The Idol has raised eyebrows from the very beginning, with many dubbing it the "most misogynistic television show of the year".
The Sam Levinson-directed sex and drugs-fuelled drama stars Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) and tells the story of a young popstar Jocelyn navigating life in Hollywood when she falls under the spell of nightclub owner and cult leader Tedros.
Even before the show was released to viewers, it was blasted in a damning report released by Rolling Stone, claiming that the series had gone "disgustingly off the rails" and had ventured into "torture porn". Critics were also quick to slam the series as a "sordid male fantasy".
So, while the show has certainly had everyone talking for months, there is now one question on everyone's lips as it nears its season conclusion. Will The Idol season 2 happen?
The question is an especially hot topic as it was recently revealed that season one is set to be wrapped up in five episodes, compared to six, which it was heavily reported first to have.
The change was due to Sam taking over from director Amy Seimetz to helm the project and making significant "creative changes", as reported by TVLine.
So, if the series has already whittled down its episode count, will we see The Idol season 2? Well, that has yet to be confirmed.
This comes after sources claimed in an article from the New York Post's Page Six that the show would end after season one as it "was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always... a limited series".
Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye are the not-so-masterful minds behind it, and they should be the ones held accountable.
However, HBO dismissed that as false. The network said in a statement: "It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not."
Meanwhile, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays Jocelyn's manager in the series, has made it clear that she would welcome another season.
"I see season one as setting up the world in great detail and character development, to set up a season two where it's like, now we're really going to get in the sh*t," she said in an interview with Vulture.
She added: "When you finish a project, it's always like, "Is there a possibility for season two?" And they're always like, "Yeah, for sure!" It's everyone's desire and intention to do a season two, and until we hear differently, that's the plan."
The Idol's leading lady Lily-Rose, whose acting skills are excellent in the show FYI, has also fiercely defended the show in light of criticism, so it may be safe to assume that she would welcome a second season.
She told Vogue Australia: “We know that we’re making something provocative and we are not shying away from that. That’s something I knew I was setting out to do from the beginning. I was never interested in making something puritanical. It’s okay if this show isn’t for everyone and that’s fine – I think all the best art is [polarising].”
She added: “I’ve never felt more respected and more safe on a set, honestly.”
But if the backlash to the show has been so significant, would it be worth ruffling feathers yet again? Only time will tell.
When will The Idol season 2 be confirmed?
As the first season of The Idol still hasn't wrapped, we're still yet to hear on an official decision from HBO. Rest assured, when we do you can find all the details here.
