Limited series · HBO
The Idol
We all crave things that aren't good for us.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Abel Tesfaye
Tedros
5 eps
Lily-Rose Depp
Jocelyn
5 eps
Suzanna Son
Chloe
5 eps
Troye Sivan
Xander
5 eps
Jane Adams
Nikki
5 eps
Mitch Modes
Mitch
5 eps
Hank Azaria
Chaim
5 eps
Ramsey
Ramsey
5 eps
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Destiny
5 eps
Moses Sumney
Izaak
5 eps
Hari Nef
Talia
5 eps
Rachel Sennott
Leia
5 eps
JENNIE
Dyanne
5 eps
Dan Levy
Benjamin
1 eps
Eli Roth
Andrew Finkelstein
3 eps
Scott Turner Schofield
Daniel
1 eps
Sophie Mudd
Sophie
3 eps
Bianca Ghezzi
Bianca
4 eps
Nina McNeely
Choreographer
2 eps
Jacob Berger
Gate Guard
1 eps
Natasha Newman-Thomas
Natasha
1 eps
Jacob Litvack
Photo Shoot PA
1 eps
Eddy Chen
Photo Shoot Photographer
1 eps
Andrew Hibbard
DIT
1 eps
Montay Romero
Dancer
3 eps
Kat Cheng
Dancer
3 eps
Marlon Pelayo
Dancer
3 eps
Zak Schlegel
Dancer
3 eps
Danny Axley
Dancer
3 eps
Derek Schiesel
Dancer
3 eps
Augustine Perez
Dancer
3 eps
Chris Castillo
Dancer
3 eps
Owen Scarlett
Dancer
3 eps
Jamie Donovan
Dancer
3 eps
Alexa Demie
Clubgoer (uncredited)
1 eps
Melanie Liburd
Jenna
2 eps
Kimberly Hunt
Music Video Director
2 eps
Harrison Kreiss
Music Video Cinematographer
2 eps
Rosie Rodriguez
Music Video PA
1 eps
Adam J. Kassel
Lot Security Guard
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How The Idol actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
The Idol reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn's last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros, a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E01
Pop Tarts & Rat Tales
As Jocelyn preps for her triumphant return, a leaked photo sends her team into crisis mode – just as a journalist arrives to do an in-depth profile on her. Later, Jocelyn has a chance encounter with nightclub owner Tedros.
- Directed by Sam Levinson
S01E03
Daybreak
As Tedros inserts himself into Jocelyn's life by offering input on her wardrobe and collaborators, Leia brings her growing concerns to Chaim and Destiny. But when her team suddenly begins to soften toward Tedros, Jocelyn becomes even more emotionally tethered to him.
- Directed by Sam Levinson
S01E02
Double Fantasy
After clashing with her team over her album's first single, Jocelyn pushes herself to the limit on the set of her new music video, while Nikki sees potential in backup dancer Dyanne. Later, Tedros introduces Jocelyn and Leia to Izaak and Chloe from his inner circle.
- Directed by Sam Levinson
S01E05
Jocelyn Forever
While planning a showcase for her upcoming tour, Jocelyn begins to take control of the relationships around her – much to Tedros’s dismay. Later, a meeting with Jocelyn disrupts Nikki’s plans for Dyanne, as disturbing news about Jocelyn’s ex emerges.
- Directed by Sam Levinson
S01E04
Stars Belong to the World
While fighting for the upper hand in her relationship with Tedros, Jocelyn becomes determined to introduce her new persona to the world. Later, Jocelyn’s team discusses her increasing involvement with Tedros and his inner circle.
- Directed by Sam Levinson
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Joe EpsteinExecutive Producer
- Sara E. WhiteExecutive Producer
- Harrison KreissProducer
- Reza FahimExecutive Producer
- Kevin TurenExecutive Producer
- Abel TesfayeExecutive Producer
Direction
- Sam LevinsonDirector
Cinematography
- Arseni KhachaturanDirector of Photography
- Marcell RévDirector of Photography
Music
- Abel TesfayeOriginal Music Composer
- Sam LevinsonOriginal Music Composer
- Mike DeanOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- HBO MaxStreaming
If you liked this
Similar Series
Series that share this one's texture, not just its genre tags.
Night Beauties
2023
Character-driven drama · Similar storytelling style
Till The End of The Moon
2023
Character-driven drama
Kold x Windy
2023
Character-driven drama
BEEF
2023
Character-driven drama
The Heavenly Idol
2023
Character-driven drama
Based on a True Story
2023
Character-driven drama
High Potential
2024
Character-driven drama
Fallout
2024
Character-driven drama
First Note of Love
2024
Character-driven drama
Nobody Wants This
2024
Character-driven drama
Sugar
2024
Character-driven drama
Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
The Rookie
2018
Another morally complex epic for anyone who wanted more grey.
S.W.A.T.
2017
Watch this next if you like protagonists you can't quite defend.
24
2001
A crime story told with the patience of a novel.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
2023
Continue the epic fantasy journey with another world worth getting lost in.
FROM
2022
Another invented world built with the same seriousness — start at episode one.
Never stop watching
Related Collections
No related collections yet
This title isn't in a published Nutevio collection yet. It will appear here automatically as soon as it is.
Join the conversation