THE WHITE LOTUS is so back! And while Esta and Aaron had mid-emoji 😊 reactions to it, Maya and Tarush LOVED it 🤩.
Here’s the team’s episodic breakdown of the season.
E1 SAME SPIRITS, NEW FORM 🤩
The pilot episode did not fail to disappoint or fall under any expectations that fans had been waiting for. In the time we live in, where shows take years to produce new seasons (STRANGER THINGS…), THE WHITE LOTUS does a brilliant job of keeping the formula the same but switching the ingredients to keep fans happy.
– Maya
E2 SPECIAL TREATMENTS 🤩
Although not much in particular happens in SPECIAL TREATMENTS, it still manages to feel important. THE WHITE LOTUS offers us an intimate peek into the lives of its characters; it seems to know what viewers are thinking and accelerates their expectations to new levels.
– Tarush
E3 THE MEANING OF DREAMS 🤮
THE WHITE LOTUS is a conundrum for me. I want to love it like everyone else seems to be feeling. I want to revel in the lush location and be mesmerized by this wellness resort’s slow and steady pace in Thailand. I want to identify with one of the vast cast members while truly understanding all their troubles and angst. This is when we cue the inspirational, New Age music to soaring heights. Ugh… I just can’t do it.
– Esta
E4 HIDE OR SEEK 😊
Overall, HIDE OR SEEK was not the best or worst episode of the series. However, we are reaching the point where the world-building has done its job, and it is now time to give the other characters plot devices to move the story further (and/or give Jason Isaacs a break).
– Maya
E5 FULL-MOON PARTY 😊
I found myself finally much more intrigued by THE WHITE LOTUS. The FULL-MOON PARTY was more interesting and exciting than in previous weeks. The writers kept the action between the large ensemble without slowing down the intrigue, except for showing footage of the lapping ocean waves. I still maintain the story could be condensed to 45 minutes instead of the usual 60-minute episodes. This additional editing would help create tighter, additional explosive moments.
– Esta
E6 DENIALS 🤩
The latter half of season 3 of THE WHITE LOTUS is already shaping into one of my favorite moments in television history. Episode 5 was brilliant, and episode 6 somehow topped it. The drama is finally reaching an exciting point, and we’re getting somewhere with the storylines (a complaint I brought up in my episode 4 review). The writing was genius, and the acting was just perfection. I can’t gush enough over how much I love this series and how happy we’re reaching the heights that season 2 went for me.
– Maya
E7 KILLER INSTINCTS 😊
There are some clear problems in S3 that are stopping it from reaching the heights of S2. Those are:
- Jason Isaacs – Every time he’s on the screen, his medicated responses stall the show’s plot progression. Mike White has given far too much screen time for his character to mumble his way through each scene.
- Parker Posey – You know it’s bad when your character is imitated in an unflattering way on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. It’s not Posey’s fault – it’s just that she has been given so little to do this year outside of being upset and spoiled.
- Monks – The monk subplot and theme is not that interesting. I get why the mechanism is being used to showcase the lack of balance in these characters’ lives, but again – it’s getting too much screen time. However, I did love the quote of the week – “Maybe Jesus will save her from those Buddhists.”
– Aaron
E8 AMOR FATI 🤩
I adored every second of this season and can not believe I must wait years to say it’s WHITE LOTUS Sunday again. This season, cast, plot lines, and Greek-level tragedy have never disappointed me. I am grateful for the universe finally putting me on Walton Goggins, and I will now watch everything he’s ever been in. I will deeply miss my comfort, crazy rich people, and I hope Mike White is furiously typing away a season 4 (but then maybe we can end it after that).
– Maya
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The entire third season is available to stream on Max.