The Idol Episode 5 Review: This latest HBO series is created by the music world icon The Weeknd, along with Reza Fahim, and Euphoria’s Sam Levinson. Levinson directs the drama under the production company banners of The Reasonable Bunch, Manic Phase, Little Lamb, People Pleaser, Bron, A24 and HBO Entertainment.
Lily-Rose Depp plays the role of Jocelyn, and Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, plays Tedros. The show also features Suzanna Son as Chloe, Troye Sivan as Xander, Jennie Ruby Jane as Dyanne, Moses Sumney as Izaak, Jane Adams as Nikki Katz, Dan Levy as Jocelyn’s publicist, Eli Roth as Andrew Finkelstein, Rachel Sennott as Leia, Hari Nef as Talia, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Destiny, Hank Azaria as Chaim, Melanie Liburd as Jenna, Kate Lyn Sheil as Amy alongside Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley, Nico Hiraga, Anne Heche, Maya Eshet, Tyson Ritter, Liz Caribel Sierra, Karl Glusman, Sophie Mudd, Charly Summer, Mitch Modes and others.
The fifth and final episode is out now and is titled Jocelyn Forever. It is directed and written by Sam Levinson with a story by Abel Tesfaye. The runtime for the episode is over 60 minutes.
– HBO’s The Idol Episode 5 Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
The Idol Episode 5 Review
The fifth episode of The Idol marks its finale and staying true to the episode title ‘Jocelyn Forever’, this one focuses on showing us who Jocelyn truly is. In the last episode, we did get a hint that Jocelyn might not be as naive and manipulated as she looks. With the incident of Xander and, calling over Rob later for sex, the foundation that Jocelyn might be the scheming one of the two (the other one being Tedros) was established.
In The Idol Episode 5, this foundation is worked upon and the hints are made more concrete. The episode starts with Jocelyn singing with the producers that Tedros brought in (Mike and Co.). She is in her zone and it is a beautiful song. Tedros, shockingly, is not an active part of this process, as he lurks across the room, drinking. When he tries to insert himself into the process by listening to the playback of the song Jocelyn just recorded, the latter rebukes him.
Throughout the episode, Jocelyn keeps undermining Tedros’ presence. She makes it very clear that she needed him and, he, therefore, has served his purpose and can now exit her life. She also makes Tedros’ people her own and encourages them. However, Tedros is convinced to make his presence felt. Therefore, when Jocelyn’s entire team is set to arrive at the house to discuss the tour, Tedros tries to make an impression.
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The Idol Episode 5 rolls like a ball. It hits Jocelyn’s court and, then Tedros’ and there is a constant struggle of who is the superior one. Although Jocelyn really sheds her innocent skin to show people around her that she is the boss. Nonetheless, there is only one person who can stand tall until the end, which is what this episode primarily focuses on.
The Idol Episode 5: Final Verdict
The Idol Finale served as a saving grace for the show. It gave us a twist that no one saw coming when they tuned in for this Sam Levinson piece one Sunday night. There were dialogues that made more sense and impact than any other in the entire series. But mostly, there was some redemption served to the female gaze of storytelling, no matter how villainous (we can’t really expect a lot from this show, so we will take what we get).
It would be prudent to say that one should steer clear of this series. It is laughable at the least and, torturous at the most; both not in a good way. Although episode 5 made a different impression and focused, thankfully, less on the abuse, the uneasiness that this show brings is absolutely not worth your time.
You can watch The Idol Episode 5 now streaming on Max. To read our review of the series, click here.
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