Controversial Series Featuring Jennie of Blackpink and Hollywood Stars Faces Conclusion After Single Season

HBO

HBO has announced that its daring original series "The Idol" will not be renewed for a second season, drawing the curtains on a show that sparked both intrigue and debate among audiences.

An HBO spokesperson informed the American press on Monday, "The Idol was one of HBO's most provocative original programs, and we're pleased by the strong audience response." The statement continued, "After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We're grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work."

Notably, the show garnered significant attention in Korea due to its inclusion of Jennie from the prominent K-pop girl group Blackpink, who shared the screen with Hollywood figures like The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Lily-Rose Depp.

The series, a collaborative creation between Sam Levinson, Reza Fahim, and Tesfaye, made headlines for its explicit intimate scenes and instances of nudity. The American magazine Rolling Stones characterized the show as "twisted torture porn" in March, while The Guardian, a British newspaper, labeled it the "ultimate try-hard TV," citing elements of light bondage and excessive sleaze.

Centered around the narrative of aspiring pop star Jocelyn, portrayed by Depp, the series delves into her romantic involvement with a nightclub owner, portrayed by Tesfaye, who later ascends to the role of a clandestine cult leader.

"The Idol" ran for a total of five episodes, from June 4 to July 2. The show's initial episode garnered 913,000 viewers, based on data from Nielsen, while the second episode attracted 800,000 viewers upon its release. Comprehensive viewership figures for subsequent episodes remain undisclosed.

Sayart.net 

Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com