Review | Same spirits, new theme song? ‘The White Lotus’ returns for season three
Photo Collage by Simrah Ahmad, Staff Photographer
By the looks of episode one, this will be the craziest season of “The White Lotus” yet.
As soon as the HBO logo buzzed onto the screen, reminders of the past seasons rushed back to me. Scandal, lies and death are brought to the forefront of this season’s first episode, but this time, the opening credits theme song has been changed.
The familiar eerie sounds featured in the first two seasons' opening themes are long gone and replaced by a song that lacks the same unsettling effect. While the new theme isn’t bad, it doesn’t quite capture the signature “White Lotus” feel — and I can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing.
Just like the previous two seasons, the first episode opens with a flash forward into what the future at the hotel holds, and we know one thing: someone is going to die. It might sound strange, but I always look forward to seeing which character falls victim to death in the first scene, knowing the mystery of who it is will drive me crazy all season long.
Once it’s established that someone dies, in typical “White Lotus” fashion, all of the hotel guests arrive at the extravagant resort, this season on the shores of Thailand. The beauty of the nature, cinematography and music set the tone for the tropical country this season will take place in, but that tone is immediately contrasted by those who arrive on the boat. The hotel guests arrive acting arrogant and privileged, and it almost feels like I’m watching seasons one and two all over again. The episode — brilliantly titled “Same Spirits, New Forms” — captures the essence of each character type.
The same absurd behaviors exhibited by all the wealthy and pretentious visitors of this worldly hotel take their forms in a Southern American family, an unhappy couple and a trio of girlfriends. Sound familiar?
Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Saxon Ratliff, a douchey finance bro that only cares about two things: money and women. His constant out-of-touch comments towards everyone around him, combined with his mother Victoria Ratliff’s (Parker Posey) desperate attempts to convince everyone that they’re a “normal family,” makes me certain we will learn in later episodes that they are anything but.
Walton Goggins is another main character in this season, playing Rick Hatchett, the bitter, much older boyfriend of Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). It quickly becomes clear that Rick is in Thailand with ulterior motives, and Chelsea is just along for the ride.
The third visitors of the hotel are a group of long-time friends who planned a getaway to catch up. Michelle Monaghan plays Jaclyn Lemon, a famous actress who funded the trip for her friends Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Laurie (Carrie Coon). But while Jaclyn and Kate constantly praise each other and their careers, Laurie is repeatedly left out.
One thing I can’t forget to mention are the returners. We all knew Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) would return for another season, but after plotting his wife’s murder in season two, I did not expect to see Greg (Jon Gries) back for more White Lotus antics, and especially not going by the alias Gary.
In the first episode alone, Mike White sets the groundwork for mystery and drama to ensue at The White Lotus, and it makes you wonder which of these complex characters will be dead in just a week's time. If this show has taught me anything, it’s that no one ever gets what they deserve. If I had to guess, Rick Hatchett will be the one who ends up dead — he doesn’t seem as ignorant as the others, and that might just be what gets him killed.
All released episodes of “The White Lotus” can be streamed on Max. New episodes premiere every Sunday on the site at 10 p.m. The season finale will air on April 6.
