‘The Idol’ Is a Bomb for the Ages: The Winners and Losers of HBO’s Summer Disaster (Commentary)

The five-episode collaboration between Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim concludes as one of the worst shows ever made

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp embrace in "The Idol." (HBO)

Sunday’s season (series?) finale of the HBO drama “The Idol” was the show’s best episode yet — but only a few reputations will survive this summer disaster.

Episode 5 saw characters put on some clothes and get out of pop star Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) house for once. Director Sam Levinson (“Euphoria”) showed some of the visual dazzle for which he is famous, with long shots that were practically Kubrickian. Dirtball Svengali Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye) received a measure of comeuppance, even as the show continued to affirm his alleged brilliance.

It was the best episode of “The Idol,” meaning it will be the worst episode of television this week.

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