Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images are changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.

Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp)

A notable pop star on the mend after her mother’s death from cancer, it appears Jocelyn had a bit of a breakdown, leading to a cancelled tour and potentially more. However, with enough time passing and the pressure of her record label, she is prepping for a comeback. One that isn’t necessarily the kind of reintroduction she wants, but as she meets a new stranger who encourages her to go deeper, she may begin to wrestle control over her career.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Known For: Sela in “Voyagers“
• How It All Started (1.2): Chaim found Jocelyn when she was 11, singing “Fever” at Fox Hills Mall
• Daybreak (1.3): The last song she wrote
• Relationship With Mom (1.3): Her mom was a motivator, but her motivation came mostly via abuse with a hairbrush
• Age (1.4): She notes the abuse from her mom started when she was 3, and she was abused for 22 years, which makes her at least 25 years of age.

Quotes

Revenge is empowerment?
— Jocelyn (1.1)

I just think you’re enough of an asshole that you might tell me the truth.
— Jocelyn (1.1)

Leia (Rachel Sennott)

Leia is Jocelyn’s best friend and assistant and also lives with her. She is far more cautious and inhibited than Jocelyn, which makes her good for reining things, but it does make her damper Jocelyn’s fun sometimes.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Known For: Bottoms, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Shiva Baby
• Origins (1.2): She is originally from New York

Quotes

Dyanne (Jennie Kim)

Dyanne, often called Dy, is one of Jocelyn’s dancers and closest friends.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”

Quotes

Nikki (Jane Adams)

Nikki is a member of Jocelyn’s record label who has a storied career and isn’t fond of the sensitivities of modern times.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Seen In: Claws: Season 1/ Episode 5 “Batshit”

Quotes

Destiny (Da’Vine Joy Randolph)

Destiny is Jocelyn’s co-manager with Chaim.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Known For: Dolemite Is My Name, The Lost City, and On The Come Up

Quotes

Chaim (Hank Azaria)

Chaim is Jocelyn’s manager.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Seen In: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5/ Episode 7 “A House Full of Extremely Lame Horses,” Maniac: Season 1/ Episode 10 “Option C”

Quotes

Benjamin (Dan Levy)

Benjamin handles crisis management, especially regarding Jocelyn’s social media and online presence.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Known For: Happiest Season

Quotes

Andrew Finkelstein (Eli Roth)

Andrew is a representative from Live Nation who wants to make for damn sure nothing goes awry regarding Jocelyn’s upcoming tour.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”

Quotes

Talia (Hari Nef)

Alongside being a fan of Jocelyn, Talia is a reporter for Vanity Fair.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• The Actor Is Also Seen In: You: Season 1/ Episode 3 “Maybe” and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 4/ Episode 6, “Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest“

Quotes

Tedros (Abel Tesfaye)

Tedros is the owner of a club and someone who wiggles his way into Jocelyn’s life.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• Where Is He From (1.2): Destiny’s investigation says Hawaii
  • Alternative (1.3): Tedros claims he is a local to Hollywood
• Government Name (1.4): Mauricio Costello Jackson
• Record (1.3): He was arrested in 2012, and his various charges are kidnapping, domestic violence, pimping, and torture. In total, he has been in jail for over six years.
• Rapper (1.5): Back in 2011, Mauricio used to rap

Quotes

Pop music is like the ultimate Trojan house.
— Tedros (1.1)

Xander (Troye Sivan)

Xander is Jocleyn’s creative director.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”
• Tenure (1.2): He has been working with Jocelyn for around 5 years
• Coming Out (1.4): Jocelyn’s mom outed him when he was 13
• Living With The Devil (1.4): Despite Julianne, Jocelyn’s mom, outing him, he lived in her household when he was 14

Quotes

Chloe (Suzanna Son)

Chloe is a member of Tedros’ crew who appears to be a talented singer/songwriter.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 2 “Double Fantasy”
• Background (1.4): She met Tedros when she was strung out on heroin and homeless
• Age (1.4): She is 17 or 18

Quotes

Izaak (Moses Sumney)

Izaak is from Ladera, whose parents were pastors, and thus he sang in church, where Tedros discovered him.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 2 “Double Fantasy” 

Quotes

There are two types of people: The ones that support you and the ones that are obstacles.
— Izaak (Quoting Tedros) [1.4]

Rob Turner (Karl Glusman)

Rob is Jocelyn’s ex, who is an actor who she broke up with because of him cheating with a co-star while he was shooting a superhero movie. Though, mind you, she is the one who said being monogamous was boring.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season1/ Episode 4 “Stars Belong To The World”
• The actor is also known for their role in “Love” and their role in “Gypsy.”

Quotes

Ramsey

Ramsey is a singer and songwriter part of Tedros’ team.

Additional Information

• Introduced In: Season 1/ Episode 5

Quotes

General Information

Network(s)	HBO
Genre(s)	Drama, Romance, Young Adult, Musical
Created By	Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim
Based On	N/A
First Aired	June 4, 2023
Executive Produced By	Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Reza Fahim, Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson, Joe Epstein, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Sara E. White
Showrunner(s)	Sam Levinson

Synopsis

“The Idol” focuses on troubled pop star Jocelyn, who had a public meltdown after her mother’s death. But, her team is planning her comeback with a new album and tour, and Jocelyn seems not to have recovered to the point needed to give 100%. However, being a professional, she gives it her all even though she doesn’t really believe in the product her record label wants her to push.

Enter Tedros, a local club owner, who isn’t a Yes Man type that seduces, intrigues Jocelyn, and slowly but surely slithers his way into her inner circle and becomes a confidant.

Groups & Organizations

• Half-Magic (1.4): Jocelyn and Leia’s makeup line
• Magistrate Records (1.4): The record label that Jocelyn is signed to and Nikki runs

Notable Locations & Items

• Jocelyn’s Mansion (1.1): She has lived there two years

Terminology

• ():

Other Noteworthy Information

• Time Jump (1.5): 6 weeks past between Jocelyn’s tour being approved and her opening date

Episode Listing

Notable Episodes

• Episode 2 “Double Fantasy”: Details Jocelyn’s breakdown after her mom died of cancer from her canceling her tour a week before it began, her psychotic break, and the eight months it took to get her healthy.

Season 1

Episode Number and Title
Episode 1 “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales”	Episode 2 “Double Fantasy”	Season 1/ Episode 3 “Daybreak”
Episode 4 “Stars Belong To The World”	Episode 5 “Jocelyn Forever”	Episode 6 (The Sam Levinson edit led to there no longer being an episode 6)