The Weeknd has delivered a three-pack of new songs from HBO’sThe Idolsoundtrack ahead of episode four debuting this weekend.
The trio of tracks hit major streaming services on Friday (June 23) with Abel helming each one with guest appearances from Blackpink’s JENNIE and Lily Rose-Depp, who plays pop star Jocelyn in The Idol, and Ramsey.
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The Weeknd has been releasing music from the show on the night of each weekly episode, but this time he chose to deliver the tracks ahead of time on the more conventional Friday schedule.
Halfway through Season 1 of The Idol there’s nothing conventional about the show as it awaits a renewal for a possible Season 2 with only three episodes left in the Sam Levinson-directed series.
The Weeknd’s Tedros character finds him playing the role of a scumbag cult leader who has finessed his way to the inner circle of Jocelyn, and he’s pulling the strings in all aspects of her music career while simultaneously dating her.
Abel’s acting has been the subject of severe scrutiny and he recently addressed the backlash over his character and the glut of sex scenes in the show.
“There’s nothing sexy about it,” Tesfaye explained to GQ. “However you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: this guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”
He continued: “The sex, it’s so gluttonous. Especially in Episode 2. ‘Gluttony’ is the only word I can think of [to describe it]. [Tedros] can’t believe he’s there. He comes off like such a loser. Those moments are the humanity that you find in a psychopath, the chink in his armor.”
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As for The Weeknd’s tour overseas, he’s continuing to trek through Europe with a pair of shows this weekend in Amsterdam.
Episode four hits HBO’s MAX streaming service on Sunday night (June 25) and fans can stream the three-pack below.
