Why is it always HBO? The network promises great things with its shows, only to fumble after a few seasons. Mike White’s The White Lotus began as a hilarious mirror to the rich American life as they go on vacation and live in luxury hotels but in season 3, the showrunner seems to stray from the USP of the series.
The latest season of the dark comedy is more dark than comedy and it is alienating some of the hardcore fans of the show. The White Lotus is an anthology series, with each season setting up different characters in a different branch of the eponymous luxury chain. However, there are no Tanyas or Armonds to give some much-needed laughs this time.
Mike White may have made a huge mistake with the direction of The White Lotus season 3
Mike White’s satirical take on capitalism and the rich in The White Lotus was widely accepted by fans and critics as the next big thing from HBO. Initially conceived as a miniseries set in a single location to make sure the studio did not break COVID restrictions, the success of the first season led HBO to renew it for more.
The series dominated the Emmys in both seasons and the world waited in bated breath for season 3. Much like previous seasons, the latest was set in a different country, Thailand this time, in a branch of the White Lotus Hotel, centered around another group of vacationers who have dark and dirty secrets with them.
However, White seems to have reduced the comedy bits in favor of a darker storyline. The main Ratcliff family does not have a single funny bone in them, except for maybe Parker Posey’s character. Brothers Lochlan and Saxon seem to have the creepiest storyline going. While creepiness is not new to the show, this is not as funny and just painful to watch.
What it definitely lacks is a satirical direction. Previous seasons of The White Lotus have dark moments (both started with a murder) but the satire took over the darkness. In the latest, however, the direction seems to be leaning more into the dramatic category. Of course, not having someone like Jennifer Coolidge also has its effects.
Mike White promised a darker season of The White Lotus
As much as season 3 of The White Lotus feels miles different from its predecessors, it is not without warning. Mike White reportedly wanted to explore the cultural conflict between the West and the East with the latest season and initially intended to set the series in Japan. However, HBO reportedly urged him to shift the location to Thailand instead.
White mentioned in an interview with Time Magazine that the latest season would be much darker than its predecessors. He also mentioned that he conceived of the storyline while in a fever,
I do feel like the other seasons were a rehearsal for this one. There’s stuff that I’ve never directed before…[after falling ill] I didn’t sleep for like two nights, and by the next morning I was like, ‘I think I have the plot.’ The season is pretty much what happened that night.
Plotting during a fever dream while hospitalized with bronchitis might explain why The White Lotus is so dark, but Mike White may have made a mistake by straying too far away from the show’s original genre.
The White Lotus is available to stream on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
