, and everybody, and now she’s doing it to you.” To this, Tedros Tedros stares blankly again at his prisoner. He appears a little bit sleepy, like a pet who can’t resolve between enjoying together with his toy or taking a nap. However he’s additionally not being his regular dismissive, know-it-all self. I feel, I suppose, Tedros Tedros is deliberating. I feel he’s contemplating if what Xander says is perhaps true; if he’s the puppet and never the puppeteer.
One other trace at Jocelyn’s as-yet-unexplored intentions arrives when she invitations her ex-boyfriend, Rob (Karl Glusman), over for a fast romp. The selection seems to be pushed by betrayal. Chloe (Suzanna Son) tells Jocelyn that Tedros Tedros instructed Dyanne (Jennie Ruby Jane) to carry Jocelyn to his membership, which means he deliberate to satisfy her, courtroom her, and, fairly presumably, management her. So, to get her revenge, Jocelyn has intercourse with Rob whereas Tedros Tedros sits outdoors the door, crying, looking at their beloved Prince portrait. This might very properly be all it’s: a spiteful act meant to impress jealousy. However it may be greater than that. As Rob expresses hesitancy over a random hook-up, given Jocelyn’s current loss — and her grief-stricken social media confession about her mom’s abuse — she assures him she’s positive. “I promise,” she says. “I’m in a very good place.”
On its face, Episode 4 is designed to make you suppose in any other case. The report label is giving her single, “World Class Sinner,” to Dyanne. Her tour remains to be in jeopardy. The songs she’s creating now appear to be going over properly, however she’s making them in a vacuum. (It’s unclear whether or not Future remains to be a reliable choose of high quality by episode’s finish: Is she nonetheless hoping to do away with Tedros Tedros, or has she turn into one among his converts?) Skilled ambitions apart, she’s being abused by her boyfriend and embarrassed in entrance of her mates, strangers, and friends.
Nonetheless, regardless of the unfathomable competition that Jocelyn could also be orchestrating all this for her personal acquire, Episode 4 leaves the door open to that very chance. Maybe she actually didn’t need “World Class Sinner.” Possibly she is aware of that rumors of behind-the-scenes turmoil could make folks need to see issues for themselves, thus stoking her tour’s ticket gross sales. And hey, these songs could possibly be hits — I don’t need to hear them, however perhaps Jocelyn’s fictional followers do.
What’s occurred in “The Idol” to this point may conceivably twist into Jocelyn’s favor, besides… I’ve a tough time understanding how Tedros Tedros elements in. Is he the autumn man? Is he there for “inspiration,” like Levinson claims within the episode’s making-of featurette? Is he one way or the other better-connected than Jocelyn, and she or he’s utilizing him to get to folks like Mike Dean? Does she simply actually love tough intercourse with a rat-tailed psychopath? Or is her grand plan to burn the whole lot that’s introduced her hurt and struggling to the bottom — the report firm, her brokers, Tedros Tedros, his followers, and her profession as well? Stars might belong to the world, however Jocelyn could also be taking her life again.
If she’s been in management all alongside, like Xander claims, I’ve a tough time wrapping my head round why it wanted to go down like this for Jocelyn to get no matter she desires. However hey, “The Idol” has another week to state its case. In any other case, the true chaos will at all times stay outdoors its story, and inside the collection itself. Right here’s hoping after subsequent week’s finale, no less than a few of this is sensible.
Grade: C-
“The Idol” releases new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
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