[HBO] The White Lotus

[Carpet_pissr]

Ok, thanks, but I also don’t remember anything bad happening. Maybe I stopped after E1?

[hepcat]

Nothing horrible happens until the very end. And even that is less horrible and more bizarre. What does happen throughout the show is a lot of awful people do mean things to each other. Sometimes unwittingly. Sometimes not. It’s a story about people first and foremost.

Season 2 is a bit more sensationalist, but still very low key compared to what most tv shows are like.

[Carpet_pissr]

Fine, dammit, I’ll give it another shot.

[Smoove_B]

In addition to what's mentioned above, S1 had a "Very Bad Things" vibe to it (to me). S2 had more of a slow burning murder/mystery feel. Also, the gays.

[YellowKing]

Finally all caught up.

I preferred S1 to S2. My favorite thing about S1 was that it was a dark comedy. S2 seemed to forget the "comedy" part - it was just insanely bleak. While I still greatly enjoyed the performances and characters, I left depressed rather than wanting more.

[hepcat]

Let's be honest, this is Jennifer Cooolidge's world and we're all just living in it.

This bit she did in her past made me laugh.

In a 2021 interview with Vulture, she recounted how she used to pretend to be the “least-known, completely fictional Hemingway daughter” named Muffin Hemingway. “One time I got thrown out of a club because I was behaving badly,” she recalled, “And they said, ‘Don’t ever come back here, Muffin!’”

Just put her in everything from now on. Please.

[Smoove_B]

Headed to Thailand for S3:

“The first season we highlighted money and then the second season is sex and I think the third season, it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death in Eastern religion and spirituality — it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus,” he said.

There's lite spoilers in the article so avoid if you haven't watched. Also, why haven't you watched?

[Smoove_B]

The just announced some of the cast for S3 a few days ago:

The White Lotus has confirmed at least a few of the guests who will be checking in for the HBO anthology series’ third season. Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong are all set to join the cast when the show begins production in Thailand next month, per Variety. The six join returning cast member Natasha Rothwell, who appeared in the show’s first season as Belinda, the spa manager who had her dreams dashed by Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid.

Parker Posey is going to be great, I think. I also just saw my internet girlfriend Carrie Coon will be part of it as well, which is terrific.

Not gonna lie, I'm kinda curious how they tie this new season to the previous two...

[El Guapo]

All I want is for them to bring back the gay resort manager from season 1.

[hepcat]

That shit has sailed...

[Carpet_pissr]

Fine, dammit, I’ll give it another shot.

Welp, almost two years later and I binge-watched S1.

I've watched several episodes of S2 as well, but IMO it doesn't hold a candle to the first. I guess after only 1 ep the first time I tried watching, I had not given it time to develop.

What I watched absolutely blew me away, almost speechless at the end at how good the whole thing was. From the casting, to the writing, to the acting, and damn, that music, and not just even the Haiwaiian music, but somehow adding in Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring to what was happening on screen (season finale S1) was just...brilliant.

But maybe even more important were the messages in the writing. Gender roles, specifically how men today are demanded to be vulnerable, and emotionally available, but the reality seems to be that many women who proclaim this REALLY prefer the Mad Men types. Then the discussion about infidelity was ALMOST too much for me, it felt so real.

I'm trying to decide if the writer/creator is critiquing modern liberalism as having gone too far, or something else. DEFINITELY at least lightly mocking.

Really, it's one of a very few shows where I absolutely will go back and watch that season in its entirety to soak in all that amazing content and depth. My God, I can't believe I walked away from this the first time I watched it! Has a very Fargo-esque feel to it that I guess I love.

And on at least one point from my prior post, I was right...I disagree for once with the RT "score" here, which is like 92, 93% I think. I would put this quite a bit higher...it was damn near perfect IMO.

[Smoove_B]

The first season is absolutely a masterpiece, yes. The second season had a different energy, but I do think you should keep watching...it will probably go in directions you're not expecting. Plus, the gays.

[Carpet_pissr]

The first season is absolutely a masterpiece, yes. The second season had a different energy, but I do think you should keep watching...it will probably go in directions you're not expecting. Plus, the gays.

I have not yet encountered ‘the gays’ in s2 yet, but will definitely keep watching, it’s also very very good, but just not as good as 1 so far (to me).

I sure hope that first season was nominated for multiple awards.

[Kraken]

Jennifer Coolidge. That is all.

[Carpet_pissr]

Jennifer Coolidge. That is all.

She's very good, but that whole cast was amazing IMO. Steve Zahn was incredible in that role, as was the manager, Armond, and "Mr. Patton" (newlywed a-hole). Hell, even Molly Shannon, who I can't believe ever found any work after her character on SNL, was great. Casting was phenomenal, here. Bravo to whoever brought this group together.

[Kraken]

I'd never heard of Sydney Sweeney until I saw S2 and then suddenly she was the newest It Girl. Maybe she still is. Anyway, Coolidge really comes into her own in S2.

[hepcat]

Jennifer Cooli….oh, you mean Muffin Hemingway?

That story STILL makes me laugh. I love Coolidge.

[Daehawk]

Looks interesting and good cast. And hey Alexandra Daddario

[Carpet_pissr]

Plus, the gays.

After finishing S2, I finally get it, LOL!

"Do you know these gays??!"

Fantastic season, if not quite as amazing as S1. Turned out much better than I expected, damn. I can't wait for the next season. They really have my number.

The cheating themes hit pretty hard, but also created some good, healthy (I hope) internal dialogue and processing.

I will say that whoever wrote the first season had first hand experience with cheating, no question.

[Smoove_B]

S3 coming 2/16/25!

[hepcat]

Parker Posey and Walton Goggins in a show together is what 2025 needs.

[Kraken]

Hmm, gonna have to re-sub for that.

[Scraper]

I was really hoping they would bring back Aubrey Plaza for season 3, but I did not see her on the trailer at all.

[Smoove_B]

I'm taking this to mean the people that have seen S3 are giving it excellent reviews?

“The White Lotus” Season 4 has officially been greenlit by HBO, with production eyed for 2026.

It is unclear where the fourth season will take place, or whether any cast members will return. But creator-showrunner Mike White has already pitched ideas to Casey Bloys, the HBO and Max chief revealed in November.

The early renewal comes a few weeks before the Feb. 16 premiere of Season 3, which takes the Emmy-winning ensemble dramedy to Thailand. Natasha Rothwell, who played the spa manager Belinda Lindsey in the Hawaii-set Season 1, is the only returning cast member this time around, after Jennifer Coolidge reprised her role as Tanya McQuoid in the second season.

[Jaymann]

I was really hoping they would bring back Aubrey Plaza for season 3, but I did not see her on the trailer at all.

Oops, I'm out.

[hepcat]

That's a bit close minded, don't you think? I mean, you didn't always know about Aubrey Plaza until you first saw her in something. Now's a chance to find possibly ANOTHER Aubrey Plaza...or someone even better.

[Smoove_B]

Missing out on Carrie Coon because Aubrey Plaza isn't in the new season is definitely a choice.

[Malificent]

Missing out on Carrie Coon because Aubrey Plaza isn't in the new season is definitely a choice.

This. Carrie Coon is bloody amazing.

[hepcat]

She's so good, she was even a lead in a season of Fargo. Aubrey Plaza is good...but she obviously isn't Fargo good...yet*.

*Hawley did cast her in Legion though.

[Smoove_B]

[hepcat]

Man, I really hope Walton Goggins turns into Baby Billy halfway through the season….

[Carpet_pissr]

Man, I really hope Walton Goggins turns into Baby Billy halfway through the season….

God, I hope not! Definitely top 10 most annoying TV show characters IMO. Love him in Fallout though!

[hepcat]

You made a mistake there. I think you meant to write "top 10 most hilarious tv show characters IMO".

[Carpet_pissr]

You made a mistake there. I think you meant to write "top 10 most hilarious tv show characters IMO".

I did not. Those teeth, man...gah. It was too much even for me. I plowed through the show because there were definitely enough laugh out loud moments to keep me going, and I love Danny McBride's stuff, even if it's pretty much all the same.

Also, the most hilarious characters on that show IMO are either Judy or BJ...I would be hard pressed to pick one over the other because they are both amazingly, hilariously written. Baby Billy is just too much...wayyy over the top in an already over the top show (which btw, is my kind of show - It's Always Sunny in Philly, etc). I will admit that he has some hilarious moments, like the scene where he tries to run away in his Miata (?) with his "tonics" wagon in tow. That was freaking hilarious. LOL Chuckling even thinking about it.

[hepcat]

I think you have a typo there. I believe you meant to start that reply with "I did.".

Goggin's Baby Billy is a comic treasure.



But yes, I've posted elsewhere extolling the genius of Edi Patterson as Judy. She's absolutely the MVP of a cast of great comic actors. Everything she says cracks me up. I think it's because I see her in so many people with extreme low self esteem and how they react when they feel slighted/threatened by someone they feel is better than them (I will refrain from drawing a political comparison). Sure, it's an over the top reaction, but that just makes it even funnier to me.

McBride loves uncomfortable comedy. That's his brand. Thankfully, he's great at it. I can't wait for the new season of Righteous Gemstones.

[Carpet_pissr]

I think you have a typo there. I believe you meant to start that reply with "I did".

Goggin's Baby Billy is a comic treasure.

But yes, I've posted elsewhere extolling the genius of Edi Patterson as Judy. She's absolutely the MVP of a cast of great comic actors.

McBride loves uncomfortable comedy. That's his brand. Thankfully, he's great at it. I can't wait for the new season of Righteous Gemstones.

Perfect example! That should have been a 20-30 second scene at most, and McBride let the whole fucking song play AND the chorus! OK man, we get it! He's a joke, no one thinks he's a celebrity except him, and he's out of place, wearing 70's style clothing, singing old gospel tunes in a modern, pool-side exotic location. I don't need (or want) to have to sit through 2 fucking minutes to get that!

In fact, McBride does that in his other stuff, too. If someone could just edit his shows' content down like 50%, they would be MUCH better, and probably a lot more successful. As is, he makes the audience sit through shit like that (who really wants to hear that whole fucking song?!) to get to the truly great, hilarious stuff.

[hepcat]

It was 2 minutes, not 4. 2 minutes of Goggins being hilarious. If it had gone on for 4 minutes, it might have been even better!

[Carpet_pissr]

It was 2 minutes, not 4. 2 minutes of Goggins being hilarious. If it had gone on for 4 minutes, it might have been even better!

edited for the 2m
Point stands.

[hepcat]

Edited because I misunderstood what your were saying. But I still think it’s hilarious.

[Unagi]

This thread makes me think of The Spy Who Loved Me

probably my favorite toy car, growing up (2nd only to my little Matchbox Bandit)