With how hard HBO and the press went to market it as the dirtiest, most debauched show to ever be created, ngl I was expecting a lot more. In a world where more and more TV shows are turning borderline softcore sex scenes and nudity for the shock factor, The Idol kind of languishes somewhere in the middle, nowhere near close to shows like Animal Kingdom, Masters of Sex or even Sam Levinson's own Euphoria.
Not to say the show isn't lewd, because it definitely is but unlike most other shows, it actually works as character development and world-building outside of "we're so chaotic and wild" Even the more eyecatcher headlines mentioning "staring Lily's areolas" or "lily the human cumsock" leave out a lot of context of how it actually gives details to the story.
Overall it's a pretty cliche story. A Britney/ Bangerz Miley-esque starlet is struggling with fame and feels like she has no control over her life, and is exploited by everyone around her with no sense of self -worth. In comes this Bad Boy that opens her eyes and gives her a taste of freedom, just to take her to even lower depths and ruin her even further
The only thing that's really an issue the Weeknd aka Abel aka Tedras. With stories like the Idol, the male lead should be somewhat appealing, even if you know he's bad, he's got an allure that makes you want to see just how bad. Tall, dark and handsome, the seductive types.
That's not his character at all. His acting is bad, his lines are bad and ngl I feel like he's doing improv, he has no sex appeal or any appeal whatsoever. He looks and acts like a registered sex offender fresh out of prison 
