Music Videos, House Parties, More – Variety

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Spoiler alert: This story contains spoilers for the second episode of HBO’s The Idol, “Double Fantasy,” currently airing on Max.

The second episode of “The Idol” has arrived, raising the stakes within the show following last week’s controversial and divisive series premiere. Troubled pop prodigy Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) is tortured during a video shoot before she and her lover, cult leader Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), and his followers fall in love. Invite several people to your home and spend the night debauched. The sex, drugs, and industry drama are amplified compared to his hour-long TV first episode, which is sure to start an online debate.

It’s hard to watch this episode without considering the coverage of the behind-the-scenes drama that nearly derailed the show. Notably, director Amy Seimetz is set to return in April 2022 amidst reshoots and a change in creative direction, including reports that Tesfaye believed the series was focusing too much on a “female perspective.” I quit the series in May.

“Double Fantasy” is a highly sexual and breathtaking rendition of “World Class Sinner/I’m a Freak,” in which Jocelyn invited the company’s cronies to her home to record new vocals with Tedros. It starts with listening to a remix. Unfortunately, the team doesn’t share her vision, and Jocelyn is an impassioned, reminiscent of canceled tours, mental health woes, and the funds the team has invested in its radio-friendly comeback. It is overruled by record company executive Nicky Katz (Jane Adams). Jocelyn then works on the remix more alone, masturbating with a glass of ice, reminiscing about her night with Tedros.

Later, the episode chronicled the filming of the music video for “Freak,” with Jocelyn showing off a look reminiscent of Britney Spears at her creative peak. The shoot is grueling, with a nervous Jocelyn working hard but becoming overwhelmed every time her team demands it, her own frustration with her creative vision, and her video director (Kimberly Hunt). It depicts her differences of opinion with Her mental state is depleted each time she is yelled at, and her energy is further weakened by the memories of her late mother at her previous job.

Jocelyn begs to delay filming in order to revise the concept, and says she will pay for it out of her own pocket, but Jocelyn’s co-manager Chime (Hank Azaria) tells her the team won’t go on tour because she’s too unstable. Convince her that she might think she can’t attend. .

She cries and is in pain, despite the efforts of her other manager, Destiny (Davigne Joy Randolph), to cheer her up and keep her going. Meanwhile, Nicky approaches Diane, a talented back-up dancer (Blackpink star Jenny Ruby Jane), when Jocelyn has an injury, asks if she can sing, and tries to nurture Diane’s talents in case Jocelyn catches fire. .

Jocelyn eventually pulls off that routine, only to find that the camera is out of focus and the take is unusable. After a stuck scene examining her bleeding and blistered legs and thighs, Jocelyn is sent home by Nikki in Good Cop Mode to urge her to take a break as she crumbles. Unfortunately, Nicki also seems to have scrapped the music video and instead shot it with Diane, who also wants to sign.

Elsewhere, Tedros belongs to a club, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that he’s not only a business owner, but the leader of a cult that prioritizes pain and focuses on promiscuity. increase. Jocelyn calls Tedros after the video shoot and invites him to his home. He asks her to bring some of her friends, and soon a sex-and-drug-fueled party is being held at her mansion.

The show is going to be a big controversy here. Jocelyn’s personal assistant and best friend, Leia (Rachel Sennot), has a mixed expression of regret, joy and fear after drinking her first Coke and having rough sex with Isaac (musician Moses Sumney). float. Meanwhile, Jocelyn and Tedros are in the bedroom, and tell Jocelyn and Tedros, who are sitting in chairs, to perform sexual acts on themselves, recounting their fantasies (“While choking on my cock, you I want to grab you. I want you to choke me.”)

The scene is filled with explicit nudity, sexual dialogue, and adult-oriented Foley productions as the gags heard when Jocelyn performs oral sex on Tedros. On the other hand, there is also an element of voyeurism in which one of the cult members, a nearly naked pianist, Chloe (Susannah Song), is locked in a closet to monitor the activities of Jocelyn and Tedros.

As well as being graphic, the late-episode lovemaking revolves around Jocelyn performing for Tesfaye’s Tedros, focusing on his pleasure. It’s entirely believable that a real-life singing superstar appeared on set, even if it was a choice that cost the show’s critical acclaim.

When he wakes up the next morning, Tedros tells Jocelyn that she should move out, and Jocelyn readily agrees. As Chloe played the piano downstairs, she sang the refrain song, “That’s my family/We don’t like each other very much,” and everyone gathered around her to join in. increase. Only Leia seems worried about what’s to come.