The idol ended its reign as WTF’s most worthy TV show with an absolute finale.
Entitled “Jocelyn Forever”, the fifth and final episode of The idolPop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp)’s first season seemingly ended her relationship with cult leader Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), achieved major success and kicked off her world tour. But it wouldn’t be an episode of The idol without a few absolutely bonkers twists along the way.
From Jocelyn’s talent show to a truly confusing ending, here are the 10 most WTF moments from The idol‘s final.
Jocelyn stands up to Tedros.
The cast of “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
“Jocelyn Forever” opens with a nice change of pace. Instead of constantly bowing to Tedros’ whims, Jocelyn seems completely bored with his antics. “I’m done with you,” she told him. Spoken like a real viewer of the show.
As great as it may seem to see Jocelyn finally fight back, her change in attitude comes almost out of nowhere. In Episode 4, we saw her shaken by the revelation that Tedros and Dyanne (Jennie Ruby Jane) arranged her first meeting with Tedros. Now she’s just cool and calm and serene as she resumes her worship? It really feels like some connective tissue is missing between episodes 4 and 5, so we’re starting the finale on a very shaky footing.
Jocelyne organizes a talent show.
Ramsey in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
When Live Nation rep Andrew Finkelstein (Eli Roth) tells Jocelyn he has concerns about her tour, she takes action. She recruits cult members Chloe (Suzanna Son), Izaak (Moses Sumney), and Ramsey (Ramsey) to be her openers, and tells them they’re going to “put on the best fucking show they’ve ever seen”. The whole sequence has a massive “we gotta put on a show to save camp” energy — except instead of camp, it’s a million-dollar tour. And instead of a cute musical by campers, it’s a range of crummy musical performances full of awkward gyrations and dry bumps.
The scene could were bearable as a quick edit, but what we get is an interminable sequence that lasts over 20 minutes. Between performances (where even Troye Sivan’s Xander gets in on the action), Jocelyn’s team praises the talent of these singers and Tedros’ “genius” in bringing them all together. Nikki (Jane Adams) even says she wants to work with Tedros. Where does it come from? What are we doing here? Why do I feel the need to Never listen to one of these artists again?
Jocelyn’s ex Rob is falsely accused of rape.
Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
As the talent show continues, Leia (Rachel Sennott) tries to get Jocelyn’s attention to some breaking news about her ex Rob (Karl Glusman). It turns out that Alex and cultist Sophie (Sophie Mudd) orchestrated a suggestive photo with Rob in Episode 4 to fabricate a false rape accusation and ruin his career. When Jocelyn hears about this, she immediately knows it’s Tedros’ doing. It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back for her, and she asks Chaim (Hank Azaria) to kick Tedros out. (Why didn’t she do it before now? Who knows.)
I love nothing more than seeing Tedros get ousted, but that’s The idol really the show to try to counter the false accusations of rape? It’s a show that’s done intimacy coordinators the butt of a joke(opens in a new tab) and summer labeled “torture porn”.(opens in a new tab) With his rape scenario, he perpetuates myths of false accusations(opens in a new tab) for a weird subplot.
Chaim tells a fairy tale.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
You know what I really needed The idol? Story time with Chaim. He tells Tedros about a version of Little Red Riding Hood that’s supposed to be menacing, all intercut with Jocelyn getting ready to perform for Andrew. (The idol likes to cut between scenes more than Jocelyn likes to ruminate while smoking cigarettes.) Much like the talent show, the story goes on too long, until Chaim ends with the declaration that he is the hunter in the tale fairies. Cool. Say that and get Tedros out of here.
Jocelyn performs her new song “Dollhouse”.
Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
The talent show Finally is winding down, which means it’s time for the main event. Jocelyn performs her new song “Dollhouse” for Andrew, and it’s… a lot. She twists and crawls on the floor, in a choreography that I can only describe as “lap dance meets The Exorcist.”
Kudos to Depp for fully committing to the theatrics of the performance, and props to Roth’s deliciously slimy delivery of Andrew’s reaction. “As a parental figure, I couldn’t be more proud of you,” he says as Jocelyn kneels suggestively between his legs. Yes, it’s wildly on the nose, but it earned me a major grunt.
Dyanne gets tricked.
Jennie Ruby Jane in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
The idol seems to have trouble remembering Blackpink’s Jennie Ruby Jane is in this show, because we barely see her character Dyanne in the finale. (Or in the other episodes of the show, to be honest.) In “Jocelyn Forever,” we get a quick scene of her, where Nikki reveals that Dyanne’s career will take a step back while her record label deals with legal issues regarding the single “World Class Sinner.” Dyanne clearly knows Jocelyn had something to do with it, but before we get any more of her reaction, she’s sent in an elevator to who knows where.
Considering the draw of Blackpink and Jane’s star, Dyanne’s storyline looks like major wasted potential. We could have explored the rise of a new starlet, or the competition between Dyanne and Jocelyn. But no, we have to make room for the Chloe/Xander/Izaak/Ramsey concert from hell. Can we at least get “World Class Sinner” (Dyanne’s version)?
The jump in time.
The cast of “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
With Tedros out of the picture, The idol jumps six weeks into the future. Jocelyn is about to open her tour, her singles have all been smash hits, and vanity lounge journalist Talia (Hari Nef) published an expose on Tedros. All of this is revealed in sloppy expositional dialogue from Jocelyn’s team. “Your employees are staging a walkout claiming Jocelyn’s music is misogynistic and you weren’t scared?” Nikki asks Andrew. Later, she says, “‘Fill the Void’ jumped 8,000% that day alone.” Honestly, I would have been much more interested in seeing those scenes unfold and Jocelyn’s preparations for her tour instead of all the Tedros mess. (Also, how did Jocelyn organize a six-week tour from three hit singles? She didn’t even have a music video six weeks ago!)
Jocelyn and Tedros reunite.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
And just when we thought Tedros was gone… he crawled back. Jocelyn invites him on her tour, and the world is worse off. “None of this makes so much sense without you,” she says as they reunite in her dressing room. “I don’t like being apart.” Jocelyne, pull yourself together!
The worst moment of the whole episode comes when Tedros finds the hairbrush that Jocelyn’s mother beat her with. “It’s brand new,” he said, earning a smirk from Jocelyn. Apparently, she lied about her mother’s abuse the whole time, manipulating Tedros when he thought he was manipulating her. Not only is this a ridiculous plot twist – it’s also makes absolutely no sense.
Jocelyn brings Tedros on stage.
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
Jocelyn takes the stage in a white dress, greeting her fans with Tedros’ cult catchphrase: “Hello, Angels.” After that, can we see her perform and unleash any of her star qualities? Absolutely not. Instead, she introduces Tedros as the love of her life, brings him on stage, and kisses her before telling her that he is hers forever. His team watches in horror at what has to be the most relatable moment of the season.
First, Jocelyn returns to her attacker, albeit under the guise that she’s been in control the whole time. (I don’t care what The idol tells us, there’s no way I’m buying that statement.) Second, how does she think this is going to play out? Tedros was torn at Talia vanity lounge article. He lost his club, the IRS is after him, and she wants to publicly align with him? It is a decision that ruins his career. (Although screaming fans strangely seem to suggest otherwise.)
The idol ends with… a montage?
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in “The Idol”.
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
As Tesfaye sings The idolclosing credits, we’re subjected to a montage of clips from the show, behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers – including shots of the infamous rolling stone clip who never did the show. You know, in case you want to relive the whole mess we just went through.
