#jocelyn x tedros

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x02

First of all, again the performance of Lily-Rose is beyond what I could have expected. She is just amazing in this role. 

The show could have been so much better without this nonsense and free sex scenes. If Mr Sam Levinson is so interested by sex (and not the good kind), he should be able to create a real series based on the porn industry at this point. 

I will do this review chronologically.

I don’t see any point to show Jocelyn masturbating with a glass of ice while remembering her night with Tedros. Beside again the focus on her hands. 

Regarding the shoot of the video clip: I loved the way they portrayed the singer and dancers’ exhaustion; the performance, the break down. The genuine truth behind the scene of a video clip. But it was really psychologically challenging. Again Lily was fabulous in the role. It becomes crystal clear that the record label sees Jocelyn as a product and commodity, rather than an artist with autonomy and PTSD. At the end of the day, Jocelyn’s erratic behaviour is costing them millions of dollars that they want a return on, so there can’t be any mistakes in her comeback.   Even before the shoot has started, there is already a problem. Jocelyn arrives three hours late to her music video shoot due to the make-up artists having to cover up self-inflicted wounds on her inner thighs. This gives us insight into Jocelyn’s psychological and emotional state, which highlight her turning towards self-destructive coping mechanisms as a way to deal with her anxiety and unprocessed trauma. It’s terrible to notice that once the word begins to travel on set, we see a desperate struggle between Jocelyn’s declining mental state and quest for perfection, versus the record label’s disappointment with their product not performing as intended. We finally get the perfect take, when Jocelyn performs an inspired take of her dance number, but inevitably the camera loses focus mid-way through when she did this take, and you could tell that she finally reached the level of perfection she was desperate to achieve. However, none of the footage is usable, and my heart fell to my stomach the moment they delivered the news to her. It becomes even more painful to watch when Jocelyn experiences a break from reality and calls for her mother, who was always there on set with Jocelyn before she passed. I don’t even want to speak about her bleeding feet and thighs. During all this time, Nikki is the worse of the team’s member, she is just looking for her money and nothing else, certainly not for Jocelyn at all.

Why Tania, the journalist at “Vanity Fair” is still there, on the set of the video shoot? At least, we learned that Xander used to be a singer himself. 

This leaves us with an important question to consider: what happens to a pop idol that can’t perform as needed? You may think this was a human and empathetic move from the record label executive, but remember, Nikki has already been working behind the scenes to create a new Jocelyn with Dyanne.

Surprise, a few days after, it’s revealed that Dyanne has been working with Tedros to lure Jocelyn into his cult, but what are her true motives? And what about Chloe, who is listening to each important conversation and is watching each important scene unfolding before her. 

Tedros is definitively more than a club owner. He is a crazy bastard plotting to get revenge on something (his music career’s failure?), when we get an ominous statement from him, saying that he may finally get what’s he’s owed from Dyanne once she is signed with Jocelyn’s record label.

The song “double fantasy” created by The Weeknd was perfectly played. It suited the moment, even better when the door unfolds and the car appears. 

Come on! Izaak is totally guy! His relation/seduction toward Leia is just unbelievable and beyond stupid. It’s amateurish at this point.

Nevertheless, the “orgy party” (with sex, alcohol and drugs) is definitively true, and I’m wondering if they didn’t based the scene with what was happening in the living room of the heir of “La Maison du Caviar” in Paris, avenue Foch. Because there too, there was a naked girl playing the piano and asking for cocaïne. 

Again, the reference to Prince and Donna Summer (at the end of the episode). 

Not much is known about Tedros’ past, as no one can seem to get an answer after a background check, but we do learn a bit about his past through Isaac, when Leia inquires about him throughout the night. He seems to find people who are looking to change their life, and takes advantage of their desperation. In the same episode, we learned more about Jocelyn and how she started to sing.

Abel’s interior is very dark, even in the pool area. 

Let’s talk about this terrible and unnecessary sex scene. First, Abel as a sex dominator is beyond laughable. He is not convincing at all (example: “I want to grab you by the ass while I suffocate you with my cock. I want you to choke on it.”)! Then, he was watching like a pervert and nothing else, while Jocelyn was having sex with the air surrounding her? And I didn’t understand the correlation between Tedros and Jocelyn’s intimate moment and, then suddenly pass to Izaak and Leia’s fucking. Was it necessary? Come on!  What about Chloe, watching secretly Jocelyn and Tedros’s “make out session”? She seems very important for the story, as she is an important witness of everything that’s happening around her. She looks also a bit like Jocelyn, so will she take her place too? First, her cloths, then her life? That’s in interesting character to follow, something will unfold. 

Regarding the end, Leia’s white face is still haunts me and the refrain of the song which goes like this: “That’s my family/We don’t like each other much,”

Conclusion: 1. This leads to an even bigger point of interest: Dyanne represents how the music industry is constantly looking to fill the shoes of anyone who isn’t able to perform well. They don’t care about the human behind the brand. There is always going to be someone younger, more talented and willing to do the work another person isn’t willing to do, and it was made evidently clear that Nikki doesn’t see Jocelyn as anything more than a product of the industry.

2. It seems to be as though the music industry is portrayed in the series as not caring about the artistic craft, and that the public will listen to anything and everything that is promoted as popular or important by the record label. 

3. We will have a new song from The Weeknd in the next episode, as you may hear in the promo for episode 3.

4. Tedros is as bas the music industry surrounding Jocelyn.

ps: I have even read an review mentioning, “Britney Spear’s Blackout album: that era of Britney’s career is marked by darker subject matter that plays into her real-life controversies and status as a sex symbol, which sounds remarkably similar to where we meet Jocelyn in the series.”

[criptikal]

ONE OF THE GIRLS -

masc!fem!reader x dyanne x jocelyn

warnings : reader is basically a better version of tedros 😋, cheating, strap-on sex (r giving), threesome, bad writing btw 😭, face-sitting

a/n: i never rlly wrote smut but i’ll try it now 🤷🏾

summary : what if jocelyn finds out the whole ordeal between you and dyanne but has a completely different reaction?

The night of the party.

That's when you fucked up. You were drinking your ass off by the pool, showing off for the other girls that attended. (Of course, it was wrong. Especially since you had Jocelyn wrapped all the way around your finger.) But as you filled the water gun with Tequilla, you noticed Leia rushing to clean up everything you had messed up. You never really liked her. You swore that she was telling Jocelyn everything about your plan. Which was getting her to be with you solely for you and your club's rep.

"Fuck are you doing?" You aimed the water gun at her, causing her to flinch and roll her eyes. You laughed as more people began to look at the scene you caused by your shouting. "Cleaning, cause, you know, the wood is...it's expensive..." Leia started, only to be cut off by you, "Are you fucking serious?" You chortled harder, lowering the gun by your side, and everyone else joined in on the laughter. "It's been hectic since you got here, and all this partying has just been..." You huffed and sprayed her with the water gun with a big smile while everyone cackled. You then whirled it on your finger before tucking it in a pretend holster. That was the last straw for her since she began stomping away.

"Aww, Leia, come back, I'm s-..." You attempted to hold back your chuckle, only for Jocelyn to slap you. "The fuck, ___?" She scolded, pointing at the angry Leia. You raised your hands in defense, Ramsey running over to take the toy from your hands. "She was being a bitch, Joss. She had to go." You explained with false sympathy, "She already doesn't like you. You know, why the fuck would she?" You were taken aback by the harsh comment, dropping your hands to your side again. "Oh my God, are you serious?" A sly smile played on your face again. But Jocelyn rolled her eyes, waved you off, and stomped inside.

You were left with the rest of the partygoers either staring uncomfortably at you or laughing, which was enough to make you walk inside.

-

You made yourself a home in the corner of the living room, tucked away from Jocelyn's vision. You stalked her and Chloe, who quickly darted her eyes at you when she slipped up too much. But luckily for her, Dyanne walked in, strolling in front of you. "Something not going your way?" She fake pouted before smiling at your pissed-off response. "What are you doing here?" You huffed, sipping more of whatever the fuck was in your glass. Dyanne wrapped her arms around your neck, leaning in closely. "Nikki offered me a deal and Jocelyn's song." You pushed her away gently as you pointed a cup toward Joss. "Tell her."

Already hurt because of your apparent infidelity and cyberstalking (all revealed due to Chloe's loose lips.) Hearing that her best friend stole her song absolutely crushed her. You smirked to yourself, realizing you got her just where you wanted. Begging for your attention again.

-

You headed upstairs to the studio, messing around with the keys on the piano. A loud slam knocked you out of concentration. "I wanna finish the song." Jocelyn rushed in with a cigarette hanging from her thick lips. You scoffed and turned to her. "How come? I thought you would've told me to leave by now." She shrugged and walked closer to you, her hands sliding up your shoulders, squeezing them. It gave you chills. You weren't scared but so fucking aroused. "Which song?" Jocelyn backed up and played the third track, Fill The Void, a song you made when you first met. The red ribbon tied around her neck while her breathy moans filled the backing vocals. You could tell what she wanted at this point.

You backed her into the computers and trapped her with your arms. You leaned in to kiss her until the door opened and shut again, but softer. Dyanne stood in the center of the bedroom. You paused, looking back. "She wanted to watch us record." Jocelyn laughed when you backed off her and sat in the swivel chair. Dyanne plunked onto the king-sized bed as if she wanted to ruin your plan. "Pick a new song." You sighed, rubbing your face in frustration. "No, I want to finish this one. It's gonna be my opener." Jocelyn announced, both her hands on the arms of the chair. "Opener? This song?"

Jocelyn stood in front of the mic. "You're not putting enough emotion into the song." You rolled your eyes and stood up, standing inches away from her face. "You sound like you don't care." "Okay?" She shrugged. "So fucking care! You're the one that wanted to record this so badly? Then fucking care!" You slammed your hand on the desk. "It's hard to care when I'm not recording how I want to." She glanced over at Dyanne, who was still sprawled on the bed. You swung your hands in defeat. "Dyanne, could you leave?" You offered. "No, I'll stay. You won't even know I'm here.” She purred, absolutely mocking you.

You walked over to her, leaning down to her level, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t fuck this up for me.” With that, you turned around facing Jocelyn who was listening to the prerecorded demo.

“You hear that, we won’t even know she’s here.” You announced with gritted teeth. But you still wrapped your arms around her waist, pulling her towards you, one hand wandering down to the junction between her legs, the other blocking her eyes.

“Do you feel good?” Your tongue traced along the edge of her ear lobe. You wanted to give her more of what she asked for, and what she wanted was you. She moaned in response, spreading her legs wider.

The track began in the headphones. “Go ahead, sing.” You practically demanded, hands still fumbling around her body. Her lips parted to sing the first line, her voice shaky. You kissed the side of her neck, sucking on the spot while you slid your hands under her shirt. Her hips pushed against yours, making it difficult for her to focus.

“Fuck...” She gasped out through the microphone. Dyanne watched the whole scene play out while she was sitting on the bed intently. “Keep going.” You reminded her, nipping on her ear. Her breath hitched and slowed. You looked back at Dyanne with an innocent smile on your face as Jocelyn continued to whine into the mic. Dyanne smiled back at you, biting her bottom lip and continuing to listen.

Your fingers slid under her bra cups, feeling her chest rise and fall faster. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to ignore the sensations running through her body. The warm air brushed across her exposed skin, sending goosebumps throughout her body. At this point, she completely ignored the music. All she could feel was her body bouncing between temperatures, your cold hands dipped down into her.

They weren’t gentle as they ran over her skin, playing with her nipples, while the other glided lower, seeking out her entrance. You removed your hands from under Jocelyn’s clothes back onto her hips.

You paused the track and stared at her face, her pupils dilated and flushed cheeks. Your palms pressed down on her hips and nodded towards the underside of the monitor.

She dashed towards it, while you lay next to Dyanne. “Hey.” You whispered in her ear, lips trailing down to her neck. She slowly sat up, unsure of what you were going to do next.

“You can keep listening.” You smirked as Jocelyn returned with a familiar toy and a red ribbon. She tugged your bottoms off and fastened the harness on. You swapped spots with the blonde, tying the ribbon around her eyes, and applying pressure on her nose before resting between her thighs.

Her heart raced in anticipation, she wanted you. You took your time removing her panties. After a few moments, you stopped and looked at her shaky figure.

Your fingers were gentle as you slipped them inside of her. Jocelyn exhaled loudly and held her breath. She shuddered as you added another finger, feeling her walls closing in around your digits. She whimpered softly, reaching her head back and arching her back.

Your lips followed the path of your fingers, tasting every inch of her, you kissed and sucked her flesh. Moaning escaped her mouth. Her hips buckled forward. You grabbed her waist, bringing her back onto you. She was overwhelmed by pleasure. She thrashed about, no longer being able to control herself.

Jocelyn gripped your hair tightly, moaning uncontrollably. The tempo increased. You began pumping her harder and harder. Jocelyn felt all the sensations coursing through her. You removed your fingers to which she gasped.

You sat on the bed as she began to straddle your lap, feeling the toy against her as her lips met yours. They teased each other passionately. She grabbed the strap and aligned it with her opening. Jocelyn trembled as she lined it up, moving slightly to push past her natural barriers.

“Fuck… oh god… yes.” She cried out, unable to contain her desire.

You leaned back on the bed, not breaking eye contact with Dyanne, who was entranced by the scene unfolding before her. You waved her over, beckoning her closer. She hurriedly moved to you, sitting above your head, knees on either side of your neck.

She positioned herself above your face slowly sitting down. You placed your hands on her hips as she sat, positioning yourself for her, and guided her to you. Your mouth gently latched onto her clit, while your hands pulled on her clothed chest, gently squeezing them. You sucked on her folds while Jocelyn rocked back and forth completely content with riding you.

Dyanne began to rock as well, whining as she did so. You stuck your tongue out, lapping up all of her juices as she became wetter and wetter.

You grasped her tits roughly and pinched her nipples as she grinded harder and harder, getting closer and closer to orgasm.

You released her breasts and pushed your face further into Dyanne’s pussy. Your tongue flicked across her clit repeatedly as you made your way deeper.

“Oh god, yes. Yes.” Jocelyn whined loudly. Her head fell back as she tried to take deep breaths. You were surprised no one from the party had come looking for any of you especially cause of the noise coming from the studio. But Dyanne was too busy grinding against you and rocking her hips wildly.

Jocelyn let out a soft moan as she climaxed, trembling violently as she came. The other woman followed quickly after, her juices soaking your face. You lapped up as much as possible, but she was too excited to stop.

They both lay on the bed, breathing heavily. The room was filled with heavy panting. No one spoke. You pulled yourself up and began to clean the girls up, removing the ribbon from Jocelyn’s eyes, and kissing every love bite or hickey on her.

-

You sat in front of the monitor, replaying the tracks. You felt arms wrap around your shoulders, Jocelyn stood listening to the song with the risqué backing vocals. She rested her chin on your shoulder. “I’m so pissed off with you.” She said sternly. “Using me for you stupid fucking club.” You huffed and rolled your eyes.

You turned towards her and faked a sympathetic look, “I just heard through Dyanne, that you needed help musically. So that’s what I’m doing. No fucking club in mind.” You pulled her close by her waist as she leaned down to kiss your cheek, running your thumb down her soft skin.

“Whatever…wecan work on the song tomorrow, just get some sleep for once.” She smiled. You sighed and stood up as she dragged you to the bed, you made yourself comfortable between the two women as you drifted off.

[findroleplay]

🔪

Hello Everyone! 21 F here looking for 18+ Rp partners! So my muse for incredibly dark roleplays has been through the roof as of late and I was hoping to wrote with someone with the same energy. I would also love to take this as an opportunity to make friends as well 😊!

So I am into many fandoms right now. I am mostly into The Idol, Scream franchise, and Avatar right now, however I can go outside of that for something else! I would love to do a oc x cc however I can do oc x oc instead if that's what is preferred! I will list down below the pairings that I am mainly looking for, however I will list other options as well!

Scream:

•Ethan Landry x My original character

•Amber Freeman x My original character

•Chad Meeks-Martin x My original character

•Mindy Meeks- Martin x My original character

•Samantha Carpenter x My original character

•Billy Loomis x My original character

•Stu Macher x My original character

Avatar:

•Aged up Lo'ak x My original character

•Aged up Ao'nung x My original character

•Aged up Spider x My original character

•Jake Sully x My original character

•Miles Quaritch x My original character

Canon characters I play in other fandoms and shipping with them (Can be MxF or FxF, I don't do MxM) :

°Maxine from XXX (crossover and OC friendly)

°Jocelyn from The Idol (Crossover and OC friendly, don't wanna do Tedros x Jocelyn for this lol)

°Esther From Orphan (Crossover and OC friendly)

°Carrie White from Carrie (Crossover and OC friendly)

°Jennifer Check from Jennifer's Body (Cross over and OC friendly)

If you are interested please don't feel afraid to reach out! I prefer to only roleplayon my Discord, however will rp here on Tumblr if you don't have one! By everyone <3

Discord: @bttori

_

[prpfs]

🔪

Hello Everyone! 21 F here looking for 18+ Rp partners! So my muse for incredibly dark roleplays has been through the roof as of late and I was hoping to wrote with someone with the same energy. I would also love to take this as an opportunity to make friends as well 😊!

So I am into many fandoms right now. I am mostly into The Idol, Scream franchise, and Avatar right now, however I can go outside of that for something else! I would love to do a oc x cc however I can do oc x oc instead if that's what is preferred! I will list down below the pairings that I am mainly looking for, however I will list other options as well!

Scream:

•Ethan Landry x My original character

•Amber Freeman x My original character

•Chad Meeks-Martin x My original character

•Mindy Meeks- Martin x My original character

•Samantha Carpenter x My original character

•Billy Loomis x My original character

•Stu Macher x My original character

Avatar:

•Aged up Lo'ak x My original character

•Aged up Ao'nung x My original character

•Aged up Spider x My original character

•Jake Sully x My original character

•Miles Quaritch x My original character

Canon characters I play in other fandoms and shipping with them (Can be MxF or FxF, I don't do MxM) :

°Maxine from XXX (crossover and OC friendly)

°Jocelyn from The Idol (Crossover and OC friendly, don't wanna do Tedros x Jocelyn for this lol)

°Esther From Orphan (Crossover and OC friendly)

°Carrie White from Carrie (Crossover and OC friendly)

°Jennifer Check from Jennifer's Body (Cross over and OC friendly)

If you are interested, please don't feel afraid to reach out! I prefer to only roleplay on my Discord @bttori. However, I will rp here on Tumblr if you don't have one! By everyone <3

like if you're interested and anon will get back to you!

[bubblegumflavor]

Can u make a Top! Daniel x bottom! Male reader smutshot based off of 'the idol' just not the 100% toxicity? Like daniel could be a little possessive a little like tedros but not THAT toxic and the male reader is like jocelyn not the mental issues part tho? (Asking for a friend)

Dear anon, please tell your friend:

Respectfully... no. ^_^;

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x04: Review

Again the big highlight of this episode was the three new song that the Weeknd just posted last Friday: “Fill The Void”, “Jealous Guy” et “One Of The Girls”.

As for the episode in itself, again the sex scenes or/and nude scenes were totally not necessary. I really hope that Lily-Rose was paid a lot to show so much of her body. I’m pretty sure not as much as Abel. 

From this episode, it was clear that more and more, Jocelyn is the big bad wolf: slapping Tedros, giving the orders to electrocute Xander, to cheat on Tedros,... in order to control everyone, by manipulating everyone.  Remember Rob’s quote: “You know what I love most about you? When you want something you find a way to get it.” She will end up like a praying mantis. 

There is again the mention of “choking” someone. Since the beginning this element is present. Maybe Jocelyn will be the one choking Tedros, or maybe she was the one who killed her mother at the end, by choking her to death.

When Jocelyn is creating music with Tedros, she is in fact getting inspired by Tedros. She is using him as much as him.  

Chloe is truly a pure heart and it was nice to know more about her and her background. 

From the moment when Destiny said “This business is a crazy, corrupt fuckin’ place” we see Dyanne entering to Magistrate Records and getting signed there with Jocelyn’s single “World Class Sinner”. The music label replace Jocelyn and manufacture a new pop idol that they can control and exploit. At the end of the day, they don’t care about the individual artist, but only the profit that they can generate from them.

I don’t understand the role of Destiny, observing, seeing crazy shit but not intervening at all. In a way, she is sent in as a trojan horse to keep the ship moving and ensure that Jocelyn stays profitable.

Poor Leia, I really feel for her. She is in a way a true pure heart too, truly wanting the best for Jocelyn. 

Izaak is definitively gay and has view on Xander. 

Nikki represents all the wrongfulness of the music industry. 

To this point, I don’t understand Xander’s torture scene, beside showing a new face to Jocelyn, a manipulative one, not afraid of hurting people she likes. She was even put on a higher stand.  But it’s completely illogic from Xander to stay in this mad house after what he has experienced.  And the favour for Tedros is him taking pictures of Rob and Xander’s lady friend at the end. 

Jocelyn is definitively not afraid of Tedros, not even after knowing that he went to jail and knowing his true name. But what isn’t clear is whether or not she truly cares. Also, she is aware of his problematic behavior and tolerates it in exchange for better art. This is a deal with the devil type of scenario she finds herself in, but it seems worth it to her.

Tedros find the perfect plan to get Jocelyn to be liked and empathised. But even after her coming out, with her big trauma, no one from her music partners came to see if she’s ok and all. Nevertheless, in a way, she exploits her trauma in order to sell out her world tour. 

I’m pretty sure that Jocelyn couldn’t imagine that Dyanne would stabbed her twice in the back, first with Tedros and then with her single. 

And for me, she was more hurt with Tedros and Dyanne’s betray than the single, because that’s why she called Rob, to get revenge on Tedros, even if they didn’t fuck like she liked it. But again, the sex scene was unnecessary, the S&M lingerie was unnecessary and ugly, and not at all with the theme of the evening with Rob. And Rob wasn’t there for her in definitive, not at all and how he didn’t notice the bruises on Jocelyn’s body when he was with her?!

Sorry but Rob doesn’t look like an actor at all, he is so “ugly” not handsome at all, he isn’t even credible. He should have an amazing face, he doesn’t have that. 

Special shout out to my friend N. who has noticed that when Abel was crying next to Prince’s poster, it’s a reference to the song “When Doves Cry”. 

Again, Abel is just a terrible actor. It’s even worse when you think that Lily-Rose have practised to sing like she does. Even the other singers are better than him. Shame. I’m pretty sure he was narcissistic enough to not even take acting courses.   

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x05 : None of this means as much without you ~ I don’t like being apart.

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x02 : There are no coincidences in life.

Inception: The Weeknd being in his house in front of his Idol.

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x03: Quotes

“- You see that young lady over there? (Tedros) - Yeah (Assistant).  - Got anything in the store as beautiful as she is?” (Tedros)

“- It’s good champagne, what is this? (Tedros) - Uh, it’s a Valentino exclusive. (Assistant)”

“- Where are you? Wait, are you at the house? (Leia) - Of course, I’m at the fucking house. You say, “911″, I come to the house, Leia. (Chaim) - Yo, I told you. This bitch is fuckin’ brain-dead. (Destiny) - Chaim, I’m really scared. This guy, Tedros, has just, like... taken over the fucking house. (Leia) - Gun. Gun. (Chaim) - Oh. (Destiny) - What does that mean, “He’s taken over the house”, Leia?” (Chaim)

“- They’re both gastrointestinal doctors, so. (Andrés) - My friend’s a gynecologist. You don’t see me stickin’ my finger in everybody, do you? (Tedros) - There’s nothing okay about what this creep just fuckin’ did. (Tedros) - It’s been a real pleasure working with you. I wish you, like, all the best. (Jocelyn) - That translates to “get the fuck outta here”, Andrés.” (Tedros)

“- Chaim, are you trying to kill me? (Finkelstein) - Not today. No, why? (Chaim) - Do you want my children to grow up without a father? Is that what this is?  (Finkelstein) - Fink, why, why would I wish that on anybody? (Chaim) - Well, then let’s cancel the tour. ((Finkelstein) - The tour’s gonna make millions of dollars. What happened? (Chaim) - Millions of doll... Right now, she’s making me have IBS. I’m fuckin’ shitting more blood than a kid at Epstein’s island. (Finkelstein) - Turn up the car radio very loud. Really Loud. (Chaim) - Okay, Okay. (Destiny) - Fink, I’m sorry it’s hard to hear. We’re at the studio. (Chaim) - Whoa, whoa, whoa.” (Finkelstein)

“- How the fuck did you get here? (Chaim) - Oh, I’m, I’m from here. (Tedros) - You’re from LA? (Chaim) - Right. (Tedros) - Which part? (Chaim) - Uh, Hollywood. (Tedros) - You grew up in Hollywood? (Destiny) - Yeah. (Tedros) - Wow. Me too. (Destiny) - No shit. (Tedros) - Yes. Born and raised. (Destiny) (...) - Why are you tryin’ to, like, make him feel bad about getting kicked out of school?” (Jocelyn) (...) - Three songs in two weeks. Yeah? Hits. (Chaim) - Not songs, hits. (Tedros) - Hits. Undeniable. (Chaim) - Undeniable. (Tedros) - Nothing less. (Chaim) - Nothing less. (Tedros) (...) - No, no, no. She has to know the truth. You gotta know what the stakes are. (Chaim) - Okay, but you don’t have to freak her out like that. (Destiny) - Yeah, no. (Chaim) - It’s too much pressure. (Destiny) - Join the freak-out club, okay? I’m freaked out, she’s freaked out. If you had any sense, you would be fuckin’ freaked out because it’s do or die, all right? (Chaim) - It is. He’s not lying. (Destiny) - No fucking room to fail here. I mean, use it as motivation, but... that’s what’s happening. Well, then what the fuck you wasting time talking to me? Get to work. Three massive hits. I’ll deal with Nikki. Just try not to end my fuckin’ career, okay? (Chaim) - I will do my very best. (Jocelyn) - I think our girl’s in trouble. (Chaim) - My grandmother said you never trust a dude with a rat tail.” (Destiny)

“- I feel like the more you let people in, the more reason they have not to...want you anymore... you know? (Jocelyn) - Yeah. (Chloé) - But I’ve never really sung about anything, like, truthful. (Jocelyn) - Yeah. (Chloé) - Or anything that, like, really means anything to me. (Jocelyn) - Hm. Maybe just a lyric every once in a while. Like a secret. Nobody has to know. (Chloé) - Yeah, you’re right. Nobody has to know. (Jocelyn) - Was it really hard when she... when she died? (Chloé) - She was really sick for a long time, and... I was holding her hand when she... closed her eyes. (Jocelyn) - I’m sorry. (Chloé) - But I feel like she’s still here. It’s weird. It’s like she’s still in this house, like she’s in all the walls, and... all the windows... and all the mirrors. I just can feel her like she’s still...watching me.” (Jocelyn)

“- Look, Xander, I brought you up here to tell you that creative direction fuckin’ sucks with Jocelyn. (Tedros) - I don’t disagree. (Xander) - You don’t disagree? You’re the fuckin’ creative director. (Tedros) - I know. (Xander) - What is it with this fuckin’ industry? Everybody hats what they fuckin’ do. (Tedros) - Welcome to the music business, yeah. (Xander) - How do you put out something you hate? (Tedros) - I’m fuckin’ forced to. (Xander) - What do you mean “forced to”? (Tedros) - I could have... the greatest fucking idea in the world, and often, I fucking do. And at the end of the day, it’s whatever the fucking laver and Jocelyn wants. (Xander) - What do you think about “I’m a Freak”? (Tedros) - The song? (Xander) - Yeah. (Tedros) - Fine? It’s fucking middle of the road, not enough of a re-invention, fucking... manufactured bad girl. (Xander) - Hm. (Tedros) - When was the last truly fucking nasty, nasty, bad pop girl? (Xander) - All right, let’s say you had carte blanche, right? What would you do? (Tedros) - I would take that photo with the fucking cum on her face... and I’d make it her album cover. I fuckin’ would. (Xander) - Wow, that’s a great idea. You’re fuckin’ smart. You wanna do some coke? (Tedros) - No. All the coke in LA has fentanyl in it. (Xander) - Not mine.” (Tedros)

“- If Tedros heard you say that, you’d be in huge trouble. (Izaak) - Yeah, you trippin’. (Jocelyn) - Yeah, you’re not allowed to say no. (Chloé) - You’re not allowed to say no? (Jocelyn) - Yeah. (Izaak) - Why? (Jocelyn) - Because by saying no, you’re denying yourself an experience. (Izaak) - Yeah, but not all experiences are good. (Jocelyn) - Debatable. That’s a really simple way of looking at things, Joss. (Izaak) - What do you mean? (Jocelyn) - Some of the most terrible experiences in life... can be the most valuable, like artistically. (Chloé) - I don’t know. I guess, like, to a degree. (Jocelyn) - Mm... Okay, Robert Plant had a son who died when he was five years old, and he wrote “All My Love” after that, and it’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written. (Chloé) - Yeah, but I think if Robert Plant had a say in it, he would’ve chosen his son’s life. (Jocelyn) - And that’d be a pretty big loss for the world. (Izaak) - You really believe that? (Jocelyn) - Yes. (Izaak) - That’s really fucked up. That’s, like, actually fucked up. (Jocelyn) - How often do people come up to you and tell you that your music saved their lives? (Izaak) - A lot. (Jocelyn) - A lot. And do you believe them when they say it? (Izaak) - Yes... I do. (Jocelyn) - Okay. Now imagine if you were Robert Plant. Or imagine if you had lost someone that you loved and you’d written one of the greatest love songs of all time. Then what? (Izaak) - So, you think that by losing his son, he was able to write something that saved a lot of people’s lives. (Jocelyn) - Yes. (Izaak) - And because of that, you’ll say yes to anything anyone asks you to do? (Jocelyn) - Yes. (Izaak) - Literally, anything? (Jocelyn) - Anything. (Izaak) - Interesting. Izaak, get up and kiss Ramsey. (Jocelyn) - See? (Ramsey) - Would you have done that if Leia was in the room? (Jocelyn) - Yes, that wouldn’t change anything, Jocelyn. (Izaak) - Even if it really hurt her feelings? (Jocelyn) - Yes. (Izaak) - Feelings can shift. What you make and what you put out into the world, that’s the shit that lasts forever. Not Leia’s fuckin’ feelings. (Head) - Would you kiss me? (Jocelyn) - Would I kiss you. Uh, that’s not a good idea. (Izaak) - Yeah. Why? (Jocelyn) - You know Tedros would fuckin’ kill me.” (Izaak)

“- And Tedros... thank you for teaching me how to have fun again. (Jocelyn) - To finding your family. (Tedros) (...) - If you lovely label is so fucking obsessed with making you a bad girl... (Tedros) - We should take the photo with the cum on your face.... (Xander) - Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. (Jocelyn) - ... and we should, um, make it your album cover. They’ve all definitely seen the photo, actually. (Xander) - Yeah, okay, but it’s different if you, like, embrace it. (Leia) - So, what? It’s only okay if the internet, like, uses it against me? (Jocelyn) - Preach.  - No. The internet is on your side. (Leia) - No. Literally, every outlet. (Jocelyn) - But... They all wrote beautiful pieces defending you and your right to grow up and have a sex life. (Leia) - There is no difference between the people making fun of me and the people supporting me. They’re all capitalizing off of it, and they’re just driving more people to look it up. (Jocelyn) - That’s exactly why you should make it your album cover. (Xander) - I mean...we could make the caption like, “New music coming soon.” I feel like that had its moment. I’m not sure I want... (Jocelyn)  - Who gives a fuck? (Tedros) - Because it’s actually humiliating and, like, makes me feel really bad about myself. (Jocelyn) - Why? (Tedros) - Because, like, it just, I wanna be... It just sucks. It actually sucks. It does. (Jocelyn) - No, what were you, what were you about to say just now? (Tedros) - I was gonna say, you know, I... wanna be taken seriously. (Jocelyn) - Why? (Tedros) - Because I do. (Jocelyn) - But why? (Tedros) - Because I wanna have a career that lasts, and is meaningful, and isn’t like a fucking joke. (Jocelyn) - And you will, Joss. You will. Trust me. (Leia) - No, not if she doesn’t take risks. (Tedros) - I mean, that’s easy to say if you’re not the one taking the risks. (Xander) - Yeah, but, Joss, this is, like, the right risk at the right time. (Leia) - You’ve got great people... (Xander) - There’s no such thing, as “the right risk at the right time”. If it’s risky, it’s risky for a reason. (Tedros) - No, but if it’s the right risk then you, like, basically, know how it’s gonna play out. (Jocelyn) - No, that’s the exact opposite of a risk. That’s playing it safe. That’s what everyone else does. Is that what you do? (Tedros) - Why are you talking to me like I’m, like, new to the music industry? I’m not. You are. (Jocelyn) - True. (Leia) - Don’t be rude. (Tedros) - I’m not being rude. It’s just, like, I’ve been doing this for over a decade, so... (Jocelyn) - And you’re stuck. (Tedros) - Yeah, I’m stuck. I’m stuck at the moment. (Jocelyn) - At the moment? What was the last song you wrote, Jocelyn? (Tedros) - “Daybreak”. (Jocelyn) - “Daybreak” on your second album. Okay, what was that, like a year ago? Year and a half? (Tedros) - I mean, I don’t think that’s, like, a big deal. Like, I think it’s gotta be the right song. (Jocelyn) - You mean the right risk. (Tedros) - Yeah, I mean the right risk. (Jocelyn) - And what I’m saying is, I think, maybe that’s why you can’t write a song. Yeah, ‘cause she’s fucking overthinking everything. (Tedros) - Exactly. (Xander) - You of all people should know it’s a bit more fucking complicated than that. (Jocelyn) - I mean... it is and it isn’t. I think that what Tedros is saying makes a lot of sense. I think you care... way too fucking much about what people think. (Xander) - I think if I didn’t care what people thought, I wouldn’t have a career. (Jocelyn) - I think if you care too much, you won’t have a career. (Tedros) - How can you complain about making superficial music all the time, about not being able to write anything honest, when all you think about is what people are gonna fucking say? You make superficial music because you think about superficial things. (Tedros) - I’m sorry. I don’t think it’s superficial to wanna make music that connects with people. (Jocelyn) - Why don’t you just be yourself, Jocelyn? (Tedros) - Because there’s nothing about me that’s relatable. (Jocelyn) - You sure about that? (Tedros) - Okay, what do you think is relatable about me? (Jocelyn) - I don’t know. All the dark shit you’ve been through in your life. (Tedros) - I think the dark shit I’ve been through is pretty fucking unique, too. (Jocelyn) - Yeah, I would agree. Her Mom was like a... rare breed. (Xander) - How so? (Tedros) - Um... I don’t really feel like talking about it in front of everyone. (Jocelyn) - Too late. (Tedros) - Tedros... please... not now. (Jocelyn) - Jocelyn, I don’t keep secrets from anyone at this table. (Tedros) - Well, that’s, that’s your prerogative. (Jocelyn) - I’m not gonna let you keep secrets either. (Tedros) - I think that’s a little easier to say when you don’t actually know the details. (Jocelyn) - Baby... There’s nothing that you’re gonna reveal to me right now that’s gonna make me love you any less. I think I speak for everyone at the table when I say that. You’re safe here... I promise. (Tedros) - She did a lot of things. A lot of things. Um, her... her favorite was probably... hitting me with a hairbrush. (Jocelyn) - Hitting you where? (Tedros) - My but, my... thighs, my stomach, my back. Like, just anywhere people wouldn’t notice. (Jocelyn) - Why’d she do that? (Tedros) - To focus. She did it as, like, a form of, uh, motivation, I guess. Kinda like a dog. She’d do it to help me remember my lines, to remember dance moves, to finish songs. She’d do it to keep me from falling asleep... to help me wake up on time. She’d do it is she caught me.. smoking, or drinking, or, flirting with someone she didn’t approve of. She’d do it if I overate, if I didn’t exercise, or... if she ever caught me,... smiling to myself. (Jocelyn) - How long did this go on for? (Tedros) - Until the chemo made her so weak she couldn’t lift up a hairbrush anymore. (Jocelyn) - You didn’t fight back? (Tedros) - No. (Jocelyn) - Why not? (Tedros)  - Because there’s just some battles you’re never gonna win. (Jocelyn) - That’s so sad. (Chloé) - And no one said anything? (Tedros) - Nope. (Jocelyn) - What about you? (Tedros) - I don’t know what we could’ve done. (Xander) - You sure about that? (Tedros) - I did the best that I could at the time. (Xander) - Really? (Tedros) - Yeah. (Xander) - How hard did she hit you, Jocelyn? (Tedros) - Hard enough to break skin. (Jocelyn) - Jesus Christ. And you felt like Xander was there for you? (Tedros) - In a lot of ways, yeah. (Jocelyn) - So, I’m guessing no one said anything because you’re getting paid? (Tedros) - Okay, that fucking wasn’t it. (Xander) - No? (Tedros) - No. (Xander) - What do you think? (Tedros) - I think it was just such a horrible, fucked-up situation that no one really knew what the right thing to do was. (Jocelyn) - Is there a part of you that wonders if the reason you’re stuck is because you’re mother’s not around? (Tedros) - Yeah, absolutely. (Jocelyn) - So, you... you miss it? (Tedros) - Getting hit? (Jocelyn) - The motivation it gave you. (Tedros) - Sometimes. (Jocelyn) - It you loved the music you were making... would you have felt like it was worth it? (Tedros) - Yeah. (Jocelyn) - Hey... all that trauma... you’re gonna turn into inspiration. You’re gonna tap into it. You’re gonna feel it. You’re gonna face it. You’re gonna remember it. And you’re gonna let it wash all over. You still got that hairbrush? (Tedros) - Yeah. (Jocelyn) - Go get it. (Tedros) - Okay. (Jocelyn) (...) - This is really gonna hurt. But if you push through the pain, it’ll be beautiful. (Tedros) (...) - Thank you for taking care of me. (Jocelyn)

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x04 : Jocelyn x Tedros

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

The IDOL: The story behind

I’m pretty sure the story behind the IDOL and Jocelyn’s character is the chaotic relationships that The Weeknd had with his multiple famous ex-girlfriends.

That’s why he couldn’t let Tedros (aka him) be the bad guy of the story, because in a way through all of his relationships he must feel he was the who got taken advantage of in the end. He was the one who inspired his ex, like Tedros inspired Jocelyn. 

Don’t forget Selena Gomes made a video clip wearing a hospital bracelet and on her Revival’s cover album, she is very much naked.

I’m pretty sure that he has been inspired by Ariana Grande (from their mutual songs, they have dated in the past), who is so sexualised and sings a lot about sex in her songs. 

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x05: Review

The big winner of this episode is the song “Like a God” by the Weeknd.  And I liked some of the cinematic shot of this episode. C’est chiadé.

The big loser of the entire series are the make-up and the cloths (I’m laughing at Natasha Newman-Thomas the so-called “Costume Designer”). 

This final episode unveils the casualties from Jocelyn and Tedros’ fallout, which leads to a massive struggle for power and control. 

But it’s absurde to say that Tedros is Jocelyn’s victim. 

If there are some victims, it would be Dyanne and Leia for sure! 

First thing first, for the first time, Jocelyn called him a con man and a fraud in front of everyone, while Tedros is still high on drugs (after so many days). We also learned that since forever Tedros has this crazy plan to meet with Jocelyn and make her fall in love with her. Why during this entire conversation, Chloé is wearing the costume of the Devil?

Also, what’s up with Xander who is now living in the basement with the rest of Tedros’ family knowing that he’s got a big bedroom upstairs. Oh and apparently no one is working at the night club anymore, right? They are all hanging at Jocelyn now.  To this point, I still don’t understand the purpose of the character “Head”, the guy covered with tattoos, can he sing too haha. Oh sorry, we now have a name: His name is Mitch.

The way they are treating the poor cleaning ladies again. 

It was so fucked up to watch a room filled with grown up people watching “kids” almost naked and sexually dancing for them, especially Chloé, who is supposed to be underage. Her outfit was so disgusting and didn’t highlight her body, nor her ass. 

Yes, Sam Levinson has especially something with young lady’s ass. At least, we didn’t have sex scene in this episode, thank god! 

At the beginning, Jocelyn rallies the cult together and offers them something Tedros could never: a chance at true stardom and sharing their art with the world. It wasn’t just a victim in distress trying to remove a toxic presence in her life, but also a power move on Jocelyn’s behalf to secure the credit and ownership over the Family, and this new era of her career. Throughout all the chaos, Jocelyn blows away Nikki, Finkelstein, and Chaim with her four new artists as well as her three new singles. Jocelyn proved to herself and those in doubt that her artistic instincts and her ability to play the Hollywood game is unmatched.

Watching Nikki try to win Tedros’ favor in order to claim ownership of the new talent while Chaim and Destiny were discussing working as an independent label really underscored how, at the end of the day, this is a business and money is at the forefront of their minds.

While Rob career is destroyed and no one give a fuck about it. They even want Jocelyn to have no part in it. 

Well, as expected, Dyanne was chewed up and spit out of the Hollywood machine just like a million other aspiring idols. You see, Nikki, only presented Dyanne with an offer because of her doubts regarding Jocelyn’s career. Now that she has seen the true potential of Jocelyn’s new era, all of the support and power they were willing to give to Dyanne has been taken and given back to Jocelyn. I know some of you may think Jocelyn requested to screw over Dyanne, but, again, I think the true villain is the record label. They made Dyanne sigh away her life and rights away to the label, and I’m assuming she cannot release music without their direct approval or oversight. Given that the World Class Sinner lawsuit is most likely a lie to cover up their renewed interest in Jocelyn, Dyanne’s career is over before it ever even started. 

I’m wondering what Leia wrote to Jocelyn in her letter. Where did she go?

This leads to Tedros reputation, which wasn’t much to begin with, to be completely smeared in the public eye, which was quite terrible to watch when the three of them where laughing because they ruined him entirely knowing that he is the one responsable for this entire world tour. This effectively kills the interest in his night club and causes him to shut down his business. And, none of his cult members desire to be attached to him or known as his students of art, because of the horrendous controversies surrounding him. What’s truly interesting about this sequence of events is that it’s somewhat hinted at from the beginning of the show. Some of you speculated that a character was going to die at the end of the season, and you all were right for the most part. However, it was not a literal death but more so an ego death. The idea and concept of Tedros, something that he prided himself in crafting, was completely killed and destroyed by the power and might of Jocelyn’s will. In the end, he is just the failed con man, Mauricio Jackson (reference to Mickael Jackson of course). Does this mean that Jocelyn was the mastermind all along? And was everything she told Tedros, and everyone else, a lie? Let’s start with what I believe to be true: I think Jocelyn was definitely in a dark place grieving the death of her mother, and that she hadn’t processed her trauma in a healthy way. We hear about and see her having mental breakdowns as she copes with her loss, which also manifests itself as self-harm during her darkest moments. Being surrounded by these feelings that weigh her down and cloud her vision, I do think it affected the way she felt about her music on a deeper lever. Now let’s go into what I don’t believe to be true: I don’t think Jocelyn is a victim of the people around her, and I don’t think she is without agency or power. The title reference the source of her power: she can sense that others will idolize and follow her. We see at the beginning of the series how Jocelyn can reflect what other people want or believe to be true about her, and she uses that to her advantage. She will allow people to exploit her to a certain point, but she will always come out on top. Remember, it has been alluded to that she has been in the industry since childhood (btw how old is she now??), and you can’t remain that famous and relevant by being complacent or a pushover in the Hollywood system. I mean Dyanne was in it for two seconds before she became a nobody in the blink of an eye. I believe that is why, when Tedros asked about the hairbrush, he realizes that part of her background was made up in order to give him this illusion of power over her. While I’m not saying she wasn’t abused by her mother, because their relationship did seem toxic and all-consuming at times (just listen to the lyrics of “Like a God”, I feel as though she may have taken some liberties about how it all happened. We’ve seen Jocelyn’s history with self-harm, so maybe the bruises and scares she spoke about. We’ll never know, because no one bothered to step in and intervene, which I believe to be true, so only Jocelyn and her mother know the truth. In the end, Jocelyn got what she wanted: inspiration for her new era of music and a wildly successful comeback. So much so, that she sold out a world tour in three weeks, all of her new singles were massive hits on the charts, and the honestly around her life and trauma created a ride-or-die massive hits on the charts, fanbase with undying loyalty. And, to the confusion and anger from her team, she reveals to them and her fans that the man who inspired her, and whom she loves, Tedros, even though Vanity Fair’s article destroyed him and she is indirectly responsable for it. This goes against everything now that everyone knows who is Tedros, Mauricio Jackson. How people/her fans will accept that Jocelyn’s boyfriend was a pimp and a criminal. How could they forget that. 

That’s why Destiny wasn’t surprised when she saw Tedros invited backstage. She was the one inside the house watching everyone and everything during a week. I think she was smart enough to realise who was in control during all this time.   

I love the mirror scene with Jocelyn coming from them. The symbolic of it. 

It took me a moment, but it started to click when I realized this was another facet of Jocelyn’s utter control of her situation and the people around her. She needed to lean into the idea that Tedros was nothing but trouble to the people in her inner circle, so that she could ask them for their help to strip him of his power and everything he had when the moment was right. That way, despite his ego and manipulations, she was always 10 steps ahead of him and the one in control all along. 

I’m wondering if she will even think of opening her own music label with Tedros’ artists. That would be very interesting. 

I honestly thought the show did a fair job at layering the different perspectives of exploitation in the music industry and raised a lot of provocative questions regarding the creative process and digging into the source of what inspires art that resonates on a deeper level. I hate to break it, but not everything inspired comes from a place of rainbows and sunshines, nor is it a smooth and linear process. On the contrary. Similar to Jocelyn’s story, it may take a journey into the darkness in order to find the light that may connect to and inspire others. And, at the end of the day, whether you watched it out of love or you watched it out of hate. The worst thing art can do is exist without stirring some sort of an intense emotion, regardless of what that emotion may be. Anyway, I’ll be listening to the full music album of the series on repeat starting tomorrow, for the next week or so. 

Tedros, be careful for what you wished for. 

ps: What happened to the publicist, Benjamin, he ran away with the audience? hahah

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x03: Review

For me the best thing from this episode was the new (or unreleased) song from the Weeknd: “Take Me Back”. The lyrics are so powerful and so truthful to this episode. At least, Abel is good at something. So please, stick to the music and stop acting (even if it was a little be better this time because you were mostly wearing sunglasses). Did you notice that so far he doesn’t appear in the short behind the episode. 

Also, again, some shots were amazing, especially the one from the pool. 

I will not comment on the “sex scenes”, because honestly I couldn’t care less, and someone told me they are just not realistic at all (position, fonctionnement, ...). I will not look at the fitting rooms the same way. 

The hairbrush during Jocelyn and Chloé’s scene should have told us a clue about the revelation we’ve got at the end of the episode. But I don’t understand Chloé’s role in all of this. 

Honestly congratulations to Lily-Rose for playing in front someone so bad (as Abel). There is nothing left in his eyes and his glance have really something bovine in them. Il n’y a plus rien dans ses yeux. And his face is all bloated.

Even Tedros’ name is stupid. 

So, we just learned that Jocelyn’s label wants her to be portrayed as a “bad girl”, it’s not her wishes. Like they did to Britney Spears? 

Honestly, the cover album with cum on her face as a success? 

As all the cocaïne in LA will have inside it Fentanyl? 

Jocelyn smoking to mirror a French girl? 

Tedros’ family gives me more and more Manson’s cult vibes (who killed Sharon Tate). From the club to the house. 

Can someone explain to me who are Head (the guy with the tattoo) and Ramsey (The new girl with black hair)? It’s like they appear out of thin air. 

Finally, the girl from Vanity Fair is not present. 

But Nikki is replacing step by step Jocelyn by Dyanne. The music industry will keep chugging along with or without you and that they don’t care about your individual Voice or Vision as an artist what matters most at the end of the day is how they can turn a profit and it doesn’t matter who they use to do that.

At least in Euphoria, the make up was amazing. 

Every intervention of Leia is kind of dumb. 

The conversation between Izaak (which’s still gay) and Jocelyn raises the question of whether or not embracing pain can lead life changing art that is truly impactful? I must agree with it, because it’s bring something so powerful after it, that’s completely addictive. 

We just learned that Jocelyn is on her third album only and her last hit was “Daybreak” on her second album.

The diner scene was truly amazing! But question: who cooked? Knowing that Andrés, the chef has been fired. haha.  At least, this time Tedros was asking the good questions. He is a fucking good narcissistic parasite. He becomes in control of almost every aspect of Jocelyn’s life. 

Whether it’s the music industry or Tedros’ manipulation, it’s so so fucked up to use Jocelyn like this, knowing the state of her mind. 

Her team’s concern is hypocritical. They couldn’t save or help her from her mother, so how could they save her from the grip of Tedros. 

Finally, the real villain is the music industry that preys on those seeking fame and fortune, and they’ll pit women against each other in the process as long as you play by their rules you will get the career you want but it comes at the cost of your own voice as an artist, this further the undeniable parallels between Tedros’ cult and the music industry, both groups are attempting to exploit and profit off of the artist through any means necessary however they have vastly different approaches to doing so but what are these differences. Well the music industry and record label Executives believe that proven data tired clichés and previous methods of success can be repackaged and resold to the masses. They think the general public will listen to or watch anything that is put in front of them because of this they’re more likely to keep all the pieces that work and swap out old artists for new ones that are willing to do their bidding ultimately it is about business over the individual person. As on the other hand, Tedros represents the complete opposite. He encourages being as unique and individualistic as possible because your personal experiences shape your art in a distinct way. Tedros believes in taking risks rather than calculated bets he goes so far as to encourage Jocelyn to lean into publish the leaked intimate photo being used for her own personal gain rather than letting the world paint a picture of who she is without her input it could work or fail but at least she would have tried something new rather than stick with the old such as the music industry typically does although both groups are extremely exploitative and harmful to the artist the series showcases how both sides push Jocelyn into making a difficult decision exploit yourself or be exploited. 

Jocelyn inevitably chooses to exploit herself her pain and her trauma as this will allow her to be the artist she always dreamed of becoming but what is that trauma she has yet to tap into and why hasn’t she done so before you see the reason I found the opening sequence to be ironic and the concern of her team to be hypocritical is because of what we learn about Jocelyn’s mother and their involvement or lack thereof she was physically mentally and emotionally abusive toward Jocelyn and she controlled almost every aspect of her life we get hints of this unprocessed trauma in previous episodes when Jocelyn would spend a significant amount of time in front of a mirror brushing her hair it was with this hairbrush; being the perfect daughter and pop star the physical and emotional scars from that abuse were evident to her team but Tedros points out that no one stepped in to stop what was happening because they were all profiting off of Jocelyn at the time. Tedros sees this as an opening to fully indoctrinate Jocelyn into his cult by convincing her to embrace her pain in order to create music that is authentic and comes from somewhere deep within her earlier in the episode. 

The next day Jocelyn thanks Tedros for taking care of her symbolizing her falling back into the cycle of abuse she was familiar with in the past will result in Justin becoming crazy relatively unstuck 

Overall it was a tough episode to stomach as there were many uncomfortable and provocative questions being raised about Jocelyn’s experience in the industry to me it’s clear that the series is highlighting the similarities amongst the music industry, Tedros’ cult and Jocelyn’s family as they all claim to be looking out for her best interests but that they all are only comfortable with her exploitation as long as they profit from it or have something to gain even Leia who is positioned as someone seemingly innocent and genuinely worried about Jocelyn’s well-being is only okay with exploitation if she is under her management team’s guidance we have to remember that while she’s Jocelyn’s best friend she is also her employee whose livelihood is dependent on Jocelyn’s success as a pop idol.

Honestly, I don’t think that the show is glamorizing these difficult topics just for the sake of being shocking it is trying to make a point about how Fame and the spotlight dehumanized the person behind the music and ultimately turns them into a profit generating machine that commodify is their own trauma.

Dream is never easy and oftentimes it is filled with wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

THE IDOL 1x02: Quotes

“- The girl’s mother died. (Destiny) - So, my mother’s dead. Is your mother alive? (Nikki) - You are somethin’ else. (Chaim) - People die. People die... all the time. (Nikki) - Are you fuckin’ joking now? (Chaim) - Everybody dies.” (Nikki)

“- So, you think you’ve got a bigger fuckin’ dick than me now, Princess? You wanna fuckin’ back it up a little bit and go through a little oral history of how we fucking got here? Because I am more than happy. (Nikki) - Well, thank you, Nikki, for being so predictable. (Jocelyn) - You’re welcome. (Nikki) - Fuck everyone else for being a fucking coward. (Jocelyn) - It doesn’t make any sense. We have a giant fucking hit. (Nikki) - Have some tact in the way that you say it.” (Xander)

“- I don’t wanna argue about it. I can’t have another incident like this. I can’t afford it.” (Nikki)

“- I think she looks like a really hot woman dancing at a strip club with hot strippers. (Xander) - But, off the record, do they seem gay to you? (Talia) - The strippers? The hot strippers? Do they seem gay to me?” (Xander) 

“- You’re really pushing it, okay? It’s great. Trust me. (the video director) - I don’t think it’s a bad thing to push for something that matters.” (Jocelyn)

“- You wanna just cancel today? (Chaim) - I’ll write a fuckin’ check right now. (Jocelyn) - Well, it’s like $450′000 for a day. (Chaim) - I don’t care. That’s how much it means to me. (Jocelyn) - Well, I care. (Chaim) - I really feel like we don’t have room for error here, and I just feel like this is gonna be like a fucking disaster, and it’s gonna be, like, really, really humiliating for me. (Jocelyn) - As much as you’re freaking out, they’re worse. All right? And if we do that, if we, like, pull out of today, to them it’s gonna be like, “Okay, so in two weeks, she gonna, like, pull out, of a 50,000-seat arena,” and they gonna pull the plug on the tour. I don’t wanna freak you out. - Yeah, but it’s not the same thing. (Jocelyn) - I know, but, to them, they don’t know that. So, look, whatever you wanna tweak, we’re gonna tweak. But first, you gonna show them that you got this, all right? And show you fully committed, crushing it and sell it. Look at me. Hey, baby. You got this.” (Chaim)

“- Owes a lotta people a lotta money. (Destiny) - This has been the last five year of my life. I’m in hell. (Xander) - I mean, you could always go back to singing and dancing. (Talia) - My big moment? Three episode? (Xander)  - You were great. (Talia) - Thanks. Off the record. I never fucking get a say, an actual say. I’m here ‘cause I love her and ... Yeah, I don’t know. ” (Xander)

“- His last place of residency was Hawaii. Before that, he doesn’t seem to exist.  - His name is fuckin’ Tedros Tedros. He’s from Hawaii. Did you know this? Who the fuck is this guy? (Chaim) - Sketchy as fuck. (Destiny) - Well, what does he look like? (Chaim) - He’s, he’s, he’s a person of color. (Leia) - Are you saying he’s Black? You can say Black. You’re allowed to say Black. Is he black? (Chaim) - Yes. (Leia) - Okay, he’s a Black guy.” (Chaim)

“- You didn’t know about this? (Destiny) - Jesus fucking Christ. (Xander) - Go have a lie down in that cozy trailer. (Nikki) - She said the glass broke on her thighs. (Leia) - A glass broke on her thighs? It fucking breaks my heart to see her like this.” (Chaim)

“- Take that into consideration when you’re writing the article. (Jocelyn) - I will. Absolutely.” (Talia)

“- She needs a break. (Nikki) - If you wanna be a star, you’re gonna have to push through the pain.” (Tedros)

“- You have to have this moment. It’s fresh and it’s early. I get it. (Destiny) - But I’ve already wasted everybody’s time. (Jocelyn) - I do not give a fuck about none of these people. Because none of these people would be here or employed without you.” (Destiny)

“- I just can’t keep covering half the mortgage, I’m really sorry. (Chaim) - I know, but you’re not listening to me. I’m telling you, I want to be bigger than this song. I wanna be a once-in-a-generation artist, and I wanna make music that lasts longer than my life. (Jocelyn) - But you’re, you’re hanging by a thread right now. You’re practically broke. You’re not putting out any new music. You’re not focused at all. I mean, you don’t like the song, I understand, but you’re not giving me any alternatives. At the end of the day, it’s not what you say, yeah? It’s what you do. (Chaim) - Right. (Jocelyn) - It’s what you make. It’s what you sing. Told myself I wasn’t gonna lecture you. I remember the first time I saw you perform. You’re 11 years old at Fox Hills Mall. You remember? You played “Fever”. The audience went so crazy, they made you sing it a second time. I never saw anything like it. Right? I mean, before or since. God gave you such a beautiful gift. I just want you to use it.” (Chaim) - Chaim, this is the only thing I know how to do. This is all I have. Please don’t give up on me.” (Jocelyn)

“- So is she a better fuck than me? (Dyanne) - Baby, nobody’s a better fuck than you. (Tedros) - You didn’t tell me it was a setup. (Dyanne) - A setup? (Tedros) - You said it would be good for the club. Yeah, but you made music with her. (Dyanne) - She asked me to.” (Tedros) - And guess what? Nikki wants to sign me.” (Dyanne) - Nikki? Jocelyn’s label? (Tedros) - Great... I can finally get that return on you. Have Nikki call me to negotiate.” (Tedros)

“- I missed you. (Tedros) - I can never tell when you’re bullshitting.” (Jocelyn)

“- Do you mind if I use you bathroom? (Izaak) - Yeah, of course. There’s one right... (Jocelyn) - I’ll find it.” (Izaak)

“- How did you get here? (Leia) - I followed you home. (Izaak - It’s beyond fucked up to say that to a girl)

“- Yes? (Leia) - You can’t trust me? (Tedros) - I trust. Well, I just met you, but... (Leia) - But do you trust me? (Tedros) - I’ll try.” (Leia)

“- I used to sing at a church in Ladera. Yeah, he heard me sing, and the next thing I knew, he signed me. (Izaak) - Wait, sorry. He signed... to what? What did he sign you to? (Leia) - Yeah, his label, his management. (Izaak) - Oh, he’s like a manager. (Leia) - Yeah. I mean, he completely changed my life. He transformed me. (Izaak) - Like how? (Leia) - By pushing me further than anyone’s ever pushed me fore. (Izaak)

“- They’re not canceling your tour, all right? (Tedros) - No. (Jocelyn) - You don’t think so? (Tedros) - No. Yeah, but I’m unreliable. (Jocelyn) - Unreliable? Who gives a fuck? Look at this. (Tedros) - Huh? I’m unreliable. They can’t rely on me. They can’t....(Jocelyn) - Yes, they can. You’re fucking... You are fucking Jocelyn, okay? They’ll figure it out. You are fucking Jocelyn, okay? The American Dream. Rags to riches. Trailers to mansions. That’s you, right?” (Tedros) - That’s me? (Jocelyn) - Yeah, you’ve been a star your whole fuckin’ life. You’re gonna forget how to do that now? (Tedros)

“- Delicious, juicy ass. Oh my God. I would fucking devour you. Yeah. (Tedros) - What are you doing? (Jocelyn) - Blockin’ out all the noice. You’re too distracted. Too much shit goin’ around. (Tedros) - I don’t know. I think I just have to give them somebody they can reply on. You know? Somebody they can..” (Jocelyn) - Fuck them. (Tedros) - Somebody they can invest in. (Jocelyn) - Fuck them if they can’t rely on you, then they’re in the wrong fuckin’ business.” (Tedros)

“- The night we meet, we talk about “When Doves Cry” and you got a fuckin’ Prince photo in your house? (Tedros) - Mm-hmm. (Jocelyn) - What are the fuckin’ chances. There are no coincidences in life. (Tedros) - I’m a mess. (Jocelyn - a beautiful mess)  - I’d bet a billion dollars on this mess. If only the world could see what I’m looking at right now.” (Tedros)

“- I wanna grab you by the as.... while I suffocate you with my cock. I want you to choke on it. Oh, yeah, just like that, baby.” (Tedros - seriously what’s wrong with you, you are not in a porno!!)

“- I mean, it’d be easier if I moved in, ya know? For work purposes. (Tedros) - I’d like that.” (Jocelyn)

“- That’s my family. We don’t like each other very much. Ohh, I’m okay with that. But it breaks my mother’s heart.” (Chloe)

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

The Idol 1x01: Quotes

“- But what is the image saying? (Xander) - That she’s young, beautiful, and damaged. (Nikki) - Sh... - Eh, not damaged. She had problems that she overcame beautifully. (Nikki) - O-Okay. Uh, the robe, the hospital wristband. (Xander) - Mm-hmm.  - I mean, are we romanticizing mental illness? (Xander) - Absolutely. (Nikki) - And you’re fine with that? That’s cool? (Xander) - You people are so out of touch. (Nikki) - You people? (Xander) - You college-educated internet people. (Nikki) - Okay, yeah. You’re criticizing me for going to college. (Xander) - Oh, will you let people enjoy sex, drugs, and hot girls, okay? Stop trying to cock-block America. (Nikki) - No, Nikki, I’m not some sort of prude. I just don’t think that with everything that she has been through, she should be wearing a hospital wristband. (Xander) - Mental illness is sex. (Nikki) - No, it’s not. (Xander) - Yeah. If you live in Sioux City, Iowa, you are never gonna meet a girl like Jocelyn. She’s not walking down the street, she didn’t got to your high school, she doesn’t work at the bar or the diner, and she did not marry your best friend. And if, on the off chance, she did, she is still never, ever gonna fuck you. Unless, she has some very, very serious mental problems. And that right there is why mental illness is sexy.” (Nikki)

“- According to the nudity rider, we only can show the side boob, the under boob, and the side flank. (the intimacy coordinator) - I didn’t ask. She did it. (the photograph) - Okay, so I’m not allowed to show my body? (Jocelyn) - Not in the general, like, human rights structure of it all. (the intimacy coordinator) - You realize how fucking annoying and insane that sounds? (Xander) - It’s actually very progressive. It’s to make sure she doesn’t feel pressured. (the intimacy coordinator) - Right. I don’t feel pressured. (Jocelyn) - Fully respect that. (the intimacy coordinator) - This is her album cover. (Xander) - It’s also my boob and my house. (Jocelyn) - Fully respect body autonomy.” (the intimacy coordinator)

- “Hey! You! Come here! You want $ 5′000? You keep this door shut for the next three hours. Hold it. You gotta hold it really hard. (Chaim) - Who’s in here? (a guy) - All right? None of your business. Just take it or leave it, yes? Yeah? Okay, good. (Chaim) - Yeah, yeah.” (a guy)

“- No one’s having a pschotic... Let’s all calm down. (Benjamin) - Yeah, please.(Chaim) - Deep breath. Kay. I’m gonna give some information. I need it to be received peacefully, calmly. Okay? We’re the number one trending topic on Twitter. (Benjamin) - Okay. All right. (Nikki) - It’s not... (Benjamin) - No. I find out who did this. May God have mercy on their fucked up, depraved soul. Okay?” (Chaim)

“- It’s gotta say, it’s gotta say “revenge porn”. It’s gotta say “revenge porn” or they’re not gonna take it down (on the phone). - Andrew Finkelstein (at the gate). - Do you have ID? (security guard) - No, I’m from Live Nation. I’ve been here many, many times. (Andrew) - That’s great. Do you have ID? (security guard) - No, I don’t fucking have ID! (Andrew) - There’s a lotta people here today. We can’t let anyone in without an ID. (security guard) - Jesus fucking... Okay, let me deal with this fuckin’jabroni. Hang on. I’m gonna Google myself. Here, watch this. Ready? “Andrew Finkelstein, Live Nation”. What? Whoa! Who’s that? Huh? See that punim? See this face? See that face? Wow, they’re similar. (Andrew) - Okay, okay, sir, calm down. You don’t have to be so rude about it. I’ll get this figured out, okay? (security guard) - Yeah, I don’t have to be so rude. You know, my fucking star client has face full of cum. I’m not rude. (Andrew) - Mr. Finkelstein. So sorry for the inconvenience. (security guard) - Now you’re sorry. Thank you. (Andrew) - Right this way. (security guard) - You’re mensch. Wonderful fucking service.” (Andrew)

“- Lock him in a closet, too? (Destiny) - Remind me to let that guy out at some point, but not yet. (Chaim)

“- You know, you worry too much. Just relax. (Chaim) - I worry too much. My shareholders think I worry too little. You know, every time I fuckin’ breathe in and out, I hemorrhage money for Christ’s sake.” (Andrew)

“- Oh, there’s no shame in being a slut, case in point. I’m just worried she’s having another psychotic break. (Andrew) - No, no, she never had a psychotic break. Never had one. She was just exhausted and she was tired. (Destiny) - She’s a trouper. She reminds me of myself at that age. Okay, the thought of you younger is terrifying to me. (Benjamin) - I was having fun. I was getting fucked in the ass of the Capital Records building stairwell and then walking straight into meetings. (Nikki) - Yeah, I remember. I was the one fucking you. (Andrew) - Jesus Christ! (Benjamin) - Learn form the best. (Andrew) - Can I just remind everybody that we have “Vanity Fair” with us today? So, if we could just... keep the shit-talk to a... (Benjamin) - Oh, my God! Having her around is like living in communist China. (Nikki) - Benjamin, did you get the revised statement from Holly? (Andrew) - Revenge porn? (Benjamin) - Yeah, exactly that. Make sure that every dipshit with a keyboard has it spoon-fed down their fuckin’throat. (Andrew) - But it’s true? (Benjamin) - Well, if we say it it. (Andrew) - I’m in a “Twilight Zone” episode. (Benjamin) - All right, people. (Andrew) - Okay, see you later. (Nikki) - We live to fight another day.” (Andrew)

“- Tomorrow, I wanna wake up to, uh, like, 150 Google Alerts telling me Jocelyn’s some kind of feminist hero, right? (Nikki). - Okay. Yeah, me too. (Benjamin) - You can do that. (Nikki) - But I’m gonna start with victim and move up from there. (Benjamin) - Yeah well, it’s the same difference. (Nikki) - I don’t understand anything. How could it possibly be any fucking worse? Just tell me a scandal that was worse, recently! (Chaim - we don’t want to know). - She’s coming out of it more famous than when she came in. And that’s! That’s the win. Let’s just put it that way.” (Benjamin)

- “Ah, you’re dangerous. I mean, how could anyone not fall in love with you? (Tedros) - I don’t even know you. (Jocelyn) - You fit perfectly in my arms.” (Tedros)

- “What a fuckin’ boner killer. (Tedros) - I know, she prevented us from starting our family. (Jocelyn) - (...) and I hate it, and you’re gonna hate it, too. (Jocelyn) - You hate it? How can you put out something you hate? (Tedros) - Well, you obviously don’t work in the music industry. Pop music is just... superficial. (Jocelyn) - I think Prince would disagree with you. (Tedros) - I love Prince. (Jocelyn) - Are you gonna call “When Doves Cry” fuckin’ superficial? (Tedros) - No, I love that song. (Jocelyn) - If that song came out today, it’d be a smash tomorrow. (Tedros) - So, all I have to do is make music like Prince? (Jocelyn) - I didn’t say that. (Tedros) - Easy. I’ll just do that. (Jocelyn) - No... I didn’t say that. (Tedros) - Why didn’t I think of that? (Jocelyn) - You can’t make music like Prince. Pop music is like the ultimate Trojan Horse. Ya get people to dance, ya get people to sing along. Could say whatever you want. Shit’s powerful. (Tedros) - I like you. (Jocelyn) - I like you, too. You got the best job in the world. Should be having way more fun. (Tedros) - I’m trying.” (Jocelyn) While playing “Pieces of Your Heart” by Meduza & Goodboys)

“- Did it hurt? That photo? The betrayal of it? (Talia from Vanity Fair) - Of course. But, I mean, what am I supposed to do? (Jocelyn) - I don’t know. Fuck up the guy that did it to you. (Talia) - Like in the piece you’re writing? (Jocelyn) - Yeah, actually. I think it would be inspirational for young women and girls all around the world who have been targeted and humiliated in the way you were. (Talia) - Revenge is empowerment? (Jocelyn) - It’s human, I think. (Talia) - Look, I mean. I think... five years ago when people would tell me that it was important to comment on something publicly, I would buy into it. But now I just know that I’m being hustled. (Jocelyn) - Yeah, I mean, obviously, my editor is breathing down my neck, gun to my back, trying to get me to get you to talk about this photo. It’s all anyone can talk about. (Talia) - I get it. We all have to answer to somebody. (Jocelyn) - Who do you answer to? (Talia) - God.” (Jocelyn - Wrong, the public opinion).

“- I don’t know. I haven’t done anything in, like, a year. And I just feel like people are, like, waiting for me to fail. And I just don’t wanna, like prove them right. (Jocelyn) - Yeah, but, Joss, you always do this. You always second-guess yourself right before something comes out. You’re just gonna drive yourself crazy. (Leia) - I just don’t wanna, like, make a fool of myself. I don’t want people to, like, make fun of me. (Jocelyn) - They are not. Trust me. It’s good. It’s, like, really good. (Leia) - (....) What’s wrong with him? (Jocelyn) - He’s so rape-y. (Leia) - Yeah, I kinda like that about him. (Jocelyn) - Joss... No. Gross. So disturbing.” (Leia)

“- Hello, Angel. (Tedros) - You call all the girls Angel? (Jocelyn) - Just you. (Tedros) - Yeah right. (Jocelyn) - Fuck’s up with her? She doesn’t wanna hang out with us? (Tedros) - She’s my assistant. And my best friend. (Jocelyn) - She’s your best friend and your assistant? (Tedros) - Yeah. (Jocelyn) - She’s your best friend that words for you? (Tedros) - Yeah, isn’t that nice? (Tedros) - Really? Hm. (Jocelyn) - Don’t you think that’s kinda, like a nice arrangement? Oh, for her it’s amazing. Fuck. Can I be your best friend? I’d love to get paid. (Tedros) - Can I play you my new song? (Jocelyn) - Are you desperate to put this specific song out? (Tedros) - No, I’m not desperate to put anything out, my team is. ‘Cause everyone in my life is, like, telling me that it’s really great, but I don’t believe them. (Jocelyn) - Why? (Tedros) - ‘Cause when you’re famous, everyone lies to you. (Jocelyn) - And you trust me? (Tedros) - I just think you’re enough of an asshole that you might tell me the truth. (Jocelyn) - Cheers to that. (Tedros) - I don’t know. I feel like it’s, like, too superficial or something. (Jocelyn) - (...) If you’re gonna sing a song called “I’m a Freak” you should at least sing it like you know how to fuck. You gotta stop carin’ what people think. You are too locked up in your head. (Tedros) - Yeah? (Jocelyn) - Yeah, you’re thinking too much. You need to block out the world. Feel it. Do you trust me? (Tedros) - No. (Jocelyn - Good reply!)