Disclaimer: The author of this post is a committed stan of The Weeknd

The day is finally here. After months of reshoots, recasting, rumors and Rolling Stone articles, The Idol Premiere is officially live on HBO. In the weeks leading up to the premiere, reviews from its debut at the Cannes Film Festival were overwhelmingly negative. It has been referred to as “glorified torture porn” and a prime example of a writer using a tv script to see their personal fetishes acted out. However, after watching the first episode, those concerns feel overstated, especially by HBO’s standards of vulgarity and nudity. It is hard to speculate how successful this show will be, but the first episode gives me the impression that this show is far from irredeemable and has the potential to succeed in presenting a satirical critique of the industry at large. So let’s get into what The Idol has working for it and what obstacles it will have to overcome to thrive and get a second season. 

Rachel Sennott, The X-Factor

The single most encouraging part of episode 1 was the amount of screen time and lines given to Rachel Sennott, who plays Leia, Jocelyn’s friend/assistant/cousin. HBO has not produced a statistical breakdown of screen time or the number of lines per character, but it felt like Sennott was probably 2nd in both, only to Lily-Rose Depp. For those unfamiliar, Sennott is in the midst of a meteoric ascension in Hollywood and the comedy scene. Her breakout came in 2020 with Shiva Baby, a movie whose pace and anxiety building is reminiscent of a Safdie Brothers film. However, The Idol presents Sennott an opportunity to fully break into the mainstream and become a household name. Her performance in episode 1 stood out, as she provided some much needed comedic relief and created a tonal balance for the show. She is as adept as any comedian in the game right now with her deliveries. Episode 1 also heavily hints at her being the only person who actually cares about Jocelyn and spots Tedros’ mal intent from a mile away, making her a lock as the fan favorite. With the top-billed part of the cast lacking collective acting experience , specifically Abel, Jennie Kim, and Troye Sivan, it was great to see them lean on a skilled, up-and-coming star to carry dialogue. If this show is going to be successful, it is going to require the same involvement from her every episode. She is a bonafide scene stealer. Highly recommend hopping on the Rachel Sennott hype train before it is too late. 

The Score

In theory, the strength of this show has to be its incorporation of original music. While the jury is still out on The Weeknd as an actor, even his biggest skeptics have to admit that he has had an illustrious musical career. Outside of the questionable closing metal-rock song, the music delivered. Most notably, they debuted Lily Rose-Depp’s first song as Jocelyn, which is titled World Class Singer. This has not been included in the singles for The Idol soundtrack, but is safe to assume it will be on the album. And when it does come out, I will be spinning it nonstop. It is a certified smash and the vocals are incredibly impressive for a first time singer. It is also safe to predict that The Weeknd contributed to the writing of this track, as it essentially sounds like everything he has ever written, just from a female perspective. Along with this new original, Mike Dean’s fingerprints are all over the first episode’s score, with the synths that have made him famous popping up about every ten minutes. So as referenced in our previous blog post, even if the show flops, it will be a fun one to listen to, if nothing else. 

The Set

As part of keeping production costs balanced and ensuring there was enough of a budget for the numerous reshoots, The Weeknd lent his LA mansion to be one of the primary sets for the show. This made for some beautiful shots in episode 1, including The Weeknd’s much discussed villain intro. People seem somewhat split on whether this shot was corny or creative, but as a fan of The Weeknd, I loved seeing him have that moment. The intro scene also stood out, as it gave Lily Rose-Depp a chance to flex her acting chops, with a creepy but cool background that made for an overall beautiful scene to kick off the show. People may have their gripes with director Sam Levinson, but he is a talented cinematographer and the LA mansion provides him a great tool to excel in this department. 

Make or Break

After episode 1, it is clear that there are a few things that will need to go the show’s way in order for it to be successful. It is impossible to speculate how they will pan out after one episode, but there were some major indicators of what will make this show successful. 

• Lily Rose-Depp, the actress – For an actress of her age, she already has a ton of acting credits to her name. However, this is certainly the largest project she has ever led. For The Idol to be great, she will need to put on a career defining performance that categorizes her more as a potential award winner and less of a good enough to beat the nepotism hire allegations. She is off to a hot start after episode 1 and did an excellent job showcasing her range, but she will need to repeat that weekly for this to be a hit. 
  
  
• Sam Levinson, the writer – The work that Sam Levinson and Zendaya did chronicling the struggle of addiction in Euphoria is nothing short of a cinematic triumph. He does an incredible job of bringing his experience as an addict to the script. However, there are legitimate concerns about his writing on topics outside of addiction, specifically as it pertains to female characters. He made it very clear in the way he wrote Cat in season 2 of Euphoria that he is disinterested in writing a complex female character. For The Idol to work, he needs to show significant improvement on this skill, given that the star of the show is female. 
  
  
• Abel, the actor – Unlike Lily Rose-Depp, The Weeknd has incredibly limited acting credits in his career. He was in Uncut Gems in a minor role and has done guest spots lending his voice to animated shows, but this is the first real acting test of his career. He does not need to be great for The Idol to work, but he at least needs to be decent. And with the way he was utilized in episode 1, he should be capable of doing this. My impression after episode 1 is he seems like he is playing second fiddle, a role that will work better for him then being the star of the show. 
  
  
• The Sex and Graphic Content – The most discussed and controversial part of The Idol has been the accusations that the production of the show was overly focused on the sex and pushing the boundaries of what is appropriate to include on tv. After episode 1, I did not find that it was any more graphic or explicit than any HBO ever. HBO has created a brand on pushing the limits in this category, and episode 1 seems to be consistent and standard with their typical content. However, the sex and kinks on the show feel like the least compelling part of the storyline. An overemphasis on this part of the show will end with it being a shitty 50 shades of gray type story and an overall miss. The success of The Idol hinges on kinks and fetishes being a subplot and used responsibly, rather than being the driving force of the show
  
  

The rollout and controversy around this show has been fascinating and disconcerting all at once. The critical reception from Cannes painted a picture that the show was dead in the water before it even premiered. I doubt this will be the next Sopranos, Succession, or even Euphoria, but the potential definitely exists for a high quality show and makes me question the motivations of critics who were insistent on burying the show. In my opinion, Sam Levinson’s involvement and the Rolling Stone article created a sense of confirmation bias in critics and moral equivalency in supporting or enjoying the show and being misogynistic. Critics themselves did not want to be slandered for liking what is perceived to be a show created solely in male perspective. However, there is a scene in episode 1 that is a direct parallel to the reactions to The Idol thus far. In the beginning of episode one, Jocelyn is wanting to be topless for her album cover.  However, she has multiple people on set saying that that will not be allowed, leading her to question the autonomy she has over her own body. She correctly pushes back on this and reiterates that as a consenting adult, she should have the ability to show her body as she chooses. This is incredibly similar to how she has advocated for The Idol. She has referred to The Weeknd and Sam Levinson as geniuses and has insisted that there was nothing exploitative about production and that her perspective was valued in the creation of the story. So it begs the question. If Jocelyn and Lily Rose-Depp are telling us they did not feel exploited, then who are we to tell them otherwise? 

It has been an undoubtedly quiet year in hip-hop thus far. This came as no surprise, as 2022 brought us new albums from the games biggest names. We can save our 2022 best of lists for a different post, but the result has been a dry first half of the year for hip-hop fans. Thankfully, today (June 2nd) brought us our first big drop night of the year. Not only did we get big names, but we got big storylines and drama to call for IPTC’s first Friday Recap of the year. Here’s our first take on this week’s new hip hop drops. 

The Return Of Wunna

The long awaited return of hip-hop’s current resident “snitch” came today and it did not disappoint. The new single “bread and butter”, which received zero promotion and went virtually unannounced up until its drop, was the song we all wanted to hear from him. Interestingly enough, it was released under the YSL label, so that likely explains the lack of formal roll out. He has not lost his touch in the slightest in terms of his signature flow and effortless beat crushing. But the story here is not about the quality, but the content. Obviously, he was not going to be able to release anything new until he addressed the YSL case and his perceived betrayal of Young Thug. He went above and beyond that and gave his unfiltered version of the truth, which directly addresses the scandal. One of the most notable lines in the song is, “You b*tch a*s n***as got me as the topic of the chat. You switched on me when you know you in business with a rat. And that boy is like your brother, and nobody speak on that.” 

Hard to say definitively who exactly he is talking to. My guess would be it is more of a general stab at other rappers who are guilty of the same thing and maybe haven’t been exposed for it, but it seems like this is more to deflect and excuse his decision. He does not deny that he did take a plea, but certainly was not categorizing that plea as others are. He speaks on the impact his responsibility for his family had on the decision – which is a point that has not really come up, but it is an important one to highlight. He has created generational wealth for his family and financially supported what likely amounts to hundreds of people. It helps frame the decision and reminds people that he rightfully prioritized his family in his decision making and not the opinions of people on the internet. Regardless of whatever side of the fence you fall on, it is exciting to have him back and cooking. The song is a big hit and will generate a ton of buzz. It will be interesting to see what he does next and watch how his label situation develops. 

Metro Spider

What a treat for fans that we get a 2nd Metro boomin album in 7 months. The parameters were a bit different for this one since it is the new Spiderverse soundtrack, which is important to note is rated PG. So we got an avengers assembled squad, but rapping on their very best behavior. It was surprisingly refreshing to hear the switch up and the team did a perfect job executing the spiderman themed album. Granted it probably did not feel too difficult for them rapping about spiders (Given Young Thug’s Spider Worldwide Clothing company) and dropping double entendres about mary jane. It was funny to notice that the only drug references they were able to sneak it had to have a clear, explainable double entendre. On Givin’ Up, 21 raps, “How you gon’ give up on me? (On God) How you just give up on we? (21)

I never quit, though Got a house started with a brick though.” Clearly and hilariously a reference to a brick of cocaine, but can easily pass it off as starting the building of a house with one brick. Metro’s clear creative direction stood out the entire album and he did a perfect job of orchestrating a distinct superhero sound. The drums were as flawless as ever and he of course picked the right people to do the job. Swae Lee, Don Toliver and Offset got the majority of the work and helped carry the balance of singing and rapping on the soundtrack. You can’t forget, a lot of your favorite rappers are dads and family men and you could tell they enjoyed switching up and making family friendly songs. For what this album was, Metro could not have done any better and it’s awesome to see him excelling at such major levels. He is a great guy to root for and unsurprisingly delivered a fun album that I will be giving a ton of run this year. 

Back To My Roots

I am sure that IPTC fans will be surprised to hear this, given my british heritage, but I would not consider myself a big fan of the UK hip-hop / Drill scene. However, I have been tapping in a bit more and am really big on Central Cee right now. He honestly seems really cool and is officially in rotation for me. His Friday drop of Sprinter ft. Dave (Unfortunately for me not Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky) will probably be in my top 100 played songs of the year by next week. He clearly is dedicated to his craft and it shows in his raps. This one is definitely one of my favorites by him and can see him continuing to blow up and become a global superstar. Drake has already worked with him on his Nocta gear, but has not done a ton of music collaborations with the American rap scene. Hoping to see some in the future and I would bet Drake will be the first one to do it. If you have not heard of him, start with Sprinter and his La Leakers Freestyle. 

The Idol, Currently Polling at 25% on Rotten Tomatoes

The silver lining for what is shaping up to be a disastrous show, is that we are getting a Weeknd album out of it. Up until this week, the details for the album have been pretty sparse. We have seen some Mike Dean tweets, gotten the single Double Fantasy, but otherwise we did not hear much. In addition to getting the second single, Popular ft. Playboi Carti & Madonna, we got the 6/30 release date and the soundtrack length of 14 songs. It is not only thrilling to get confirmation of a full album, but it is also referred to as Vol. 1, hinting that we may be in for even more Abel/Tedros/The Weeknd than anticipated. The song itself is Metro produced and synth’d out by Mike Dean. The song is him singing about the rise of fame and it seems safe to say that the song is about Lily Rose Depp’s Idol character, Jocelyn. In staying consistent with the popstar theme, The Weeknd employed Madonna and she crushed her vocals. Playboi Carti has the reputation to be hit or miss, and if that is the case, this one is a hit for me. He has the assignment of the post chorus and uses his signature “baby” voice. He showed up for the moment, but fans will surely debate whether it is a better song with or without him. The two singles that have dropped so far signal what should be another classic Abel album without a unique era and world of its own. You could say that because this is soundtrack, he faces similar constraints as Metro with Spiderverse, but Abel did create the show in this case, so as far as I am concerned, we are getting a new Weeknd album at the end of the month. 

It is indisputable that HBO has spent the last 3 decades defining modern TV and setting the curve for what our current television landscape looks like. The often cited game changer for the network was, of course, the legendary Tony Soprano. A larger than life character who created a moral dilemma for viewers. Why were viewers actively rooting for a character who was undeniably wicked? A question that still has audiences stumped, and perhaps, even more confused today. I’m sure people have seen the viral “If you watch The Sopranos, you are actively supporting a racist, homophobe, and murderer” tweet. And while I don’t want to put too much stock into a confused Gen-Zers most recent viral tweet, it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the magic HBO has been able to catch: Infallible protagonists make for boring and unrelatable programming. And of course, Tony isn’t relatable for ordering hits or (spoiler alert) killing Christopher Moltisanti or any of his other mob related activities. He is relatable in that he makes mistakes in his family, in his friendships and all other aspects of his life, like every single person on the planet. 

Fast forward 25 years later and HBO’s roster of most lovable anti-heroes has grown exponentially. However, the week of May 22nd, 2023 marks the end of an era, and potentially the beginning of a new one, for HBO’s modern stars. Starting Friday, we say goodbye to 3 characters who have embodied the archetype of anti-hero that started with Tony Soprano. Let’s start with the most short lived, Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery in the limited series Love and Death. And it is certainly a shame that this is a limited series because Elizabeth Olsen has been a revelation and has all but locked up her first Emmy with this standout performance. And what makes a better anti-hero than an axe-wielding, Texas housewife? Elizabeth Olsen displays remarkable range as she goes between a buttoned-up, church going mom and a psychotic killer and fans and HBO alike are sad to see her go. 

Moving on to what has proven to be one of the most tonally shifting series HBO has ever produced. Barry. Bill Hader came into the show as a beloved funny man who spent 8 years gracing himself to audiences on SNL. This all changed once he got behind the camera, he has turned into one of the most formidable showrunners in Hollywood and has fans clamoring for a Bill Hader directed horror movie. And he went ahead and made his character a hitman, and totes the line between anti-hero and full blown villain. The final season of Barry, much like the Sopranos, has its titular character reach his full form as an outright hateable, bible-thumping maniac. Hader and company will represent HBO in the comedy category and will likely go home with a host of trophies. 

And finally, Logan’s favorite son, Kendall. And like the rest of the referenced anti-heroes, Kendall ended his Season 1 with a body count of his own (Something Succession fans seem to forget about entering the show’s final episode!). But his Ted Kennedy moment was just one of many over the course of 4 seasons that had fans grappling with their own morality. Indisputably power hungry at the cost of others, Kendall’s defining trait that connected fans to him was his failure. Constantly falling short of expectations, but persevering with a chip on his shoulder and unwavering confidence has made him one of TV’s most complex characters ever written. He makes his final push Sunday towards fulfilling his destiny as Waystar Royco CEO, but that is not the only throne he is fighting for. A legacy defining performance in the show’s finale may spark a GOAT debate as contentious as Bron vs. Jordan. Can Kendall Roy eclipse Tony Soprano as the ultimate anti-hero? Up to this point, Succession has shown us Kendall will do anything to leave his mark on history and become top dog like his father before him and I am guessing in the finale we will see how far he is willing to achieve his birthright. HBO will be putting viewers through a range of emotions this weekend and I know I will personally shed a tear bidding farewell to some of the greatest anti-heroes to ever grace the small screen. Thankfully, as the saying goes, when one door (and in this case three) closes, another one opens. 

Enter Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. The diamond recording artist, global superstar and now HBO showrunner. On May 22nd, Abel officially takes the baton as HBO’s resident anti-hero when his new show, “The Idol” debuts at Cannes Film Festival. Tesfaye not only created the series for HBO, but will also be making his first legitimate appearance as an actor playing the show’s lead role of Tedros. We have seen that he is more than comfortable being in front of the camera, as evidenced by dozens of genre-bending music videos that put on full display the cinematic influences he has consumed as an artist. However, what makes The Weeknd and HBO the perfect marriage, is his anti-hero image that he has spent his career cultivating. He has announced that after his next album, he will be formally done with his music career as The Weeknd. Verifying that the persona he has created is not one in the same with Abel Tesfaye. And make no mistake, The Weeknd is as much of an anti-hero as any character referenced thus far. Endless consumption and constant tales of dark romance have been The Weeknd’s staple as he has risen from sleeping on the streets in Canada, to now having the most streamed song in history. Like our other anti-heroes, his loyal cult XO fanbase is living proof that his turmoil and tragedies struck a chord with a massive audience. The question now is, can he bring Tedros, a character clearly modeled after the Weeknd, from soundtracks to the tv? He certainly has massive shoes to fill, but if HBO is giving him the keys to the castle, then they believe he is more than capable of doing. And if he is truly done with The Weeknd, then who knows, maybe Act 2 of his career is the next great anti-hero of HBO.