The Weeknd's raunchy HBO drama The Idol got off to a bad start, with an underwhelming first episode and then an extremely embarrassing follow-up. Now, with the show still partway through its first season, its initially reported six-episode run has been reduced to five.
The fourth episode aired this past Sunday (June 25), meaning that the episode this coming Sunday (July 2) is now the season finale.
It's not entirely clear when the decision to shorten the season was made, as the show was originally announced as being six episodes. HBO has declined to comment, but a source told TVLine that the decision was made after Sam Levinson took over as director and creatively overhauled the show, which happened way back in 2022.
There's still no word on if The Idol will return for a second season, as HBO has said that there hasn't been a decision about the show's future. Either way, it seems practically inevitable that The Idol will be reappraised as a camp classic about 20 years from now.
The fourth episode aired this past Sunday (June 25), meaning that the episode this coming Sunday (July 2) is now the season finale.
It's not entirely clear when the decision to shorten the season was made, as the show was originally announced as being six episodes. HBO has declined to comment, but a source told TVLine that the decision was made after Sam Levinson took over as director and creatively overhauled the show, which happened way back in 2022.
There's still no word on if The Idol will return for a second season, as HBO has said that there hasn't been a decision about the show's future. Either way, it seems practically inevitable that The Idol will be reappraised as a camp classic about 20 years from now.