If you hadn't already been aware of The Idol, the new show from The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Euphoria's creator Sam Levinson, we're almost certain that recent headlines have pushed it into your consciousness. Critics were fairly scathing after its Cannes debut, with some comparing it to porn.
Like the sayings go, the bad press has more than likely made The Idol's release more of an event than it would have otherwise been. Call it morbid curiosity, or a desire to see what all the fuss is about.
With this in mind, you may have been left feeling fairly underwhelmed by the first episode. For all of the outcry and pearl-clutching about the show's explicit themes, there's not much in the The Idol's premiere episode that we haven't seen before.
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We are quickly introduced to a young star named Jocelyn (or "Joss"), The Idol's central character played by Lily-Rose Depp. Think Britney Spears – they want you to, it's in the script, although they've also been clear in pointing out that The Idol is not about any particular pop star – Jocelyn is a gifted performer, but appears to be experiencing the worst that the pop industry has to offer.
Surrounded by a team of music executives and talent handlers, Jocelyn has no real agency and is instead being moulded into what sells. Her barely-there clothing, suggestive choreography and raunchy song lyrics make the currency clear. But when a sexually explicit photo that she's taken of herself leaks on the internet, her team go into crisis mode.
A woman's sexuality can be used as a commodity, particularly when orchestrated by powerful men. But if she dares to own it – or, shock horror, explore it on her own terms – it's suddenly a problem that needs fixing, or something to shame her for.
So far The Idol only seems to perpetuate this, rather than have very much to say about it. As a result, many scenes leave you feeling like you're part of the problem.
Take one masturbation scene. We are no prudes, we've championed such scenes before, but this one seemed to prioritise the male gaze, giving the camera lens the role of leering onlooker rather than Jocelyn's pleasure being at the heart of it.
This missed opportunity ebbs throughout The Idol.
Lily-Rose Depp's performance, however, is by far the best thing about the show. In what's sure to be a career-bolstering role, she brings both a vulnerability and a stoic strength to the character. You find yourself drawn in despite some questionable lines of dialogue.
The supporting cast also includes a great performance from Rachel Sennott as Joss's assistant and close confidant Leia – the chemistry between the pair crackles. The same can't be said for Joss's interactions with Tedros (played by The Weeknd).
Despite its faults, The Idol is a big-budget production that's glossy and stylish to look at. But it's difficult to talk about The Idol without addressing the Rolling Stone report which likened the series to 'torture porn' and alleged "chaos" on the production side of things (The Idol's team, including creator Sam Levinson and star Lily-Rose Depp, pushed back on the claims).
The article painted a picture of Levinson taking over from the previous director Amy Seimetz and embarking on 'drastic' rewrites and reshoots. The 13 members of the cast and crew who spoke to Rolling Stone expressed concern about the switch in creative direction, claiming that the show turned into something else entirely as a result.
When it was first announced that Seimetz had left the project, it was reported that Abel Tesfaye/The Weeknd (co-creator and star of The Idol) felt that the show was leaning too far into the "female perspective", with the focus being too much on Depp's character.
Having seen episode one, you can't help but ponder on the show that might have been. We'd have liked to have spent more time with Jocelyn, and seen more of her pressurised world through her eyes.
The Idol airs on HBO, Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
