Advance Review: The White Lotus Is No Dream Vacation
HBO takes viewers on the Hawaiian vacation of their dreams in their new limited series, The White Lotus. Most viewers could never afford this sun-drenched trip so instead they get to watch as the privileged 1% live out their dreams. What should be a relaxing trip turns out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing as the guests deal with murder and uncomfortable conversations on consent, sexism, power, and racism.
Three sets of guests and the White Lotus staff are the focus of the show as they attempt to deal with the power struggles and a murder mystery. The first set is the Mossbacher family consisting of Nicole (Connie Britton), a high-level executive, her husband, Mark (Steve Zahn), their son, Quinn (Fred Hechinger), Olivia (Sydney Sweeney), and her friend Paula (Brittany O’Grady). The second family is newlyweds Shane (Jake Lacy) and Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) and the third and final guest is Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), a guest determined to scatter her mother’s ashes at the resort.
Each set of guests emphasize the life of those who can afford the best in the world and are willing to go to any lengths to get what they want. It’s this power struggle between the privileged and staff that keeps the series progressing. Whether it is Shane, the male equivalent of a “Karen”, who is constantly going head-to-head with the resort manager, Armond (Murray Bartlett) or spa manager, Belinda’s (Natasha Rothwell) inability to say no to Tanya’s overstepping, the constant need to please those who can afford all permeates throughout. It is clear the staff is acting out of fear of losing their jobs to accommodate their demanding guests which is something many will relate to.
This cast is filled with many talented actors that showcase phenomenal performances. From Britton’s perfect performance as a woman in power to Bartlett’s witty performance as the resort manager, there is honestly no bad performance in the bunch.
The White Lotus is a satire comedy from the mind of Mike White that makes for an interesting watch. The six-episode season will be the perfect length to keep viewers engaged without being tiresome and might have viewers wanting to book another vacation next year.