White Lotus, Season 3 (Max) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

Season three of the Max series White Lotus proves that viewers love watching rich people make poor decisions in beautiful places. Like the seasons that came before it, White Lotus starts with the mystery of a dead body. The brief, foreboding shot reveals little about who this person was or how they ended up in their watery grave. The scene then cuts to one week earlier, where viewers are introduced to hopeful vacationers arriving at the White Lotus resort, this time in Thailand. It’s enough to make the events of the series a ominous prelude to an inevitable tragedy. As the guests are greeted by the plastic smiles of the hotel staff, welcoming them to what promises to be the vacation of a lifetime, one cannot help but immediately scrutinize them for flaws in character, wondering who among them will make mistakes, and who will be deserving of their fate. 

The cast is a mix of established actors and fresh faces. Stand outs are Parker Posey (Scream 3, Beau is Afraid) and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Patriot) who play a pill-sedated mother and workaholic father respectively, with their adult children on a family trip in attempts to unplug and reconnect. Posey’s overly affected Southern accent and the way she draws out her daughter’s name Piper, to Piiiiiippuuurrh drip wealth and privilege, and it also reveals the rumored inspiration for the character’s mannerisms as famed reality star Miss Patricia from Bravo’s series Southern Charm.  From the same series one can see a little of Thomas Ravenel in Isaacs or even Shep or Austin in the eldest son, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger. Despite these strong new additions, the show does still suffer from the absence of Jennifer Coolidge, the comedic gem of seasons one and two, who does not appear in this season.

Audiences put a lot of faith in this series and trust that details will come together and the characters’ lives will be drawn together beyond just being a random assembly of strangers at the same resort. As far as action, episode to episode, not a lot happens. The events are more a series of conversations, than large plot points. However, there is a building tension. Intense music plays during seemingly ordinary interactions, characters show who they are through natural dialogue, and the dramatic irony builds because audiences just know that something will happen. Until that inevitable tipping point, watch White Lotus for escapism. Thailand is lush and vibrant with a pulsing nightlife. The social commentary on family dynamics, friendship hierarchies and workplace romances make for interesting and darkly comedic viewing. Season three has already confirmed what media is calling the White Lotus Effect - people book travel to locations featured in the series. Despite the tragedy, the beauty of each scene is captured, and audiences can’t help but leave the show longing for a trip to paradise. 

Rachel’s Rating: 7/10

White Lotus (Max) crafts a suspenseful narrative set in Thailand, laying the groundwork for the unfolding tragedy. Blending suspense and anticipation, the series offers a captivating exploration of wealth, privilege, family, and faith.