The A-List Collaboration: Lily-Rose Depp and Jennie Joins “The Idol”
“The Idol,” HBO‘s yet-to-be-released series, saw a powerful convergence of talents as Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny Depp‘s daughter, and Jennie from the South Korean sensation Blackpink joined forces. The high anticipation was palpable on the 23rd, when the team and actors graced the 76th Cannes Film Festival, making the scene sparkle with star power. Notably, the series premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
A Rousing Premiere Followed by a Mixed Response
Despite a promising start, the premiere’s aftermath was less than stellar as the series’ first two episodes received a mixed reception. Critics voiced concerns over the show’s explicit content, with many pointing out an abundance of nudity and sexual insinuations. The explicit scenes left many taken aback, leading to a discussion about the prevalence of such explicit content in the show.
oh my god the telegraph's 1-star review of the idol at cannes is BRUTAL pic.twitter.com/ggxHaLfivy
— ash⁷ 🥢 exam season (@yoonminkookiess) May 23, 2023
Critics Raise Concern Over Explicit Scenes
Despite a five-minute applause following the premiere, the critics weren’t as kind in their assessments. The primary critique revolved around the frequency of explicit scenes in the show, with nudity or sex scenes cropping up almost every few minutes. Some critiques went as far as to label the series as tinged with sexism. Furthermore, the series saw a significant drop in Rotten Tomatoes’ freshness rating, plummeting from 20% to a mere 5%, with an average score of only 1.7.
‘The Idol’ decreases to a score of 5% on Rotten Tomatoes. pic.twitter.com/viA7t2yryW
— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTings) May 24, 2023
A Question of Quality: Vulgarity vs. Cliché
“The Idol” was reduced to criticisms of vulgarity and cliché in the face of its explicit content. Critics opined that the show has compromised its quality and originality in the pursuit of provocation.
Lily-Rose Depp’s Performance and Characterization Spark Controversy
In terms of acting prowess, Lily-Rose Depp faced backlash, with several critics commenting on her lackluster performance. Additionally, Depp’s portrayal, which frequently involved nudity, drew criticism, with publications like “The Hollywood Reporter” noting there were hardly any scenes where Lily-Rose Depp was fully clothed. Several explicit scenes featuring Depp, including ones of a highly sexual nature, have led to the media dubbing the show as a “pornographic film.”
While “The Idol” undoubtedly had a splashy entrance into the world of television, the ensuing controversy and criticisms have left viewers wondering what the future holds for this star-studded series.
