The White Lotus - series three - starts February 17th

[curiositykilledthiscat]

The Emmy-award winning HBO original series, which offers an inside look at the powerful and wealthy as they navigate complex personal dynamics and face potentially dangerous experiences while on vacation, returns for its third season this month.

"Seeking peace can be a trip," reads the tagline for this season, which was created, written and directed by former "Survivor" contestant Mike White.
This time around, viewers will be whisked away to an "exclusive" resort in Thailand, where an eclectic group of guests and resort employees will play, and likely misbehave, over the span of a week. "The White Lotus" Season 3 guests include a wealthy businessman and his family, three longtime friends who haven't seen each other in a while on a girls' trip and "rugged man with a chip on his shoulder" and his girlfriend, among others.

Anyone else looking forward to this? Starts on Monday and will be shown on Now and Sky. No watching on demand as all episodes will be dropped weekly.

I found this series a bit slow and didnt like it as much as the previous 2 but I somehow really liked the ending. I think it really highlighted human weaknesses - rich or poor really.

Poor Rik couldn't let go of his childhood trauma and remained damaged and consumed by revenge, despite having what many people at the resort and in life were looking for, someone that really loved him unconditionally. He just couldn't let it go. And even ruined the chance of a potential relationship with his father, as I thought it was really obvious that is who he was and why he was slagging off his mother, as he might have been able to see if he wasnt so consumed by pity and revenge (did his father die? not sure it was clear?). Also got the one person who really had his back killed.

Belinda ultimately treated Pornchai pretty much like Tanya treated her - money corrupts. Enjoyed the irony, though I would have probably done the same and as others have said, she didnt know him as well and hadn't really promised him anything. Dropped him like a hot stone as soon as she got rich though nonetheless.

Greg, despite his scheming and half a billion, ultimately still a LBH sad old perv who can only get off being a sad cuck - another bloke that can't escape childhood trauma and how its shaped him. I liked the irony that hes a rich murderer but still comes across as pathetic and ineffectual.

See also Riks mate can't remember his name. Another LBH who's ruled by his porn and sex addictions and can't escape his sad nature, but like many, tries again and re-finds buddhism, hopes springs eternal, even for the toxic male.

The Ratcliffes were interesting, the brothers ultimately experienced some growth, especially Saxon, and gives us hope that they might not grow up to be similar flawed men like most of the adult men around them were (though not sure about Lochlan with that early (first?) sexual experience ...). I was glad he didn't die though. Also enjoyed the irony that Piper was just another full of shit trust fund babe on a spiritual quest, but will just end up just like her shallow mother.

All quite a bleak commentary on the human condition really, but I thought it was clever that Mike White did include a bit of positivity with the women. Women can be bitchy, yes, but sometimes old friendships can prevail.

I hope Greg isn't in Season 4, as the only character in all 3, or that we will just hear Belinda talking about reading a report of him being eaten by a shark or something!

I want Chloe to marry Greg, then befriend some Thai ladyboys to help her plot Greg’s demise. She’ll then hotfoot it to a French-speaking part of Africa and buy a house there. S4 will begin at a nearby White Lotus hotel.

Edited to add the soundtrack composer isn’t coming back for S4 which will be a big miss. I wonder who’ll take his place.

I've been wondering where the next season will be set. I was thinking South Africa (lots of wealthy white people and of course a massive class/race imbalance), or somewhere cold, one of those luxurious ice hotels with beautiful furs to swathe yourself in and a sauna for shenanigans and possibly the death(s).

Interesting thought that had not occurred to me.

I love the way we can analyse White Lotus, it's very thought provoking.

I hadn't come up with this theory (which I think is quite persuasive), but I was trying to think why on earth Belinda was so intent on Zion getting a treatment/session. I think I thought she was getting him out of the way so that she could do something sneaky, I just couldn't figure out what!

@GCAcademic Yes, that’s an interesting take on the therapy situation. Zion didn’t seem stressed at all from having come straight from exams. He was calm, confident, in control - like a young man who was feeling good about how things were going. It was an interesting choice for the character, though obviously perfect for driving Rick’s tragic end.

I thought sending Zion for the therapy when they’d just been saying how quickly they needed to leave for their safety/before Greg changed his mind was one of the dafter plot points. Clearly just needed an excuse to get someone in there so Rick couldn’t.

I agree, it seemed odd especially Belinda making the point she had paid for it already. So what, to a woman with 5M windfall in the bank!

Wasn't Zion going for a meditation session rather than therapy though?

I thought he was going for anger management. I’m not sure why though!

It was described as a “treatment” for “stress management”.

Rik was going for anger management at the suggestion of Chelsea ( how ironic!)

i really enjoyed this series- unlike many others I absolutely hated the Tanya character - I think the next series will be set in Mexico or Australia

I also couldn't stand Tanya. I just don't like JC's acting style. Much prefered Parker Posey's character and delivery.

I saw someone on social media quip that the Ratliffes were going to rock up in Schitt's Creek. I'd love to see that crossover!

It's not though because Tanya didn't give her the money to set up the spa after she'd promised to.

Yes, when she hugged her daughter after the night in the monestary and gave her dh the thumbs up, brilliant 🤣

I did find it unlikely that Tanya would have even mentioned Belinda to Greg, never mind told him that she had reneged on an offer to fund her own spa.

How does one explain and unexpected 5 million deposit in your bank,just in case I'm ever in that situation? 😂

I just see her as Stiffler's mom, can't ever see her as anyone else. There so much love for her on MN and I don't get it.

The banks do ask where the money came from.
And if you put a large sum into your pension they ask for proof of where it came from too.
It’d be very stressful.

Jennifer Coolidge has little range as an actor. Why she won two Emmy's for this show is beyond me.

I agree, it's odd.

This is so very true, no matter what she's in - similar to Jason Bateman please don't shoot me , he plays mostly very well loved characters but essentially the same character in every role.

Yep I loved her as Tanya but she can only play one role and it’s also basically herself so I’m not even sure there’s much acting involved.

I love Coolidge tbh, and Tanya was a great character - you can’t imagine White Lotus S1&S2 without her - BUT she’s got nothing on Parker Posey who is now my absolute hero. I realised she was in one of my favourite films from the 90s, You’ve Got Mail. Hopefully we get to see her in more things.