For many of us, season three of “The White Lotus” had us glued to our screens every Sunday night. As it recently wrapped up, it is all the more clear that the series continues to hold a captivated audience in a way few others have. But what makes “The White Lotus” so special? And why does it seem like its popularity is starting to fade?
Recently, I was recommending “The White Lotus” to a friend. “You have to watch it,” I explained, “It’s a masterpiece.” But when she asked what it was about, I couldn’t help but shrug. The show is unusual. It’s even difficult to try and limit it to a genre. It has aspects of drama, comedy, social commentary, murder mystery and satire. Each season has its own cast, with a few exceptions like the infamous Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), who appeared in the first two seasons. Each season also has its own setting and mostly stands alone plot; season one was in Hawaii, two was in Sicily and three was in Thailand. The settings, in their own way, act as cast members, playing a huge role in not only the overlaying aesthetic but also the plot.
*Spoiler Warning
Each season follows various plotlines and character arcs that eventually connect, whether it is physically or through an underlying theme. Season three followed a few main plotlines. One was a girls trip (Carri Coon as Laurie, Leslie Bibb as Kate and Michelle Monaghan as Jaclyn) where three middle aged women ventured to Thailand for a getaway which quickly erupted into a trip of gossip, backstabbing and confrontation. Another featured the Ratliff family (Sam Nivola as Lochlan, Parker Posey as Victoria, Jason Issacs as Timothy and Sarah Catherine Hook as Piper), which followed what appeared to be an average wealthy family but soon became a spectacle with incest, attempted suicide and more. It also follows a couple: an older man (Waltin Goggins as Rick) and a younger woman (Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea) who eventually face their demise after Rick attempts to seek the revenge of the man he thought was the killer of his dead father.
The season was no doubt filled with characters that showed depth and a plot with many twists. But what about this season was different? On a survey asking 14 “White Lotus” watchers, most of whom attend Fieldston, what they thought of the newest season, the results were mixed. When asked to rate the series in general, the average rating was 4.5, while the average rating for season 3 was only 4.
When asked what their favorite season was, a whopping 75% chose season two while only two people chose season one and one chose season three. When asked why some didn’t love it as much, two people wrote that it was “too obvious.”
It’s clear that season three was the worst by popular vote, but how bad was it really? Regardless of ratings, 92% of people still said they would recommend season three.
The reason “White Lotus” has such a strong pull and has received great praise is due to its unique structure. Season 1 introduced the show to the world, and although it is not as favored as the others, it has received a lot of praise. Season two is the undeniable favorite because of the perfect balance it struck between focusing on the plotline, characters, and symbols. But season three was proven to be a little too slow with twists that might have been too dull and even predictable.
As for its impact on Fieldston, out of 16 Fieldston students asked, 13 said they had watched the show. Fieldston, in its academics and student presence, enjoys art that reflects society. In this case, even though it’s satire, “The White Lotus” is not only entertaining but has a lot to say about the world we live in and the upper class. So, as we reflect on season three’s unique impact, it’s hard to imagine what the newly announced season four holds. Each season has gotten many people glued to the couch and thinking about it for days after. Despite a dip in the excitement of season three, “The White Lotus” continues to captivate audiences with all it has to offer, leaving us excitedly awaiting what season four will unravel next.
