HBO’s The White Lotus proved a revelation upon its release in 2021. The results of seasons one and two delivered one of the most entertaining series in recent memory. Show creator and writer Mike White struck a seamless balance, providing a sharp satire and critique of the rich. Not only did he make a show with things to say, but never made it feel like homework. Over two seasons, he created something thought-provoking, incredibly funny, and highly entertaining. Now entering season three (three years later), one wonders if that momentum can last.
Season Three of The White Lotus follows a group of guests traveling to a new location: beautiful Thailand. Similarly to previous seasons, season three follows a cavalcade of characters, ranging from guests to hotel employees. Each comes with varied emotional baggage, starting with the Ratliff family. When financier Tim (Jason Isaacs) gets a call that jeopardizes his family’s luxurious life, they and their trip are in turmoil. This includes his wife Victoria (Parker Posey), eldest son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and youngest son Lochlan (Sam Nivola). This family comes with emotional baggage, but that’s not the only band of misfits this season.
Other guests include best friends Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Kate (Leslie Bibb). The trio stars as a group of high school friends, coming together for a trip down memory lane with more deep-seated resentments than meets the eye. This is alongside Rick (Walton Goggins), who is coming to Thailand for mysterious reasons with his younger girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). Add in White Lotus security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong), and Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) from the White Lotus in Hawaii (aka from the first season) and it’s a whole house! To say anything else about these characters’ journeys would spoil the fun.
Having that many characters could seem like a thematic overload, proving a daunting task to make the stories coherent. This season of The White Lotus delivers the most impressive cast yet. Season three accomplishes a profound synchronicity over these six episodes, balancing the many characters. The story of every character is undercut with an extreme level of darkness. Some want vengeance, some are simply jealous, some want to start over, and others want what they can’t have. Such themes cover familiar thematic ground the show has touched upon in its run. Except in the case of season three, the show pushes the envelope even further. That can make or break the series for some viewers.
This season has arguably delivered the darkest comedic moments yet. Such humor thrives from uncomfortable places in the story. For some, the places that the series goes will be too much for them. The uncomfortable humor makes one laugh from how awkward it feels while watching. Some viewers won’t garner laughs from this and instead feel repulsed by this darkness. That becomes especially true when things take shape in the later half of these episodes. As the resentments pile up, it will serve as a make-or-break point for viewers.
Over the two previous seasons, White has built a level of “trust” with his audience. They think they know the journey they’re in for, which is somewhat true. Except in season three, White is upending audience expectations. That doesn’t mean he’s making a different show than previous seasons, but wrestling with more significant ideas. This includes explaining such ideas in a more detailed and twisted fashion. It creates something very entertaining and never a rehash of what came before. The results deliver something different than viewers may expect.
Its darkness comes from the fact that this season has the most (minus a few) unlikable characters yet. Instead of simple egotistical maniacs, some of season three’s cast is the most vile (Even with a few kindhearted exceptions). While watching these episodes, it can be challenging to say they are likable. What is easy to see is that this entire cast understands how unlikable these characters are. The results help them relish the screen, making their despicable actions highly entertaining. This shows that the fun is not gone from the show but delivered differently through these episodes.
Such methods include subtle clues, references, and the occasional cliffhanger for what’s to come. Each episode delivers its hook, keeping its audiences on the line to watch more week to week. That is one of the best things one can hope for when watching cable television. For this season of The White Lotus, that is no problem. By the time these six episodes ended, I was left excited and theorizing precisely what could happen by episode seven. It just went to show how these episodes kept me guessing. Holding that tension over time showed just how engaged I was this season.
It’s hard to say that season three of The White Lotus has been the best since I have not seen it all. To get the most out of your stay with these characters, it’s best to leave expectations at the door. This season is something much weirder and stranger compared to what came before. For preestablished fans of the series, there is plenty to love here. It’s the non-fans who may decide to jump in here first (being an anthology, you can jump in anywhere) who may be left disappointed. This is a perfect reminder for regular White Lotus watchers of this show’s greatness. Not only does it deliver what fans want, but it evolves and changes on the themes and ideas that came before.
The White Lotus Season 3 is now streaming weekly on Max.
Learn more about the show, including how to watch, at the Max website for the title.
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