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The Weeknd has taken over our TV screens in the HBO drama, The Idol, which premiered on Sunday (June 4).
Besides having a stellar cast lineup, which also includes actress Lily-Rose Depp as the leading lady and Schitt’s Creek star and creator Dan Levy, the series from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson tells the story of Jocelyn (played by Depp), an aspiring pop star who after having a nervous breakdown, begins an entangled relationship with Tedros, a self-help guru and the head of a contemporary cult (played by The Weeknd). As Depp’s character begins to push away her friends and close advisors, those around her begin to worry as they lose influence over her and her career.
“Angel Baby” singer Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Suzanna Son and BLACKPINK’s Jennie Ruby Jane also appear in the series. Since the first episode, Jane has already begun receiving praise for her performance as one of Depp’s most talented backup dancers. In the pilot we see her character execute flawless choreography while acting as a friend and supporter to the troubled pop star.
As an added bonus, we’ll also be hearing new music by The Weeknd, which the star plans to drop each week a new episode airs.
Right from the start, the main character gives off a vibe reminiscent of Brittany Spears’ reigning Y2K era. She sits mostly exposed shooting images for her upcoming album while her team tries to smooth over a sudden scandal.
It’s only been a single episode and The Idol has already gotten mixed reviews for its depiction of women, porn and mental health. Some viewers are even boycotting the series for its controversial storyline and scenes portrayed, while others have deemed Jane the breakout star of the show. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise as Levinson’s other HBO show, Euphoria, also aims to surprise viewers with shocking scenes and themes that move away from the traditional dramas we typically watch on TV.
There are still nine more episodes to go and we can expect to see Depp and The Weeknd’s relationship grow deeper with a buildup of chaos that will eventually ensue. Plus, a finale that, if Levinson follows his shock factor pattern, will be one we won’t forget.
Read on for ways to watch and stream The Idol from anywhere.
How to Watch The Idol Without Cable
The Idol airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. In order to catch new episodes without cable — and avoid any spoilers from social media — you’ll need to make sure you have Max, HBO’s new streaming service. If you’re already a subscriber to HBO or previously subscribed to HBO Max, then you don’t need to worry about downloading a new streaming service, but for those who don’t have a subscription, there’s an easy way to sign up. Simply log into Max.com to join.
Subscriptions start at $9.99/month for ad-supported streaming and $15.99/month to stream commercial free and $19.99/month for the Ultimate plan, which lets you watch on the go, stream on up to four devices at once and in 4K Ultra HD.
New episodes of The Idol will air on HBO on Fridays until June 25.
You can watch HBO without cable through streamers such as DirecTV Stream and Hulu (use ExpressVPN to access the cable channel and other streaming platforms from outside of the U.S.)
Amazon Prime members have the ability to add Max as a premium channel onto their Prime Video subscription.
Click here or the buy button above to take advantage of a 30-day free trial to Prime Video and a week free trial to Max to stream The Idol and other content in the mega-library of films, movies, and TV shows.
Max, which launched on May 23, carries a large selection of content including Max Originals as well as programs from HBO, Discovery, TLC, HGTV, TCM, Food Network, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Trvl Channel and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Stream HBO hits, original movies and shows such as Love & Death, Succession, Barry, The Last of Us, Reality, Clone High, White House Plumbers, And Just Like That, Love to Love You: Donna Summer, Bama Rush and Being Mary Tyler Moore.
Check below to watch the trailer for The Idol.
