Many in our society have an undying fascination with how the uber-rich live their lives. For many, it is nearly impossible to not be critical of the skeletons that may lie in gilded closets, or the cracks in an otherwise pristine facade. It is these infatuations that are appealed to in the hit HBO anthology series The White Lotus.
The White Lotus was created, written, and directed by Mike White, an American filmmaker and actor who is maybe best known for being the runner-up on season 37 of the hit reality show Survivor, the season entitled David vs. Goliath. It is easy to see how White’s experience on this isolating reality competition series influenced how he went on to create what many are calling his magnum opus.
The series acts as an anthology, with each season taking place in a different location around the world. Based on the hotel chain Four Seasons—and using the brand’s luxury resorts as settings and shooting locations—the series gives viewers a glimpse into the lives and experiences of the guests at these sumptuous settings. Each season begins with a mysterious death taking place at a luxury resort in varying locations. The limited episode run then flashes back to seven days prior. It is up to us, as viewers, to try and figure out how the guests are connected, and who is not going to survive to the end. While the White Lotus as a hotel brand is fictional, the resorts in which the series is shot are real and able to stay at. Season one of the series was filmed at the Four Seasons in Maui, Hawaii. Season two was filmed at the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons-owned property in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. The current season—which recently aired its fourth episode—depicts a luxurious beach resort in Koh Samui, Thailand.
The variety of locations makes The White Lotus so interesting to watch. The culture and mythology of each setting to tie into the conflict, character experience, and even overall ambience. For example, in the most recent season, the local Thai wildlife, in particular monkeys, have a presence that adds to the overall mood of each episode. This leads some viewers to wonder if this is an act of foreshadowing or just an attempt to immerse us even more into the environment of the action.
After two previous seasons, and one currently airing, White has shown his ability to create archetypes of characters and gradually build suspense over a series of approximately eight to ten episodes. The series is a vessel for fantastic ensemble casts that portray their characters to a level of such detail that you wonder if they are simply playing themselves. From the first season’s eccentric hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett) to the incomparable Tanya McQuiod (Jennifer Coolidge). The character of Tanya in particular skyrocketed the success of the show with her memorable quotes, including the now iconic “Please! These gays! They’re trying to murder me!” With the current season, all eyes are on the mysterious Ratliffe family from Durham, North Carolina, whose southern charm is overshadowed by underlying themes of embezzlement, addiction, and even incest. It seems as if the family’s Matriarch—Victoria Ratliffe, played by Parker Posey—is set to gain Coolidge-scale levels of fame with her quintessential humour and unforgettable accent.
The virality of The White Lotus has even gone on to create an analytical fanbase. Fans of the show have begun to catch on to the tools White uses to build suspense and, upon the release of each weekly episode, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok become ablaze with theories and speculation. The success of The White Lotus reminds us how a fantastic series can bring people together to solve a problem or uncover a mystery. Add on a societal obsession with the one percent and mix in growing sentiments against those with ultra-wealth, and you have a recipe for success.
