‘I’m going to have to drink myself to sleep…’
Despite the fact that the dissolution of the monoculture means that the concept of ‘water cooler’ TV shows is all but dead, The White Lotus still manages to feel like an actual event. This is partly due to its ability to attract A-list stars, partly due to being an anthology, so it always feels fresh, and partly due to the ingenuity of creator Mike White. Season Three, whilst taking place in the same universe as the previous seasons and sharing a couple of characters, sees a whole new cast of characters arriving at a White Lotus resort hotel, this time in Thailand…
This latest jaunt to the White Lotus revolves around the Ratliff family (Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, Sarah Hook, Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger); three ageing women cementing their friendship (Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan), and a mismatched couple (Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood). Sam Rockwell and Scott Glenn also show up in supporting roles.
What a cast. Goggins staring aghast as Rockwell delivers an incredible monologue about dressing up as an Asian woman whilst having sex with numerous partners. Coon and Monaghan offering a masterclass in side eye and passive aggression (before eventually reaching symbiosis). Isaacs personifying pure panic throughout. Parker Posey… just being Parker Posey and doing it amazingly. It’s nice to see Aimee Lou Wood holding her own against much more experienced performers (and earning a vile SNL parody sketch in the process), and I also enjoyed Arnie’s offspring, Patrick, delivering a layered and nuanced performance (while dealing with some pretty gross plotting). It’s just all wonderful stuff, made all the more impressive by the fact that White is the sole writer, creator and director of this thing – a true triple threat.
As with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s The Trip, part of the fun of watching The White Lotus is losing yourself in the location. Thailand provides a beautiful and aesthetically diverse backdrop with the breathtaking vistas of Koh Samui contrasting with the futuristic cityscapes of Bangkok, made all the more beautiful when Goggins’ incredible hairline is thrown into the mix. While Euphoria, another show solely created by a televisual auteur, often suffers from being a reflection of its creator, White and The White Lotus benefit from having a single pair of hands on the steering wheel. As with both previous seasons, the writing here is assured and compelling, confirming that this remains one of the best shows on television right now. I loved it.
