After nearly two full seasons of Mike White’s buzzy mystery-drama, The White Lotus, there’s welcome news out of HBO HQ that the critically acclaimed show will be returning for a third season.
The fictional luxury hotel chain first hit screens last year as viewers were transported to ‘The White Lotus’ – a resort on an unnamed Hawaiian island – but not without mystery. The opening of its first season saw wealthy real estate agent Shane (Jake Lacy) watching intently as a box marked with ‘human remains’ was loaded onto an aeroplane. Flashback to a week earlier and the wheels of this tragic event are set in motion.
In season two, set amongst the classical architecture and beautiful mountains of Sicily, ambition is the name of the game for escort Lucia (Simona Tabasco) and aspiring singer Mia (Beatrice Grannò). Sex is the great leveller here, with the second series playing out as an opera of intrigue and powerplays amongst the filthy rich and extremely horny. There are cross-generational attitudes towards sex and gender here, but even the most progressive are tainted by privilege.
Thrown together in the resort’s intimate setting, where the common areas of the pool and restaurant breed familiarity, the show casts an unflattering light on the curse of privilege. The show’s pick ‘n’ mix casts – expertly put together by casting director Meredith Tucker – all have one thing in common; they’re wealthy enough to be there. Yet, the vacationers are far too consumed by pride and ambition to enjoy their stay in paradise. Their greed proves infectious, moving from person to person and place to place. White’s ability to acutely satirise almost every aspect of his wealthy ensemble is what makes the show really appeal to its audience.
With the confirmation of a third series (and the likely return of fan-favourite Jennifer Coolidge) The White Lotus looks set for another trip to ‘paradise’. The intrigue now is where?
Whether the show can maintain its giddy buzz remains to be seen, but if little else, we’re set for another banger of a theme tune.
Words by Jeremy Arblaster
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