The Idol on HBO has created a buzz like no show before. Sam Levinson and The Weeknd’s show have offended critics and fans, alike. Although there is a segment of the population that appreciated the show beyond its sexually offending scenes, the amount is really less. The show has faced so much backlash that instead of the previously laid out six episodes, the series wrapped up after five with its future undetermined.
However, The Idol is not the only show that has had its moment of controversy and backlash. Over the years we have seen many shows even get cancelled due to the controversial content they put out that either hurt the sentiments of the viewers or made for an uncomfortable visual experience. Here we have seven such shows that you gotta know about!
7 Controversial Shows As Startling As The Idol
13 Reasons Why
Not just the show but, Jay Asher’s book on which this Netflix release is based, is one of the third most banned books in the world. Brian Yorkey created the series that starred Dylan Minnette and Katherine Langford in lead roles. The series revolves around the cassette tapes that our protagonist Hannah Baker leaves after her suicide stating the reasons why she unalive-ed herself.
After the first season of the show, things really went haywire for it. There was an incentive portrayal of mental health and after a point, suicide and depression were rather glorified as quirky character traits rather than deep, thoughtful notions that need to be reflected on. The show is available on Netflix.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
A true crime anthology series where Evan Peters plays the titular character- a serial killer and sex offender, this show really put forward a story horrifying story with incredible acting by Peters. Having said that, the Ryan Murphy-Ian Brennan creation is rather controversial in nature when it comes to the depiction of the life of this Milwaukee Killer. The show glorified the life of the titular character and his crimes rather than focusing on the systematic failures of the system and the lives of his victims. The insensitive and gorey representation did not help the case. You can watch it on Netflix.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Steven Moffat really wanted to do something amazing adapting this Audrey Niffenegger book to the screen but, the show is awfully lost in translation that gave rise to a lot of backlash that went to such a level that the show not only did not get a second season but, was dropped and removed by HBO from their streaming platform completely. A team made up of director David Nutter and actors Rose Leslie and Theo James went to waste as the show raised eyebrows due to its plot that hinted at child grooming.
Girls
It was sad how the Lena Dunham creation and starrer titled Girls just ended up being crass and not well-developed in nature. The comedy-drama depicted the lives of four girls living a New York City life and did receive a couple of nominations and awards. Having said that, the show becomes torturous when it comes to the sex scenes. The racial controversy was also a huge part of this show facing some heavy negative feelings from the audience along with the mistreatment of the idea of feminism. It is present for viewing on Jio Cinema (India).
Euphoria
Another one from The Idol creator, Euphoria really made an impact on us with its first season that tackled drug addiction and coming-of-age themes wonderfully. But with the second season, the Zendaya starrer really lost its shine with some unnecessary, explicit content featuring sex, drugs, self-harm and more. The plotline became rather dark and degenerate in nature and progressed with a persistent male gaze, undermining and objectifying the female characters in the show. Although the show has been renewed for a third season, the vulnerability of this HBO show facing cancellation is high. The show is now streaming on Max.
Messiah
A thriller series that started off rather brilliantly and featured a star cast consisting of Mehdi Dehbi, Tomer Sisley, Michelle Monaghan, John Ortiz, Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams and others, Messiah focuses on the appearance of a man claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus during the end of times in the modern world triggering the notice of the CIA. Critics stated that the show had a bland plot but, that is not what resulted in the show’s cancellation. Muslim audiences really did not like the anti-Islamic sentiments the show was conveying as they thought the show to be provocative and religiously insensitive. You can watch it on Netflix.
Insatiable
People thought this YA drama would be empowering and life-changing in some manner. The plot was dedicated to a fat girl being bullied in high school and then turning thin to exact revenge on her bullies- sounds intriguing, right? Well, this Debby Ryan starrer gave us a good dose of dark humour but, became insulting by the end of the show. It promoted fat shaming and did too much damage to be salvaged resulting in the show being cancelled after two seasons. It is now streaming on Netflix.
What do you think of these shows? Do you know of any more controversial shows? Let us know about it in the comments down below.
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