When it premiered at the height of the pandemic in 2021, The White Lotus was supposed to be a single season, with a story of suspense, drama, and humor reminiscent of the “whodunit” format in an updated version. It engaged the world and became a craze. Its second season was overwhelming at the awards, even winning Best Miniseries at the Emmys. A phenomenon.

Usually, when something becomes a craze it soon encounters criticism, but The White Lotus is above all. Created by Mike White during a vacation trip with friends, the series reflects the experiences and observations about wealth, privilege, and human behavior made by the writer/director, who is precise in creating an elaborate plot and reflecting current times.

The seasons are not connected, apart from always taking place in a unit of the “White Lotus” hotel chain, but rather include some characters that appear in previous seasons. We’ll get to those later. The fact is that all of the chain’s hotels are in exclusive and beautiful locations—Hawaii, Sicily, and now Thailand—but they serve as a stark contrast to darker themes, such as issues of class disparity and the moral failings of its characters.

In its quest to explore the dynamics of wealth and power, examining how privilege affects relationships and behavior, the interactions between wealthy guests and resort staff, or between themselves, always reveal deeper ramifications. From the criticisms of the superficiality of the wealthy and the patronizing attitudes they often display toward the service staff, to the flaws, desires, and insecurities of its characters, everything ends up building tension as the week goes on. After all, the characters in The White Lotus are complex, often facing personal crises that unfold throughout their stay at the resort.

Blending drama with dark comedy, balancing serious themes with humor, there’s a catch: there’s always at least one character who dies. That’s right, we open with the mystery of “who died” as well as “who killed”, only to discover the truth at the end. Believe me: it’s addictive!

There are fans, like me, who try to weave together a background drama that has not yet been fully concluded and involves the character of Tanya McQuoid (Jenniffer Coolidge) who was in Hawaii in the 1st season, where she met her husband, Greg Hunt (Jon Gries) and disappointed her employee Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) after promising to invest in her business (a wellness center) and backing out.

In the 2nd season, we find Tanya and Greg again on vacation in Sicily, with marital problems (and others), and to our great shock, apparently, Greg hired gay European accomplices to kill Tanya and take her fortune. Tanya escapes the attack by killing everyone, but slips on the yacht while trying to escape, dying by accident in Italy. Greg is on the loose and the only witness to the whole thing, Tanya’s assistant Portia (Haley Lou Richardson) is alive and hiding somewhere in the United States. The problem is that the hired killer, Jack (Leo Woodall) is also on the loose. Will we hear more about them in Thailand?

If you haven’t seen the previous two seasons, I’ll help you out with a recap below. There are more characters besides Tanya and somehow, they all may eventually be connected.

Season 1: Generational Tension at the Hawaiian Resort
Plot: The first season revolves around a group of wealthy guests staying at the White Lotus resort. As their vacation unfolds, tension develops between the guests and the hotel staff. The story weaves between the guests’ personal struggles, such as marital problems and privilege, and the impact of their behavior on the staff, particularly a character named Armond (Murray Bartlett), the resort’s manager.

The Mossbachers have marital problems and deal with the insufferable teenager Olivia (Sydney Sweeney) and her friend Paula (Brittany O’Grady), sarcastic and representative of the Millennial generation. There is the aforementioned Tanya, who is in Hawaii to scatter her mother’s ashes at sea, and whose narcissism rubs off on everyone in an annoying way. But the most complex are the newlyweds Shane and Rachel Patton (Jack Lacy and Alexandra Daddario), who already have problems between them due to social differences and expectations. To make matters worse, the insufferable Shane gets on the nerves of the tense Armond with tragic consequences for both. (SPOILER: Armond is accidentally murdered by Shane when he breaks into the guest’s room to defecate in his suitcases.)

The first season received much praise for its sharp writing, character development, and social commentary on class and privilege. It won several awards, including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Best Actress for the priceless Jennifer Coolidge.

Season 2: An operatic drama of the murders and betrayals
Plot: The second season shifts to Sicily, Italy, introducing a new cast of characters, including a group of friends and family who are vacationing at the White Lotus. The narrative explores similar themes of wealth and power through a different lens, with new interpersonal conflicts.

The DiGrassos (F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, and Michael Imperiolli) are a grandfather, grandson, and son traveling to the land of their ancestors. The father and grandfather are classic examples of toxic and womanizing men, while the grandson is a romantic and innocent soul.

The couples of friends, Cameron and Daphne Sullivan (Theo James and Meghann Fahy) and Ethan and Harper Spiller (Will Sharpe and Aubrey Plaza) have little in common and many secrets between them. The sexual tension between them is undeniable, with a somewhat “Machadian” conclusion: just like Capitu in Dom Casmurro, it is not clear whether there is betrayal or just jealousy and suspicion.

I’ve already mentioned the drama with Tanya, who befriends Quentin (Tom Hollander) only to discover that he was hired by Greg to kill her.

On the staff side of the Sicilian unit, manager Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) is tough on the staff, has no patience for the guests’ problems, and is also living a secret. Hot on her trail are the scheming call girls Lucia (Simona Tabasco) and Mia (Beatrice Grannò), who pull their own stunts throughout the season.

Critical acclaim: The second season was also well-received, praised for its production quality, performances, and ability to maintain the sharp satire that defined the first season. Critics praised the performances of the cast, particularly those of Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza.

The series’ blend of dark humor and commentary on modern social issues has made it a significant cultural touchstone, earning it acclaim from audiences and critics alike. The narrative’s intricate examination of human behavior, combined with its beautiful settings and engaging performances, has solidified The White Lotus as a standout series on contemporary television.

And the third season? In Thailand, faith and suspense in exotic settings

The premiere of the third season on the 16th will certainly put The White Lotus on the trending topics and we will have to pay attention! Those who have already seen the season (or a good part of it) are praising it a lot!

The formula will be repeated: a family of parents and children confronted by secrets and doubts when they spend a supposedly relaxing week away from home; young friends who are actually mutual fakes; and a trio with sexual and financial problems. The hotel staff also contributes to the suspense.

A SPOILER: there is no murder in the first episode (a clever way to keep us hooked) because Mike White has always warned that he wants to discuss the wave of global spirituality: whether it is genuine or exploitative, profitable and manipulative or not; and, the guests want to find themselves, but the emotional labyrinth confuses them more than it helps them. Lucky us!

I can’t wait for Sunday!

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