'The White Lotus' S03E01 review—Impressive cast, sharp writing steal spotlight
What's the story
Mike White's The White Lotus, which arrived on JioHotstar on Monday morning, blooms with the same characteristics as the past two successful seasons.
It follows a group of rich, self-obsessed, mostly tone-deaf guests spending a week at the posh The White Lotus hotel, focusing on wellness and detox.
When you sit in the lap of luxury, what can go wrong?
Turns out, everything!
E01 background
An interesting mix of characters vacation in Thailand
The guests this season are Timothy (Jason Isaacs), his wife Victoria (Parker Posey), and their kids Saxton (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Lochlan (Sam Nivola), and Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook).
Also vacationing are Rick (Walton Goggins) and his girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), and three friends named Kate (Leslie Bibb), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan).
Lisa plays hotel employee Mook.
#1
Cuts right to the chase
The episode begins in familiar fashion, with tranquillity suddenly pierced by the terrifying sound of gunshots.
Season One's Belinda's son Zion is broken out of his meditative state due to these gunshots, immediately fearing for the safety of his mother.
Early on, this flash-forward draws you in, piques your curiosity about the events this season, and keeps you constantly guessing.
#2
You are drawn to the fascinating characters
Though I wish the episode were a bit fast-paced, it does an excellent job of fleshing out the characters.
Each group seems more broken and fractured than the other, and it's evident that there is more than what meets the eye.
Couples are on the brink of a fallout, siblings don't know each other too well, and friendships are empty, competitive, and vapid.
#3
More on the above aspect
The episode focuses on deception and the seemingly harmless lies we choose to tell each other.
Chelsea and Rick are always apart, making you wonder how they got together in the first place, Timothy seems to be hiding several secrets from his family, and Kate-Jaclyn-Laurie's friendship is perhaps worse than enmity.
The foreshadowing here will come into effect in the rest of the episodes.
#4
Pay special attention to the dialogues
Another standout is the creative, razor-sharp dialogues.
At one point, Chelsea says, "We are splurging. We should always live like this," not realizing the cost of such wishful thinking.
At another juncture, the three women proudly proclaim that they have been "friends since forever."
This "achievement" rings tragically hollow when their true selves are exposed as the episode progresses.
Verdict
Definitely worth your time; 3.5/5 stars
While a better pace and a shorter runtime (the episode is an hour long), could have helped the episode even better, The White Lotus Season 3 seems to be on the right track.
It's a treat for the show's loyal fans, and the richly written characters and the stacked ensemble cast will keep you watching.
This hotel is worth checking into!
3.5/5 stars.