The Idol | Official Teaser | HBO

[MostReal]

Honest about what?

What being a pop star is like. The creative process, the ebbs and flows of the power dynamics between the label and the star. The feminine ability to be on the far ends of the spectrum between vulnerability and fierce control. Mental illness and its value in creating art. Sex magic the power it yields and how it consumes the artist and the handlers use of it as a tool to manipulate, craft, and mold... that's what the song tough love was all about. How many lives can be destroyed in the pursuit of greatness and how that machine plows along regardless. Very disturbing and dark but these stars do this, live this and create masterful works of art because of it. If you pay close attention, they lament about this life in their songs all the time.

 

[MostReal]

This is like a weird ass acid trip

exactly which is why I don't understand why people are expecting coherent linear story telling. This is probably how artist memories are of their creations of albums. It's not gonna make sense, most of these people are stoned, high af and out of their minds.

The dynamic between Joss and Tedros is a symbolic relationship. that's the only way you gonna understand this. Its a lot of metaphysical spiritual stuff between Joss and Tedros relationship power dynamics. The show reveals all of that in episode 5 but you gotta be studied up, to see what you see.

 

[phillycavsfan]

What being a pop star is like. The creative process, the ebbs and flows of the power dynamics between the label and the star. The feminine ability to be on the far ends of the spectrum between vulnerability and fierce control. Mental illness and its value in creating art. Sex magic the power it yields and how it consumes the artist and the handlers use of it as a tool to manipulate, craft, and mold... that's what the song tough love was all about. How many lives can be destroyed in the pursuit of greatness and how that machine plows along regardless. Very disturbing and dark but these stars do this, live this and create masterful works of art because of it. If you pay close attention, they lament about this life in their songs all the time.

If it was really honest then Tedros would've never been allowed to live in the house in the first place and there would've been a lot more chat about the influence of TikTok. This show is a romanticized version of the business. Jocelyn likely wouldn't have this much creative control in real life. Pop music nowadays doesn't really feature that much sex compared to Levinson's generation (80s/90s). What's sexy about the music of Olivia Rodrigo or Selena Gomez? No lives were destroyed in pursuit of the music; Jocelyn still loves Tedros even after destroying his career.

I wish I could call it even an entertaining mess. I wish we got more of Tedros bullshytting in the finale instead of a 30 minute concert that no one asked for (and this is coming from someone who actually listens to Moses Sumney).

 

[MostReal]

If it was really honest then Tedros would've never been allowed to live in the house in the first place and there would've been a lot more chat about the influence of TikTok. This show is a romanticized version of the business. Jocelyn likely wouldn't have this much creative control in real life. Pop music nowadays doesn't really feature that much sex compared to Levinson's generation (80s/90s). What's sexy about the music of Olivia Rodrigo or Selena Gomez? No lives were destroyed in pursuit of the music; Jocelyn still loves Tedros even after destroying his career.

I wish I could call it even an entertaining mess. I wish we got more of Tedros bullshytting in the finale instead of a 30 minute concert that no one asked for (and this is coming from someone who actually listens to Moses Sumney).

your mistake is looking for logic and not symbolism. It was NOT a good story at all, believe me I agree with you there. I don't think they were even trying to tell one from the way the show came off. It was almost like watching a very long music video.

This is about power dynamics, character study not plot development. The Ex boyfriend life was destroyed, and the Asian girl music career never got off the ground because Joss boxed her out.

Tedros was a symbolic character, same as Joss which is why they ended the show the way they did. The show didn't do a good job of illustrating this though lol.

 

[MostReal]

Yeah The Weeknd does some plain speaking here. I think most people are turned off by it because the reality of it is too harsh. Go listen to the lyrics of Tough Love, it's a microcosm of the show and the relationships in it. Glamorous but ain't nothing pretty about it.
Yes this is the life of your favorite celeb.

 

[MasterThought]

This show is probably the most honest depiction of the music industry that I've ever seen.

I got a lot of Jayz Beyonce, vs Brittney Spears vs Kevin vs Ike and Tina Turner vibes from this show

@MasterThought you seen this show? what's your opinion?

Nah homie, never seen it

 

[phillycavsfan]

Yeah The Weeknd does some plain speaking here. I think most people are turned off by it because the reality of it is too harsh. Go listen to the lyrics of Tough Love, it's a microcosm of the show and the relationships in it. Glamorous but ain't nothing pretty about it.
Yes this is the life of your favorite celeb.

It doesn't matter if it's "real". If you wanna get "real" then film a documentary. You're telling a story, so you gotta have some coherence and entertainment.

Atlanta had a lot of truth about the music industry even though it's absurd at times. But that show succeeded because it was actually funny.

 

[Black Mamba]

It doesn't matter if it's "real". If you wanna get "real" then film a documentary. You're telling a story, so you gotta have some coherence and entertainment.

Atlanta had a lot of truth about the music industry even though it's absurd at times. But that show succeeded because it was actually funny.

shyt was great
You just uncultured lols
The Idol true cinema

 

[old pig]

Even a failed show like Vinyl was better than this.

I really liked that show…wish they took a chance and gave it a second season

wonder if it’s on max…I wouldn’t mind giving it a rewatch

 

[Black Mamba]

I think Atlanta was far more realistic, for starters. Even a failed show like Vinyl was better than this.

fukk no it wasn’t
Motherfukk that show it was ass and it was the reason why Boardwalk empire got fukked with that rushed season
That timeskip in Boardwalk empire was fukkED UP
shyt wasn’t supposed to end after 5 seasons!

 

[old pig]

…it was the reason why Boardwalk empire got fukked

wait…they killed off gyp’s character for that show?

 

[Lootpack]

I really liked that show…wish they took a chance and gave it a second season

wonder if it’s on max…I wouldn’t mind giving it a rewatch

Zaslav took it off.

I remember Vinyl having a massive identity crisis and then finally finding its footing near the end. Between the murder subplot and the focus on the music business (which is where the show shined, IMO), it didn’t really know what it wanted to be at the start.

 

[Black Mamba]

wait…they killed off the gyp character for that show?

HBO basically picked Vinyl over boardwalk empire which led to that rushed last season
The amount of shyt we missed out on due to that time skip was fukking crimimal

 

[old pig]

Zaslav took it off.

I remember Vinyl having a massive identity crisis and then finally finding its footing near the end. Between the murder subplot and the focus on the music business (which is where the show shined, IMO), it didn’t really know what it wanted to be at the start.

disappointed to hear it was removed

ya I agree…the show couldn’t find itself quickly enough and potential fans grew impatient based on online discussions I read…but ya toward the end it looked like they had something as they were about to dive into the “beginnings” of hip hop

 

[MostReal]

It doesn't matter if it's "real". If you wanna get "real" then film a documentary. You're telling a story, so you gotta have some coherence and entertainment.

Atlanta had a lot of truth about the music industry even though it's absurd at times. But that show succeeded because it was actually funny.

hmm still looking for plot development. Yeah it should have been more coherent story wise but I was entertained enough to watch all episodes and it is a show worthy of discussion as evidenced by this thread.

How do you feel about the film Phantom Thread, this show is very similar to that film in regards to examination of power dynamics in a relationship. Both main characters are engulfed with their artistic behavior.