Will there be a Season 2 of The Idol? Here’s what we know about the potential next chapter of the divisive HBO show.
The Idol, headlined by Lily Rose-Depp and The Weeknd, has been one of the most divisive shows on television since it first aired on June 4, 2023.
Widely-panned by critics and audiences alike, The Idol has developed something of a cult following in its brief time on the air by viewers “hate watching” the show, leading to it briefly becoming one of HBO’s most-watched programs.
But will The Idol come back for Season 2 due to these strong numbers, or has the controversy surrounding the show killed its chances for another run?
Is there going to be a Season 2 of The Idol?
It has now officially been announced that The Idol has been canceled after a single season and will not be returning.
‘The Idol’ has officially been cancelled after one season. pic.twitter.com/X1rIZ9B0Ab
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 28, 2023
A network spokesperson said in a statement that “The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs,” claiming that HBO was “pleased” with the audience’s “strong” response to the show.
However, “after much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season.”
It has long been speculated that the show would be canceled as it was not well-received by viewers and critics alike. Nonetheless, the spokesperson said the network was “grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”
Why is The Idol so controversial?
Warning: Spoilers for The Idol Season 1 to follow.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
The Idol follows fictional up-and-coming pop star Jocelyn, played by Rose-Depp, who begins a relationship with Tedros, played by The Weeknd, who describes himself as a “self-help guru” but is in reality the leader of a cult.
The show has been slammed for its depiction of sex, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “more regressive than transgressive,” and Variety writing that it “plays like a sordid male fantasy.”
But beyond its depiction of the relationship between Jocelyn and Tedros, the show’s quality has also been mocked with Indie Wire writing “It’s really more like somebody put Black Swan, Succession, and Secretary in a blender and let it rip…[but] this doesn’t put it on the level of any of those!”
And it’s not just the critics who had a problem with The Idol. The show currently has a 41% audience approval on RottenTomatoes and a 4.8 out of 10 on IMDb.
One viewer wrote, “I think this is a show for guys who want to watch porn on a mainstream platform. At some point, one just wants more story and less sex.”
Another said, “The original premise had so much substance and potential, but it was discarded due to it ‘leaning too far into a female perspective’… the whole thing revolved around sex. The show became the thing it was ironizing. It was dreadful and uncomfortable to watch.”
Without much fan support and many viewers claiming they “hate-watched” the show, The Idol most likely didn’t have enough reason for an encore.
The Idol Episodes 1-5 are available to stream on HBO Max now. You can check out our other coverage below: