The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp are co-stars on HBO's new show, The Idol. Prior to the debut of this show, it was mired in controversy. For instance, there was a report from Rolling Stone that showcased the alleged misconduct that took place on set. Moreover, it got a pretty tepid reaction at Cannes, which is never a good sign. Overall, the critics were panning the show, and it hadn't even been by viewers at home. Not to mention, it came on following the end of Succession, so there were already lofty expectations.
In the first two episodes, it became clear that the critics got a few things right. The writing has been a bit cringe, to say the least. Moreover, The Weeknd isn't exactly Daniel Day-Lewis or Denzel Washington. His acting has been a bit rough, and fans are not letting him go unscathed. The Twitter reactions to his performances are a pretty good example of this. Twitter is always a litmus test for people's cruelty, and that has certainly been the case in relation to The Idol.
The Weeknd Marches On
Last night, we got Episode 3, called "Daybreak." Overall, this was a pretty upsetting episode that dealt with some very difficult things. Moreover, it saw The Weeknd's character getting even grimier than he already was. He becomes a controlling and maniacal manipulator in this episode. However, the acting doesn't exactly match how the character is written. This subsequently led to a lot of comments on Twitter, particularly in relation to a scene where Tedros chews out a stylist at a Valentino store.
Let The Roasting Begin
"The actor in this scene with Tedros deserves an Emmy for not laughing bc I’m sorry that was so funny and not intimidating at all lmao," one user wrote. "I can’t take Abel serious in this show," said another. Needless to say, fans are less than impressed with this show so far. While it is certainly provoking some visceral reactions, it's not doing so in a way that is nuanced or particularly tasteful. Let us know what you think of the show, in the comments below.