The White Lotus Season 3 Part 4

Previous thread

From thread 3:

[quote] He did not complete the season until after he was hospitalized during a location scouting trip to Thailand, during which he had a multi-day fever dream that provided him with the inspiration for the conclusion. So it should be sick.

This does not fill me with hope.

Let the non-existent Thai crocodiles eat OP for spamming the link to this thread in the old one.

Is Jon Gries gay?

His Wiki has no mention of a wife or girlfriend, and I haven't seen any photo of him with a "significant other."

Is he dating Mike White? Is that why he's the only character who appeared in three seasons?

He looks like he could be hung.

I found the cutest photo on Jon's Instagram.

Fred Hechinger, Sydney Sweeney, and Lukas Gage.

"White Lotus Love"

Will Jason Isaacs bare his man-pussy next episode?

Most fans of “The White Lotus” have been sitting on their anger at Jon Gries’ Greg for plotting the death of Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya since the Season 2 finale, but it took the actor heading to Thailand to film Season 3 to realize Greg was a “psychopath.”

“I somehow equivocated that Greg was remotely involved, but not as deeply involved. But definitely upon looking at Season 2 over again, I’m like, ‘Where did I ever come up with that idea?'” Gries told TheWrap. “For the rest of [Season 2], I was gone, so it wasn’t like it changed anything I was doing. In those first three episodes … I knew that they were pointing in that direction, but as we started Season 3, I was rewriting a lot of the history.”

After Gries arrived to Thailand about 10 days before his scenes were set to start filming — to get acclimated and work on his tan — he clarified his new take on Greg with creator Mike White.

“Mike was walking briskly to get to set … and I saw him, and I ran up to him, and I said, ‘Hey, Greg — psychopath or not?’ And he goes, ‘psychopath’ and walked away,” Gries recalled. “And I went right back into my room and spent the next four hours just writing the story and changing things, and it really gave me something to work with.”

Below, Gries reveals whether Greg ever truly loved Tanya and teases his character is “immediately planning something” after his recent confrontation with Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda.

TheWrap: When did you first learn you were coming back?

Gries: It was like a year and a half ago in September, he called me and we talked on the phone. He wanted to know that I would be committed all the way because it could be being away from home anywhere from four to six months. And I was like, “I’m there.”

What were those initial conversations with Mike like about Greg’s storyline this season?

That Greg’s doing quite well, and that he has a girlfriend and he’s moving on. Now, he wouldn’t tell me what is going to ultimately transpire, not quite yet, but once we agreed that everything was going to go forward, he sent me the scripts and I read what happens.

Do you think Greg ever genuinely loved Tanya?

I think in the beginning, he did. I think he thought, “This would be the great way to end my life, to be with someone that I really care about, and who, despite all her drama, is very endearing and very funny and sweet and amusing too.” I don’t know if he truly loved her, but I think he was amused by her.

I read the Ted Bundy book called “The Stranger Beside Me” and it was about the woman who was with him all the time while he was doing this, and somehow, someway, she avoided all that carnage. That’s a complete deranged psychopath. I’m not saying that Greg’s a serial killer, but Greg has a side to him that is detached. So he was, I think, amused by Tanya, and amused enough to really want to be with her for that time.

When did that shift happen in Greg to make him plot out Tanya’s death?

Between Season 1 and Season 2, there was a change, whether or not it was that he just couldn’t handle the drama anymore, or, some of the things I wrote was that once he realized that he wasn’t going to die directly from this episode that he was having, that maybe he was a little less philosophical about his life and a little more opportunistic.

How long has it been since Tanya died?

We talked about it as if it were in relatively real time, so like 15 months or something like that. Maybe it’s two years at most, but it’s just within that span of time.

What do you think about Jennifer Coolidge’s comments hoping Greg gets what’s coming for him? Have you been in touch with Jennifer about the new season?

We’re in touch quite a bit. We really have a lovely friendship. I didn’t speak to her specifically about that particular thing, but I find it to be so gracious, because she’s, even peripherally, helping the show along. She’s just a very gracious person … it’s really, really lovely.

In Episode 3, we see Belinda confront Greg and he immediately denies it’s him. Does this do much to rattle him in the moment?

Immediately he’s planning something, whatever it is. She doesn’t walk away. He’s not sitting there looking at her, going, “Hmm.” He’s thinking, “this might impede my life plans, so I might have to figure out something to do.”

What does it feel like to be the one constant of the first three seasons of “The White Lotus”?

It’s incredible. I’m living my greatest fantasy. I’m working with an amazing assortment of incredibly talented people, working with probably the most compelling director I’ve ever worked with without question — I mean far and above. I hate to make anybody feel less, but if they knew him and they saw him in action, they would agree, it’s very special. I sometimes literally go, “I can’t believe this is happening, because it’s incredible.” I’m awestruck by it.

What can you tease for the rest of the season?

For those of you, and hopefully many of you who watched Episode 3, I mean, that’s a masterpiece. I even had to write Mike after watching it, saying “I didn’t see this up front. I didn’t see this ahead of time. I’m watching it in real time. It’s just perfect.” Tempo, feel, look, sound, relationships, performances — incredible, all across the board.

Do we know if that was Isaacs’ real cock?

I sure hope so, and I hope to see it more and more

R546 Because we had Sicily last season, and Greece isn't that much different.

And what's with all the hate for monkeys in this thread. Monkeys are cool. And so far, stayed away from humans

r546? wow

R8, that's an interesting suggestion about Greg: he may have at one point actually been ill and once he realized that he was going to live he became less tolerant of Tanya.

Unfortunately this happens a lot. When someone gets praise, their ego swells and they feel they can do no wrong with storytelling…and any criticism is dismissed as “people just don’t get it”

Michael Patrick King and Ryan Murphy suffer from this disease

I like this photo from Gries. Put me right between Zion and Walton!

R6 Jason just needs to get all the way naked.

Not his real dick. Theo James wore a prosthetic in his nude scene and when Isaac was asked about his own scene he said "I don't know, I wasn't there hat day, I think it's digital." Haha.

If you notice before the big reveal, his groin area is dark in an unnatural way. The penis emerges from a flat dark area.

Maybe Belinda calls the authorities about Greg, and when they arrive at the resort, Tim thinks they're after him and freaks out. This is the reason for all the gunshots at the beginning.

The photos that Jon Gries posted on Instagram really do favor ogling all of the hot guys on the cast - I think the poster wondering if he (the actor) is gay might be onto something

In the season three previews there is a shot of a hand taking a gun from a drawer. It is a woman’s hand. It’s not Parker posey because her character wears red nail polish

MichaelPatrick King and Mike White are actually the same person.

Either Mook stealing the gun back or Piper, fed up with this shit

Maybe it's just the way he's shot but Jon Gries seems to have incredible range of looking sweetly benign or devilishly evil. And handsome or not.

R15 For a moment there I thought Walton shaved his head.

My! Threads come and go so quickly here.

The people arguing that the Italian police would have no reason to suspect “Greg” are forgetting the number one rule of homicide investigation: “The husband did it.” Add the money, and there’s no way in the world they wouldn’t suspect him. Throw in “refuses to come to Italy” after his wife dies in some kind of bizarre crime. “Greg” is certainly a prime suspect.

R26 you don’t know much about how things work in Italy. ;)

Husbands don’t kill their rich wives in Italy?

Italian police work very slowwwly.

I’m surprised that Greg actually is a long-term employee of the Bureau of Land Management. Odd cover for an international man of mystery.

Not in this case. Google told Belinda that “Greg” was wanted for questioning.

Who's the shooter?

Timothy--most obvious therefore questionable

Victoria--psychotic episode due to lorazepam withdrawal and finding out she's poor. She said she would rather die. She takes out a bunch of rich people before turning the gun on herself.

One of the kids. If so, somehow the blender and the poison fruit is involved.

Gaitok--don't think Mike White would make a Thai character the villain

Rick--seems more likely he gets shot and is just there to look suspicious. Plus he just arrived in Thailand and where would he get the gun?

Greg/Gary--also seems like karma finally catches up and he gets shot. Or as someone suggested upthread Belinda calls the cops and either Gary or Timothy start firing.

Chloe--she doesn't really have a point but Mike White has a soft spot for prostitutes so no.

Valentin--the earlier robbery was an inside job by Valentin's 'friends' whom he later introduced to the 3 women during songkran. His behavior was odd, sending them to a hotel for seniors and then abandoning them in the street saying songkran is no big deal. Songkran is a clusterfuck that many people avoid like the plague. Valentin hates these women.

The shooting may be a red herring. Shots fired, but nobody killed. My prediction—monkey firing the gun.

I think someone will die from poison fruit in a smoothie

Neither of the first two seasons’ deaths were intentional.

No reason—yet—to think it will be different here.

I've been a fan of Jon Gries ever since Helter Skelter, when he played the twink caretaker (and alleged kept boy) who survived the Tate murderers.

I just watched this campy as fuck 1986 horror comedy called Terror Vision recently and my eyeballs popped out of my head when Jon Gries popped up as the requisite-in-1986 punk-dickhead character - he was pretty cute in it!

I thought the movie was a lot of fun - Mary Woronov and Gerrit Graham (aka Beef from Phantom of the Paradise) play the parents (of the main character kids) and they are sleazy swingers, so that tells you what the over-the-top tone is. Mary Woronov as a ditzy aeorbics queen was a lot! it felt like a B-52s song turned into a movie.

My first exposure to Jon Gries was on Supernatural.

He played a Hunter named Martin who ended up in a mental institution that was being stalked by a Wraith. Sam and Dean institutionalized themselves to go and help him.

Then Gries reprised his role as Martin, to help Sam track down a vampire named Benny (who happened to be Dean's boyfriend...lol).

Benny the Vampire ended up killing Martin (Jon Gries).

I always thought of him as a "day player," and never a leading character.

So White Lotus was a pretty big break for both Gries and Jennifer Coolidge.

Victoria is really Susan Atkins’ daughter from LA. That’s why the accent is off.

R32 Rick was talking on the phone with one of his buddies in Bangkok, said he needs something from him. Obviously he will get a gun. How else is he planning to shoot the hotel owner?

R33 How can you say nobody gets killed when we see a dead body in the water in the begging of the first episode? And monkey could only fire one bullet. The sound of the gun would frighten them, they would drop the gun and run. If it is indeed a monkey, that will be a terrible writing.

I kind of have a crush on Fabian. He's cute.

Even in Thailand, he still manages to be so..... German.

Poor guy is treated like shit by Sritala.

He's kind of like Tattoo from Fantasy Island, and Sritala is like Mr. Roarke.

Christian Friedel is actually a singer in real life, so maybe he might get his big break singing at the hotel one night.

Sort of like Mia the singer, in season two.

[quote] How can you say nobody gets killed when we see a dead body in the water in the begging of the first episode?

We don’t know that they’ve been shot though. Just that they are dead.

[quote] How can you say nobody gets killed when we see a dead body in the water in the begging of the first episode?

That was a crocodile, not a dead body.😂😂😂

It's clearly a digital peen. The lighting on it was too perfect so it wasn't natural at all, considering it was almost buried in the recesses of his robe.

What song should Fabian sing?

They could have been poisoned by a protein shake with a poisonous fruit.

They are dropping hella hints for that IMO.

Maybe Lachlan makes a poison fruit smoothie for Saxon and tells him to ‘chug not taste it’ like Saxon always tells him. He chugs and dies.

Or Timothy makes them for the whole family. Or just himself. At least one Ratliff is toast.

[quote] What song should Fabian sing?

This.

{quote] They are dropping hella hints for that IMO

It's been mentioned more than once.

[QUOTE] What song should Fabian sing?

“Don’t Tell Mama” from CABARET.

R36 where did you see that movie? I saw it way back when cable was new and HBO had just started. Terrorvision ran on it a lot. It also had Alejandro Rey who pretty much disappeared after the Flying Nun.

[quote] What song should Fabian sing?

What else?

Interesting that Jon Gries is a nepo baby - father was the director of his first childhood credits. And no mention of a spouse. Who's he keeping that tight body for?

I didn’t say nobody gets killed. I said maybe nobody gets shot.

Ok. So maybe I went too far with the monkey.

Also, this classic...

Garrett Morris, Jennifer Coolidge and some hot rocker chick!

I didn’t know Gries was a child actor. Interesting. I mostly know him from the 90’s show The Pretender. He played sympathetic character working for the ‘bad’ guys. If I remember correctly. I’m not sure how the series ended.

This is Jon Gries uncle who went professionally by Buddy Charles, the brother ofJon's director father, and an icon in the Chicago jazz scene and a fixture at the old Acorn on Oak. IYKYK.

Cool^

R41 How exactly is he treated like shit by Sritala? She was never mean to him. Also, it's weird how he is a resort manager, works there for god knows how many years, always glorifies Sritala, yet he doesn't know how to pronounce her name right

"The People In The Bar" react to episode four.

Surprisingly, they loved Patrick Schwarzenegger's lines.

And of course, the Jason Isaacs dick scene.

Matt Friend does Jennifer Coolidge.

Why would Lachlan be pining away for Saxon when his dad has that MONSTER BELL SHAPED COCK under his robe??

Any gay kid able to smell cookies would’ve sniffed that out at some point. Imagine the smell of that thing if he were standing down wind! The penis was so fake looking I wouidn’t be surprised if it was a puppet.

r40 I am not r33 but all we see is something floating in the water that looks like a body face down - it could be a fake-out, playing with our assumptions since that's how The White Lotus has started the past two seasons

r51 I bought the blu-ray because it was cheap and it sounded up my alley and I was right

Actually, the first season started with a dead body being put onto an airplane.

Only trash people would report missing drugs.

I’m hazarding that Piper was molested by Timothy once at a very young age- maybe he did a drugs at that time (and that’s why he’s so anti- drug) that’s why she’s sex adverse, wants her younger brother around, wants to detach with religion and getting away from the family permanently. It’s also the reason why Timothy decided to do this for her, because she’s the « favorite « .

She’ll eventually confront him, and with the combined financials, reputation, and moral ruin, he’ll kill himself.

R45 obviously this....and wearing this outfit as well.

I wonder what Saxon is going to do to Lochy on the boat. Or make him do.

Pull the Queen of Spades from Chloe’s pussy.

I can't remember if this tweet from PS was posted here - Sam is so sexy

He's going to make him fuck one of the women on the boat, and when lachlan can't get hard, saxon's going to call him a queer, grab his dick, jerk him off til he's hard, then physically stand behind him and put his dick in the girl and move his hips for him.

Might even bang lachlan while lochy's doing the girl

Then things are going to he weird between them...

Do the Ratliffe parents ever have sex? I haven't seen one kiss exchanged.

r43 You continue to be an idiot

ROFL at that Tweet at R71!

Patrick posted:

[quote] Patrick Schwarzenegger@PSchwarzenegger

[quote] What could go wrong on a boat!!?

To which Ivan (a Datalounger, no doubt) replied:

[quote] ivan.@yasscorrset

[quote] I’m not sure, but both of you inside of me at once planting ur seeds deep inside of my tight pink hole for hours back to back could happen though

What a filthy whore!

Look at Sam's tight little cum gutters! Heaven

We saw Chloe and Chelsea kissing in front of someone. So there will either be a threesome with them and Saxon, or Saxon will want Lochlan to get laid, so he will pick Victoria which leaves Chloe with Lochlan. Maybe a foursome, or sex right next to each other, and then something incestuous happens. Since Mike was saying something about satanic incestuous orgy, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. Hopefully it won't be a dad-daughter thing. That would be too depressing. Or maybe nothing sexual actually happens, but what he meant by incestuous is stuff like Lochlan watching his brother jerk off in the bathroom, then checking out his ass the next morning. Or Saxon saying Piper is hot and needs to get laid, always touching her and teasing her. Dad showing his junk do the kids. Acting very weirdly with his daughter on the boat, touching her face and saying how beautiful she is. Maybe it just stays at this level and nothing actually incestuous happens.

I doubt they have a active sex life r73. Not with Victoria constantly zoned out on her pills.

I wonder if Tim has been dipping it into some other women back in NC.

R75 Saxon isn't even that much more jacked up than Lochlan. So why is he teasing him about being skinny and weak

Maybe Tim bangs Pam. They do have kinda love hate love relationship.

I can see a Chloe/Saxon/Lachlan threesome happening.

Saxon wants his brother to lose his virginity, and that way it is incesty without being TOO incesty.

R77 Freudian slip? I don't think Saxon will pick his mom. She's not even on the boat

I really liked that shirt Locky is wearing in the picture of them both sitting in R71's post

Sorry, he will pick Chloe, which leaves Chelsea for Lochlan. And Lochlan trying to lose his virginity to her. Sleeping pills have started kicking in, so the names escape me.

R83 With crocodiles? I hated it when I saw it on the show.

The signs Lochlan is trans are so obvious.

In the most recent episode he wears capris!

Here’s my fantasy episode:

Albie and Portia are backpacking through Thailand (they did exchange numbers at the airport in the last episode of season 2, so it’s possible they are dating). The backpacking was initially appealing to Albie as a variation on rich kid slumming and “keeping it real” with crunchy granola Portia. However, he’s getting tired of it and is also going through some questioning of his own sexuality as he finds himself attracted to other young guys they’ve met while traveling around. This is creating tension between the two of them and so Albie decides to splurge on a stay at the White Lotus as a distraction.

Once there, Portia runs into Greg/ Gary which freaks her out and she wants to immediately leave. Albie refuses and so she retreats to the room for the rest of the stay, which drives their relationship even further apart.

Meanwhile, Albie meets Lachlan at the pool and is immediately smitten, with his previously only simmering homosexuality now beginning to sizzle like a hot off the grill chicken satay. Lachlan also has an immediate attraction to Albie and, after seeing his wet swimming trunks clinging to his hot ass, decides to make a move with the end result being some very hot sex as they each act out their long repressed desires to flip fuck with a guy. Saxon catches them in flagrante, but doesn’t let them know he sees them and instead furiously jerks off while watching from behind a poison fruit tree.

I have a question about the plunge pools the rooms have. Why isn't anyone using them? If I had one I wouldn't set foot near the big communal pool.

For you Lochy Lovers.

R87 Jesus Christ, this isn't a Mexican telenovela meets porno movie.

R89 that's the one.

Ugh - it's $138.......

R88 They want to be surrounded by people, maybe. You don't travel to the other side of the world only to stay in your room.

And aren't those pools they have in their backyard, small?

Bit as an introvert, I would be probably also use those room pools.

$138? The last season, Albie was wearing a Zara shirt (that I also own) that costed maybe 30 euros. Maybe not even that much.

"that costed...." ??

R95 english isn't my native language

[quote] I really liked that shirt Locky is wearing in the picture of them both sitting in R71's post

[quote] R83 With crocodiles? I hated it when I saw it on the show.

Lachlan's shirt is foreshadowing the crocodile in the hotel lagoon that was about to eat Zion, in this season's opening scene.

R88 I’ve stayed at many resorts in rooms and suites with a private plunge pool. 9 times out of 10 it’s something that seems a lot more appealing in theory than in practice. R93 is right, they are typically a lot smaller than they appear online or in marketing material and it can be pretty dull to just hang out in your room by a pool that’s only useful as a dunk from sunbathing. Or a late night spot for sex.

Plus at the main pools you get a lot more service with food and drinks at your beck and call rather than dealing with room service.

There have been a few exceptions, where the private pool was large enough to really swim in or the room had a truly spectacular view to enjoy, but the main resort pools are almost always more appealing.

R90 did you miss the “fantasy” part and the Nifty tagline? Listen up missy! It can be whatever the fuck I goddamn please.

I've always enjoyed the costume design on the series, but it seems like this season there have been some inconsistencies in some of the characters' wardrobes. For example, that shirt on Lachlan at r89 seems way too sophisticated for a kid like him. And Piper's aesthetic seems to vary wildly from scene to scene. And then those lavender shorts on Tim....really??

I realize that on vacations people sometimes buy stuff they'd never wear at home, but these gaffes don't support the storytelling of who these characters are.

I loved Chloe’s cruising ensemble.

I loved Tim in those lavender shorts. They framed his package nicely.

They did. The way his linen tunic hung on his torso too

Mike White "unpacks" Season 2 Episode 7, and sheds a little bit of light on Greg's future, and what happens in Season 3.

[quote] Victoria--psychotic episode due to lorazepam withdrawal and finding out she's poor. She said she would rather die. She takes out a bunch of rich people before turning the gun on herself.

In a million years that would never happen, but that's the "datalounge-friendly" option.

[quote] it seems like this season there have been some inconsistencies in some of the characters' wardrobes. For example, that shirt on Lachlan at [R89] seems way too sophisticated for a kid like him.

I've been a college teacher to rich students for decades, and I can tell you often at that age (especially at the beginning of college) many rich boys who are family boys (like Lochie) still have their mothers buy their clothes for them.

R99 you’re no Mike White. You’re no third assistant on the left to Mike White’s assistant.

Lochlan doesn't seem like he has ever made a decision in his life, including what clothes he buys. Agree r106.

$138 for a shirt? Oh my God—how reasonable for a rich kid on vacation. Who’d a thunk it?

What do you think, will we go back to what happened between Victoria and the soccer mom ten years ago in Austin? Or was this just one of those random scenes, that don't really have a lot to do with the plot? It could be something related to classism, prescription pills or even politics and MAGA. Same with Rick and him releasing snakes. What was that all about? To show that he snapped or something deeper? Will we come back to it? He says his weed was laced, but isn't the only weed you can buy on Thailand, medical marijuana? Who would lace medical marijuana? And would his American prescription work in Thailand?

Will the Ratliffs even be able to check out of their hotel?

All of their assets have been frozen.

No cash, no credit cards.

I'm surprised that the hotel front desk hasn't contacted them yet about their credit card being declined.

There's now a bunch of videos on YouTube with WL cast members chatting, playing games, etc. This one shows off Sam Nivola's much more animated side.

Unfortunate comparison, but at several points he somehow resembles, and even sounds like, the NYT tech reporter David Pogue.

BTW - that Tombolo shirt Lochie wears is called Reptile Dysfunction. Foreshadowing, perhaps. Chomp, chomp. It's certainly foreshadowed in the opening credits.

Wouldn't a big shot finances guy like Tim already have a layer ready for something like this. When he was talking on the phone to the guy that he made that shady business with, the one that screwed him over, he told Tim he better find a lawyer. It's hard to believe that Tim wouldn't already have a lawyer and a good one ready, who would tell him to get all his money transfer to Thailand before they freeze his accounts. Why did all of that lasted so long?

To the person who said there are no crocodiles in Thailand, there are two Malay false gharial crocodile and of course, saltwater crocodile. Saltwater crocodile lives from India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaland to northern Australia and Micronesia

R114 already too late—duh. When he learned the news from his business friend…he was already fucked. You think they’re a switch people flick and all their assets go to their vacation retreat. Adding, the nonsense and ignorance about a plot line around here.

Tombolo is a ery trendy millennial/gen z instagram brand and the Ratliffs are loaded. Doesn’t surprise me at all that lochlan is wearing it

He should have been on the phone with his lawyer the second he heard what is going down

Perhaps Tim's lawyer is incarcerated for killing his wife and delinquent son and he had to find one on the fly...

Parker Posey said they all got food poisoning while filming in Thailand.

[quote]In a million years that would never happen, but that's the "datalounge-friendly" option.

You have to remember that "datalounge-friendly" predictions of what's going to happen on a tv series - any tv series - is based on decades of watching daytime soap operas.

You should've seen Dataloungers' predictions about what was going to happen on Succession. JFC.

True dat! Painful posts by the bucketful.

Depending on the size of the company and what the actually do (they've only said "finance" generically) Tim should have in-house counsel.

Which would be useless to him. My god—that’s a dumb post, really.

How so, r124? They would be the one negotiating with the feds about whatever is going on. And I know Tim needs a personal attorney to protect his interests, but I'm taking about the business.

Mary Louise Parker should have played Victoria. Or Jennifer Jason Leigh.

No, they wouldn’t. He is personally in legal peril—

Sam Nivola is just a slightly more animated Jesse Eisenberg.

Yes, Tim is facing a prison sentence. This isn't a company getting investigated for malpractice, he is personally in trouble for his individual actions.

The business enterprise would be irrelevant—certainly to Tim at this point. Why do people keep reading too much into this story? We are interested in him as a character, not the ancillary details of LLCs.

Yeah, but we don't know what Tim did yet. Just that the feds raided the office.

Oh, God, Mary-Louise Parker would’ve been PERFECT!! Good call, R126.

Oh my—please stop R131

[quote]Is Jon Gries gay? His Wiki has no mention of a wife or girlfriend, and I haven't seen any photo of him with a "significant other." Is he dating Mike White?

No idea about Gries, but Mike said in his New Yorker interview last month that he'd recently broken up with his longtime partner, a guy named Josh – and specifically because the show was consuming so much of his time.

I know "one-person writers' rooms" were a big issue during the writers' strike, but if this shit's starting to affect your home life, learn to delegate FFS! Also, the fact that this season's almost universally viewed as subpar to the first two – despite having a full extra YEAR to write on it – could be related: if he's screwing up his relationship, it makes sense he'd also be screwing up elsewhere.

[quote]if he's screwing up his relationship, it makes sense he'd also be screwing up elsewhere.

Christ, talking to this way about a stranger who is pouring his soul into trying to create a TV show for you to sit on your fat ass and enjoy.

This season is moving too slow, we're halfway through and nothing has happened yet.

R114, criminals never think that they will be caught. Someone like Tim, in particular, would not process that he is a criminal. You see this all of the time with white-collar criminals in particular. They don’t have back-up plans. They have fully committed to their over story about being an honest person. Therefore Tim would never think, I need to find someone incredibly unethical who will help me conceal assets.

Not sure if this was posted before, Banana Republic has a WL-themed line of clothing.

Banana Republic is still a thing?

I hear it’s big in the Midwest.

Can you still buy black jeans there like it's 1998? HOTT!!

[quote]Christ, talking to this way about a stranger who is pouring his soul into trying to create a TV show for you to sit on your fat ass and enjoy.

WTF? I would love for Mike to have a loving partner and for "The White Lotus" to continue as long as feasible. And guess what? If I was Mike & had to choose between the show and his partner, I'd do the latter. (I'm not THAT desperate for quality TV, though the pickings nowadays are slim.)

I'm also hardly the only one to comment about the show's drop in quality, as you can see on all the previous threads about it (and I'm admittedly surprised to see it take off so much here, given this season's general lack of gay-specific content - unless you gross cunts are fantasizing about the incest shit).

[quote] This season is moving too slow, we're halfway through and nothing has happened yet.

One character is threatened with prison time and with his entire family (who is with him) losing their money and home. Despondent, he just stole a gun and we have no idea what he's going to do with it--whether he will turn it on himself or on his family or someone else.

Another character figured out one of the other characters is associated with a mystery behind his wife's death. We know he was responsibkle for the circumstances that led to it. he knows she knows, and is now stalking her.

Yet another character is stalking the man who he says killed his father. he may well be planning to kill this man, or at least so his girlfriend suspects. And the girlfriend was present in one episode with the violent burglary of a boutique (committed by masked men, who used guns), and then the next episode she was bit by a cobra her boyfriend released while high.

"nothing has happened yet"???

Yeah, not much has happened yet r143. Not much action.

[quote]Michael Patrick King and Ryan Murphy suffer from this disease

Don't forget about ME!

The thing is that by this time in season 2 most of the characters had been pulled into messy situations and part of the fun was watching them react and try to navigate those situations . This season most of our main characters remain oblivious untouched and largely the same people they were in episode one. Only Tim and Belinda and Greg are aware of any real drama. The Ratliffs and the three gorgons are just carrying on in their usual way. Tim is still in the same mission he arrived with. Chloe is still hot to trot and Chelsea is still sweet and slightly exasperated.

At this point in the last season the stakes were much higher for all the characters and they all knew it and that made it more interesting

[quote]This season is moving too slow, we're halfway through and nothing has happened yet.

While I agree with R143 that there are things happening - one thing few people mention is that the seasons are getting longer.

Season 1: 6 Episodes

Season 2: 7 Episodes

Season 3: 8 Episodes

Maybe 6 was the magical number?

[quote]I’m hazarding that Piper was molested by Timothy once at a very young age- maybe he did a drugs at that time (and that’s why he’s so anti-drug) that’s why she’s sex adverse, wants her younger brother around, wants to detach with religion and getting away from the family permanently.

This is a rather considerable stretch, plus Piper seems closer to her dad than her mom. I was fully expecting her "big announcement" to be that she's a lesbian, but OTOH we obviously know a shitload of priests, bishops, etc. are queer, so why not a female Buddhist monk?

We also don't know if she's "sex-averse"; that's what Saxon claimed, and he's a raging asshole (and also in possession of an asshole his little brother may wanna pound, but separate subject) who could've been bullshitting. (Or she could "seem" averse because she's in the closet to her family.)

If anything she & Lachlan almost seem like Quinn from S1 (the weird teen who stays in Maui after his family leaves) split into two characters, and much like Quinn they're far too underdeveloped for this point in the show. Further, they have two gregarious – and "extra" – parents with large personalities, and Saxon is the personification of straight white privilege.

R147, interesting comment: one of the main throughlines for recent shows in general is how many have been *damaged* by only doing six episodes, and while "The White Lotus" is an obvious exception, the others had forced episode-count cuts due to the 2023 strikes. "House of the Dragon" was handily the biggest fuckup there, but everything from "The Diplomat" to "The Recruit" saw cuts from eight episodes to six.

But again, interesting comment. "Reacher" has worked well with eight-episode seasons, each tightly packed. "Slow Horses" is one of my faves, and it always has six eps, but for some reason this almost seems like a "British thing" that doesn't always work the other way. (A major exception is "The White Lotus," but if you'll recall, it was originally supposed to be a single limited series.)

Still, I don't think it's the problem here. S2 worked fine with an additional episode, and this one would as well – IF they got the story & casting right. But barring a far-better second half, I'm not sure that's happening.

[quote]He's going to make him fuck one of the women on the boat, and when lachlan can't get hard, saxon's going to call him a queer, grab his dick, jerk him off til he's hard, then physically stand behind him and put his dick in the girl and move his hips for him.

I'm guessing you've never been to a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. If they depict it accurately, nearly everyone there will be tripping balls on molly and/or shrooms. If they're high as a kite, maybe Saxon will decide he has to "show" Lochy how to have sex. First kissing, then oral...

Excuse me for a sec.

There were lots of complaints in both season 1 and season 2 about it starting off slow and "nothing was happening".

Quentin and Jack didn't show up til the back half of that season.

R144 This isn't an action show, jackass. It's drama

[quote]Will the Ratliffs even be able to check out of their hotel? All of their assets have been frozen. No cash, no credit cards. I'm surprised that the hotel front desk hasn't contacted them yet about their credit card being declined.

Seriously? You think it's normal for hotels to run credit cards in the middle of a stay? Please. It's nearly always paying upfront (in advance) or at the end of the trip. But fair question how they'll manage to pay for everything. (Timothy & Victoria are both wearing watches that cost at least $20K each, and would resell for about that as well, but I'm not seeing how they could easily sell them from a tropical island.)

R126 Yes. Mary Louise Parker would be perfect Victoria.

I wonder if Saxon will get Lochy to hook up with one of the women on the boat, who will then turn out to be a ladyboy.

r152 by "action" I mean the plot moving foward and the characters getting into various situations as the other poster explained happened in the other two seasons. This one is just dragging.

And Carrie Coon is being wasted in this, she's an amazing actress and hasn't been given shit to do.

R155, Mike White has explicitly said that he steered far clear of sex work for the Thai series, and I fully agree with that decision. Two sex-positive Italian women having fun while also having sex for money is one thing, but in Thailand almost none of the prostitution is "voluntary," and it typically starts at around age 12 – for girls and boys alike, each literally sold by their impoverished rural family.

Ladyboys aren't all sex workers, but OTOH they're too closely tied to the profession for it to make for suitable material here.

Are people not enjoying Parker Poseys performance?

Natasha Rothwell was a writer on SNL for two seasons.

[quote] And Carrie Coon is being wasted in this, she's an amazing actress and hasn't been given shit to do.

I'm sure she knew the role when she took the job. Maybe she just needed a getaway, and to coast for a while - getting paid to stay in 4-star hotels in Thailand for a few months. No presh.

Nobody’s perfect. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Only 4 stars? You don’t travel much, do ya.

I think posters who are complaining about the slowness just liked Season Two's characters and actors better. Fair enough. I liked last season but I thought there were dull stretches just like this season. Jason Isaac doesn't have enough to do for one thing. Like R147 mentioned, this season is longer, which probably wasn't necessary.

Parker Posey is channeling Mary Louuse Parker

[quote]Jason Isaac doesn't have enough to do for one thing.

? He is the person in the cast that hasn't gotten the most scenes to stretch himself so far.

Well his fake dick took a long stretch.

Poor Lochy just needs to suck some cock

I agree that despite its impressive artificial girth, Jason Isaac's penis was clearly a CGI effect, as I could tell upon re-watching the scene.

I wish they'd show real nudity if they're going to show peen.

Jason is on record as saying he was intimidated with having to play so "interior" for the first episodes, "I like words".

R168, I think that the norm now is that most of what we will see will be CGI.

Before I read this new thread can someone please tell me, definitively, if that was Jason's actual dick or not?

I refuse to jack off to a fake dick, as I have standards.

But I really want to jack off to Jason and his big dick. As long as it's real. Because, again, standards.

You pretend to your heart’s content that it is real. Let us know how it goes.

Confirmed as fake. Though Jason Isaacs tried to hedge, they got other actors to admit it was fake.

No shit

Such a shame. I’m so into Jason and his fake peenie

[quote] Only 4 stars? You don’t travel much, do ya.

Yes, I do, quite a bit. But I mainly stay in cheap accommodations, some of which are perfectly nice. I rarely even look at the high-end when booking, so I'm not well-informed as far as that goes.

Are you a 4+ stars traveler?

Well you know enough to understand luxury high-end means more than 4 stars—don’t you? Oh well

I wonder if Greg will give money to Ratliff Father to kill Belinda. And the extra shots are back and forth among the guards. The money takes care of the family. Greg has $500MM while Ratliff is money laundering for $10 million.

[quote] Well you know enough to understand luxury high-end means more than 4 stars—don’t you? Oh well

I do now. Looks like I made an off-by-one error in my response. Three of the hotels used in the series are rated as 5-star accommodations.

The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is a five-star hotel.

The San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel.

The Four Seasons Resort Phuket (specifically, the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui) is a luxury hotel and resort known for its five-star rating.

r32

[QUOTE]Valentin hates these women.

Of course he does, he's from Vladivostok. He works at a swindle called energy chakra. Except for the war and the meat assaults Putin loves, he would not be in Thailand. I know a Russian who escaped to Vietnam.

Yes this is definitely the highest end of 5 star resort travel.

In case you were wondering the villas our characters are staying in runs for 10k a night.

There is better --like the resorts where you rent 1/4 of the island and your plunge pool is big enough to have parties in.

During shooting on location, I'm guessing the actors' accommodations get comped, or they receive a stipend. But I doubt production provides ultra high-end to the cast. Season 1 was during COVID, and they took over the 4 Seasons Maui. I remember some of the cast from Season 2 saying their stay in Sicily was long enough that they moved into off-site housing. 7 months seems like a long time to stay in even a 5-star hotel. But I could get used to it.

There are definitely better resorts elsewhere in the world. For Thailand, the Four Seasons Koh Samui is pretty near the tippy top of country’s beach resorts… but places like Kisawa in Mozambique, Cheval Blanc in the Maldives, and Six Senses Zil Pasyon in the Seychelles are even more luxurious and exclusive.

Cheval Blanc

Six Senses Zil Pasyon

[quote] Yes, Tim is facing a prison sentence. This isn't a company getting investigated for malpractice, he is personally in trouble for his individual actions.

[quote] Yeah, but we don't know what Tim did yet. Just that the feds raided the office.

I'm pretty sure Tim went over what he did, during his phone call with "Kenny Nguyen."

Something about it was only a small amount of money, and that Kenny assured him it was a safe transaction.

Which is why I'm wondering why Timothy is freaking out so much about what his lawyer suggested.

Take a plea deal, go to a minimum security prison for a year or two, then get out.

Seems pretty reasonable, considering the alternatives.

Yes, he won't be able to work in finance any more, but maybe he can still hold on to his assets.

And as a first time offender with no prior record, maybe the judge would let him off easy.

That's what the lawyer SHOULD be telling him.

[quote] criminals never think that they will be caught. Someone like Tim, in particular, would not process that he is a criminal. You see this all of the time with white-collar criminals in particular. They don’t have back-up plans.

Actually, Tim knew that what he did was illegal.

He just thought that the plan was "foolproof," since that's what this Kenny Nguyen guy told him.

He's less arrogant, and more dumb for thinking that there's ever a "foolproof" money scam.

I think that Victoria would find it difficult to orgasm on those benzos.

At the end of Season 2, the couples toasted and agreed to do either the Maldives or the Seychelles the following year. I know it would be another tropical island destination, but I'd vote for that in Season 4, even if they all didn't participate.

R188 It's called greed. Makes intelligent people do stupid things.

[quote]During shooting on location, I'm guessing the actors' accommodations get comped, or they receive a stipend. But I doubt production provides ultra high-end to the cast.

This cast said this time the first place they stayed (Four Seasons) was fantastic and they were warned it was, "all down hill from here."

The next place they stayed was not as great and they made jokes about how true production's words actually were.

[quote] 'White Lotus' Characters Pop Lorazepam Pills Like Candy. Here's What The Drug Can (And Can't) Be Used For

Season 3 of The White Lotus has already served up a ton memorable moments, from robberies to bougie boat rides and poisonous snakes. But southern mom Victoria Ratliff, played by Parker Posey, takes the cake with her drawling accent and pill-popping repertoire.

With all the on-screen chatter around lorazepam, it’s fair to wonder what this medication is and what it’s actually used for. And, if you suspect that Victoria’s habits aren’t exactly healthy... ding ding ding! You're correct. Mental health experts break down how lorazepam is actually designed to be used, and what else you should know about the drug.

Lorazepam is the generic term for the prescription medication called Ativan. It’s in the benzodiazepine class of medications, which also includes Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, explains Megan Maroney, PharmD, clinical associate professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

“Lorazepam is a nervous system sedative,” says David Merrill, MD, PhD, board certified psychiatrist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, and Singleton Endowed Chair in Integrative Brain Health. “It takes the edge off or reduces the level of alertness.”

Lorazepam works by increasing levels of the relaxing chemical GABA, which can cause someone to feel calmer, says Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women’s Emotional Wellness. "Those who take it will report a sense of relaxation in their body, with physical symptoms of anxiety subsiding, as well as the anxious thoughts," she says.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, lorazepam is used to treat anxiety. But it can also help with insomnia, agitation, or to treat or prevent seizures, Dr. Maroney says. Still, Ammon says it's most commonly used for treatming anxiety or panic disorders.

Victoria specifically talks about using lorazepam to help her sleep (along with lowering her general social anxiety), but that’s not a good long-term strategy, according to W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. “It's a terrible, outdated treatment” for insomnia, he says. “These meds often do not improve sleep quality and may ironically worsen sleep, even though they often create the impression of better sleep via chemical sedation,” he adds.

Ammon calls lorazepam and fellow benzodiazepines “Band-aids” for anxiety. While they may temporarily relieve anxiety and make you feel more relaxed, "ultimately, they are not supportive in getting to the root problem and addressing it," she says.

There are a few potential side effects of taking lorazepam, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The biggest side effects included feeling sedated, dizzy, weak, or unsteady. But you may also experience drowsiness, amnesia, confusion, seizures, blurred vision, depression, and euphoria, per the FDA.

While there are several medications that can help with anxiety over the long-term, including selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, lorazepam is designed to be used when someone is actively struggling with a moment of intense anxiety. This is partly because it takes effect very quickly.

“It's typically intended for short-term or situational use,” says Erin Kelly, PhD, psychologist and assistant professor in the Division of Pain Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. That might mean taking the medication when you’re in the middle of a panic attack or to help you sleep after going through a trauma, like the loss of a loved one, Dr. Merrill says.

The first time I saw Jon Gries was on "Martin." I always thought he was cute

This is not a murder mystery show. I made that mistake in season 1. As a poster said above, it is a character study, not plot driven. White isn’t much of a storyteller imo.

And I think that's precisely why an 8-episode mini-series is not the ideal venue for White. He can be brilliant at creating characters and situations. But long-term plotting is not his strong suit. Chuck & Buck and Beatriz at Dinner are amazing character studies, each accomplished in less than 2 hours.

I like it

We first saw Jon Gries as Laslo Hollyfeld in “Real Genius”!

If we're talking resorts, if you're ever in Java check this one out. We stopped for lunch here and was offered a tour by our waiter. Beautiful. We stayed at the Hyatt in Yogyakarta which was very nice but not this luxe.

I am getting a kitten soon.

I shall name him Sho-Kel!

Sorry..link.

How did Valentin get to such high position in the resort? In only three years there? Not speaking Thai. And he was doing something completely different back home. He said to the tree blondes what his job in Russia was, bit I forgot. Nothing related to what he is doing now.

This is not a vacation blog.

Is Valentin high ranking? Or do they just push him to the front because of his perceived good looks?

I think he’s nasty.

Shipping? Is that code for drug trafficking?

I’m wondering why Tim needed that 10 million dollars enough to take the risk? Gambling debts? Blackmail? Maybe it’s having to explain why he needed the 10 mill that’s the anxiety producing problem rather than a year in club fed.

And I must say I do think no thread is really complete without a proper discussion of in-house counsel and D&O insurance.

Well je was the one that was among the people that were greeting the guests. He is in charge of the three blondes, Pam of Ratliffs and Mook of Rick and Chelsea. He also does yoga and is in charge of whichever tests he was doing on the blonde ladies. Anyway, he's not a pool boy.

Mistress and second family R205? He's not getting pussy from his pilled up wife.

I think he did it more as a favor to the guy that was caught. That's what I got from the conversation he was having with him. He said something along the lines of I did this for you and all I got from it was 10 mills

r202 Why would he need to speak Thai to advance? Most of the guests are going to be from other countries. Plus he's a spa worker, he's not all that high up.

Certainly possible R207. Also maybe Kenny is his ex?

Kenny is that adorable ke huy quan

I got the feeling that Kenny, panicking on that call and getting Tim to confess things, was recording that conversation

Yes.

Gaitok is cute and sweet but I'm deeply disappointed in him for leaving that gun on the desk to run off and see his crush. So irresponsible, he should be fired for that.

Gaitok is a total airhead.

Not marriage material, Mook!

You’ll spend the rest of your life babysitting him.

Gaitok is sweet but not very bright. But at least we know he'll be smart enough to watch the CCTV in the guardhouse to see who stole the guyn--we saw the CCTV camera in this last episode at work there,.

I still find it engrossing . Admittedly, it has less comical moments without the Jennifer Coolidge character but otherwise it's about on par with S1 and S2. I think it's still one of the best if not the best show currently on TV.

Lorazepam sleep is divine. Addiction to Lorazepam, which develops fairly quickly, is hell on Earth.

[quote]Chuck & Buck and Beatriz at Dinner are amazing character studies, each accomplished in less than 2 hours.

Thank you for reminding me about Beatriz at Dinner, which I've wanted to see for years and it's never been on streaming. Just checked again and it's on Tubi and the Roku Channel (at least in the US).

[quote] And I think that's precisely why an 8-episode mini-series is not the ideal venue for White. He can be brilliant at creating characters and situations. But long-term plotting is not his strong suit.

Interestingly, according to the White Lotus Wiki page:

[italic]"The White Lotus was greenlit in October 2020 as a miniseries but was adapted to an anthology series by HBO in August 2021"[/italic]

So it wasn't originally supposed to be a long-term sort of thing, but just a miniseries instead.

That could be what's tripping him up. Especially if he's not so good at doing long-term writing, and joining seasons together.

I have a feeling that Mike White might be incredibly overwhelmed by the show.

It has attracted so much attention and acclaim.

A-list actors, awards shows, filming for over half a year on location, increasing number of episodes in each successive season, as well as being both sole writer AND director.

That's a lot of fucking pressure.

Yes, the only reason White Lotus came about is HBO was looking for something that could film during covid. They knew Mike White, they knew he wrote fast and could put something together. He came up with this idea for a miniseries with a small cast of characters isolated in a resort that would be covid friendly.

But does each new season necessarily have to link to previous seasons? That may be something White himself or HBO or Coolidge's wild popularity in S1 might have dictated but in theory each season could be entirely new.

At this point I'd be perfectly happy to see no remnants of former seasons in S4 if there will be a S4.

Start fresh, Mike!

I think great new stories could happen with characters from previous seasons. For example, Michael Imperioli in S2 was having problems with his off-screen wife. It would be nice to see him again at a White Lotus with his wife on a last-ditch effort to save his marriage. Because we know that he is a sex addict and cheater, what temptations would get in his way? Perhaps he is also grieving the death of his father, who the audience also met in S2. That’s just an example of recycling a past character. Good stories evolve out of well defined characters. It takes a good episode or two to introduce and develop a new character. Having an established character helps gets to new story faster.

r219 I said this in the previous thread but Beatriz at Dinner is very clearly the best antecdent for this series - the step from it to the first season is miniscule. They're about the exact same things. Even Connie Britton's there being a clueless rich bitch! I'd love for him to get some of the other Beatriz actors to show up on the show - John Lithgow or Chloe Sevingny would be perfect. Salma Hayek too -- and just think of how many viewers he'd get for putting her in a bikini.

Belinda’s slow motion glaring at Greg/Gary was cringeworthy. Talk about telegraphing, Why would that be in the script and why would Mike White direct her to do it that way? I would hope Natasha Rothwell spoke up about it.

[quote] Michael Imperioli in S2 was having problems with his off-screen wife. It would be nice to see him again at a White Lotus with his wife on a last-ditch effort to save his marriage. Because we know that he is a sex addict and cheater, what temptations would get in his way? Perhaps he is also grieving the death of his father, who the audience also met in S2.

Don't forget that his son Albie came out of the closet, and struck up a relationship with Jack (the British rentboy).

Now they're living together in West Hollywood, and go on annual vacations to the White Lotus, to celebrate their anniversary.

I hate Gywneth Paltrow but I think she is a perfect fit for White Lotus. I would love to see it.

White Lotus is 6 months of filming in a different country. Even with the luxury digs I don't think Gywneth would be willing. But I agree she would be great.

R224 Salma Hayak in a bikini sounds like a perfect season.

Other than doing the Marvel movies playing Pepper Potts, which is basically her super-easy cash cow role, Gwyneth has not acted in films n years. The last time she appeared in a fictional movie (not a documentary) where she played someone other than pepper Potts was in 2016 with "Mortdecai," and before that in 2012 with "Thanks for Sharing."

As for TV: she was in the one season of "The Politician" in 2019-20, but no other fictional roles other than voiceovers since 2014.

She's pretty much checked out of acting.

Salma Hayek is now 58. How many men are going to watch to see a 58 year-old in a bikini?

I'd like to see Amy Madigan and Charlene Tilton cast for season 4.

Cast Gwyneth P. and Jude Law as an insufferable couple.

Work the Damon Butt in there and you’ve got a show!

Let’s cast future installments like the Love Boat!

I would love that! Louise Lasser needs a job.

I hear Ruta Lee’s available.

I like Pam. She's so put-upon by the awful rich assholes at the resort, but she always remains professional and never loses her shit. It's a thankless job.

R230, Gwynnie apparently has a role in Josh Safdie’s upcoming film Marty Supreme starring Timothee Chalamet. And no, she’s not playing his character’s mother, that’s Fran Drescher,

I want Mary Kay Place in there to play Tanya’s big sister Tonya.

If it's true that a 6 month commitment in a foreign country is truly required, I'd think that would give name actors pause, especially a country like Thailand on the other side of the world.

[quote] Let’s cast future installments like the Love Boat!

Absolutely, let's!

I hope if there's another season Mike insists it can be done in no more than 6 episodes. With S3 as proof.

What may happen is the next season is 8 episodes but he does a better job of pacing it.

This season has received great ratings, but many people have complained this season (more than any other) about both the pacing and the unlikeability of most of the characters.

My guess is he wanted to try something new by making the characters darker, and had trouble stretching 6 episodes to 8 when he had worked with six twice before. But he's a very smart guy--I would guess he'll learn from his mistakes. Someone above compared him to Ryan Murphy, but I think White is the much better writer and show runner.

Tania Tucker needs a guest spot, she could bring along her new lesbian lover.

No. That would be Brandi C

R234, who would Vivian Vance be??

I’m developing an unhealthy crush on Sam Nivola.

R247, he's so sexy. Tell us more about your interest in him!

R185 and R186, dear god I want to go to those luxury resort hotels. Where my inheritance at?

[quote] Tania Tucker needs a guest spot, she could bring along her new lesbian lover.

Played by Tonya Harding!

r243, this season's characters aren't darker, they're duller.

[quote]My guess is he wanted to try something new by making the characters darker, and had trouble stretching 6 episodes to 8 when he had worked with six twice before. But he's a very smart guy--I would guess he'll learn from his mistakes. Someone above compared him to Ryan Murphy, but I think White is the much better writer and show runner.

Mike White approaches The White Lotus more like an extended film rather than a traditional episodic TV series. Instead of structuring each episode with distinct A, B, and C plots or ending on a compelling hook to keep viewers coming back, he prioritizes a slow-burn, cumulative storytelling style. This season, in particular, feels like it was conceived as an eight-hour movie rather than eight individual episodes with their own arcs.

Take, for example, the episode where Belinda confronted Greg. She finally speaks to him. He pretends he doesn't know her. You wonder if he'll go after her. The show ends showing you that he's researching her. Then you ask yourself, "Oh, wow! Now what is he gonna do?"

But White doesn’t apply that same episodic structure consistently. Instead of delivering a payoff at the end of each episode, he asks the audience to stick with the story, waiting through long stretches before the real payoff comes in the final episodes.

It’s not bad writing, but it is uneven pacing. White has done a six episode season and a seven episode one, so stretching this one to eight might’ve thrown off his rhythm. Still, he’s a smart guy. If he adjusts his structure a bit next time, the show could be even sharper.

[quote] It’s not bad writing, but it is uneven pacing. White has done a six episode season and a seven episode one, so stretching this one to eight might’ve thrown off his rhythm. Still, he’s a smart guy. If he adjusts his structure a bit next time, the show could be even sharper.

I just hope that HBO doesn't ask that Season 4 be nine or ten episodes.

That would be fucking horrible!

I'm happy with six. I feel like that's just the right number. Long enough for a decent story, but short enough so that you don't have to wait too long for a payoff.

As someone who watched the entire season one and the entire season two in just a few sittings, I must say that I was happy that season one was only six episodes. It really flew by. Season two felt much longer, but the nice thing was that each episode felt like it had a lot of action.

Sounds delightful to me

People have such short attention spans now. Funny to think that the standard of TV not that long ago was 22 episode seasons full of all sorts of silly "filler content".

Now audiences argue if 8 episodes is too long.

Surely Mike White will bring on his friend Laura Dern at some point…if she wants to do it.

Niecy Nash would be fun…she never disappoints.

[quote] People have such short attention spans now. Funny to think that the standard of TV not that long ago was 22 episode seasons full of all sorts of silly "filler content".

But the 22 episodes of seasons were rarely linked in those days. And usually when they were, they were terribly written (as was the case with nighttime soap operas).

[quote] Surely Mike White will bring on his friend Laura Dern at some point…if she wants to do it.

She's already been on it, though by voiceover only.

She was Michael Imperioli's wife in season 2 (we never saw her, but we heard her on the phone).

[quote] this season's characters aren't darker, they're duller.

I'm still loving it - they do however seem to be somewhat diluted. Despite the attempts to make some characters intense.

Not to keep harkening back, but everyone in Season 2 just had their own kind of sparkle. Maybe it was the Sicilian sunshine.

Season 2 was as close to near perfect as it gets. The newly rich guy and his wife, the three generations of Italian horn dogs, the prostitutes, the workings of the hotel staff, Valentina. Really, really good and I was riveted. This season still has four eps left, Mike White might surprise us yet.

6 months to film 8 boring episodes???? Something isn’t right.

Season 2 didn’t really grab me.

I liked Season 1 and I’m liking season 3.

Maybe season 2 was too white for me?

I just finished this first part of season 3 and what a disappointment ... season one felt new and fresh, this one feels like a rehash. I don't care about the sweaty older men with secrets (some of which are so soap opera-ish), Arnie's son's character is a rehash of the unsufferable rich douche in season one as is the wimpy, aimless younger brother, the black therapist and most of the Thai characters are just there to smile and be benevolent. I ended up fast forwarding a lot and relegated it to background viewing.

R263 the interesting thing is that Season 1 and Season 2 are easily re-watchable, but I don't think I'll be able to say the same for Season 3.

Mike White really needs to relax, take a well needed rest, and then come back with something good for Season 4.

Two stinkers in a row, won't bode well for White Lotus.

And I say this as a fan of the show.

r263, I doubt Rick was telling Chelsea the truth about his father.

I think Rick does think the owner of the hotel killed his father, but I don't think his father back then was at all the pure soul he depicted to Chelsea.

"Kenny Nguyen" is played by the very much white guy Scott Galloway, financial commentator, professor and podcaster. Jason gave him a personal tutorial in vocals.

Okay, R265. But that scene in particular made me roll my eyes. It felt like an acting class exercise--get up and do a monologue expressing your character's backstory and feelings.

Wasn't that kind of the point? it wouldn't be hard to trick Chelsea with a faked monologue like that, given how much she wants to help Rick. She's not the brightest orange in the crate.

R243 Season 2 had 7 episodes, not 6

I remember people here saying Mad Men (one of the finest shows) was slow, so I tend to ignore those posts here.

Mad Men had its slow moments when the focus was too much on Don Draper's home life and not on the office.

R266. Nope

From r272’s link

[quote] Posey has already proven to be more than up to the task. Her aloof interaction (or, really, lack thereof) with Kate (Bibb) was exactly the kind of social awkwardness we come to this show for. Now, that must be building toward something—perhaps involving what we're about to talk about with husband Timothy (Jason Isaacs). But for now, all we can do is reflect in awe at what creator Mike White wrote, and how Posey and Bibb played it.

REFLECT IN AWE!

[quote] I’m developing an unhealthy crush on Sam Nivola.

Sorry R247, but the only thing he has going for him is that he's young and he has a nice body.

Facially, he's about a 5 out of 10.

He's adorable and has great fashion sense...

Patrick S. and Sam.

Patrick looks smokin' hot here.

After watching a bunch of cast interviews, games, etc., and listening to the "side" comments from the cast:

1. Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Amiee Lou Wood had their own thing going as a group for the 7 months they were there.

2. Sam seems a bit pretentious.

3. Aimee Lou is kind of out there but in a fun way and into mystical shit.

4. Patrick is universally recognized as being humble, nice & well liked by everyone including the staff at the places they stayed to the point where people kept mentioning it over and over again.

5. Jason Isaacs is hilarious.

I would write more, but I am just too awe-struck by my reflecting on Mike White's writing!

I love how we’re supposed to REFLECT IN AWE at a scene that might or might not have any significance at all. As of now, it was just an odd little bit of social awkwardness. But “all we can do” is REFLECT IN AWE in the assurance that the master craftsman will take it home in some spectacular fashion we cannot begin to comprehend.

I wonder how long I can REFLECT IN AWE without doing permanent brain damage.

Young Mr. Nivola appears to have a tattoo on his right bicep at r276.

and a shoulder tattoo...tramp!

Sam is kind of slutty.

Shorter hair looks better on him there.

R276 oh no! Sam’s going the tattoo route. Boooo.

Patrick looks dorky there. Shorts are too long, socks are too high.

I bet Sam’s next tattoo is going to be some inspirational words or an obscure quotation on his rib cage.

R277 Jason really is a funny guy. He’s also intelligent, handsome, nice, funny… so dreamy!

I love him and his fake dick

Regarding a comment above about Belinda's glare towards Greg, that was really a stupid move. He is likely a killer after all. Watch your back, Belinda!

NO NICOLE KIDMAN next season......please!

Ohhhhh look at this new promotional photo for the next episode!

Lachlan is feeling up saxon

Lochlan looks like he's about to shove his brother's face down onto his crotch. I would love it if little Lochy turned out to be the aggressor. Twink Tops!

I'm zooming in and studying the image at r290 like the Zapruder film - could it be that Patrick's arm is down in Sam's lap??? I smell a handie!

When this season is over, The Last of Us season two comes on at long last.

R272 Thanks for the correction, my mistake.

Scott plays Timothy's legal counsel, Chuck, which makes much more sense.

R276 You can definitely see the Ahhnold in Patrick.

And the Emily in Sam.

r293 More likely Saxon is resting his arms on his own raised and bent knees.

r225 Considering it was slow motion, Belinda's "glaring" was more of an extended glance (at normal speed) , which Greg/Gary returned.

R297 Whichever it was, it seems to have spurred Greg to do some research on her as well.

Not to change the subject.....but would you all agree that, other than Jennifer Coolidge, Leo Woodall has gotten the biggest career bump from appearing on White Lotus?

Actually, Leo's bump might be bigger than Coolidge's.

R299 I certainly wouldn't mind a big "bump" from Leo Woodall... 😏

Me neither

Perking up this thread with Leo's butt now

^^ I would lick honey from the hollow of his neck.

R297, that look on her face was definitely a glare, as in a “I’m gonna find out what the fuck you’ve been up to” glare. And if she valued the safety of herself and her son she would NEVER do that.

R282 that’s the first time I’ve seen Sam look a bit like his dad. He favors his mom.

He’s cute.

I bet Lochy has an insane, out of control bush. His brother would absolutely rib him over that.

The bush troll is out tonight.

R306 Like faddah, like tzun.

Charles Bus(c)h!

Enjoyed Parker Posey on with Seth Myers, she was very entertaining.

But I also felt a little sad. Her makeup was a subtle homage to Baby Jane, and she kept touching her nose a lot. Nothing too disturbing.

Patrick Schwarzenegger’s does an impression of Parker Posey

The best way to get Laura Dern on this show would be to have Amy Jellicoe show up at a White Lotus resort, ideally with Luke Wilson as her on-again/off-again bf in tow.

Please keep Nicole Kidman off of this show. Nobody wants to see her creepy face in anything. Can someone please start a petition?

Unfortunately, I found Leo’s new series unwatchable. I couldn’t stick around long enough to decide if he was miscast as a once in a generation math genius a la Will Hunting.

And Leo is terrble in it.

Are Leo and Megann Fahey still dating? Also, WHET Fahey? I thought she'd be better able to parlay the White Lotus role into big projects.

You don’t watch Netflix do you?

Thank heavens for people like R293. They truly do the Lord's work.

Season 4: Laura Dern and Adam Scott as the douchbag couple du jour.

I also abandoned it mid-season R314. It was awful. However, I was more irritated by Martha Plimpton begging for Taylah to "come home" then I was by Leo.

[quote]Are Leo and Megann Fahey still dating? Also, WHET Fahey? I thought she'd be better able to parlay the White Lotus role into big projects.

The only thing I have seen Meghann Fahey in since White Lotus season two is the Netflix mini-soap The Perfect Couple. Which felt very much like a White Lotus knock off itself. I am also surprised she has not been able to parlay her performance in White Lotus into something bigger and better. I thought she was extraordinary in White Lotus.

I even binged her old Freeform tv show The Bold Type to see more of her.

[quote]The best way to get Laura Dern on this show would be to have Amy Jellicoe show up at a White Lotus resort, ideally with Luke Wilson as her on-again/off-again bf in tow.

That would be a real jump the shark moment.

R321 I also thought she was extraordinary, particularly in her last scene after finding out about the cheating partner. The Perfect Couple looked like garbage, to me, and my understanding is she had a somewhat minor role. Hollywood is tough!

If Patrick and Sam are in the press talking about "that scene" (referencing the masturbation chat in the hotel room), wouldn't that indicate there are no more scenes like it to come, ie they don't have incest on the boat?

Meghann Fahey has a horror movie called "Drop" coming out next month. It was screened at SXSW recently and got decent reviews. She's doing fine.

The real question is 1) why Meghann's parents misspelled her name and 2) why she didn't change it when getting SAG membership.

R324, Wait until next week (Episode 5) to see the episode that had some reviewers disturbed. Also, Sam Nivola kept talking about how we would find out how screwed up Lochlyn is in an upcoming episode.

[quote] I thought she'd be better able to parlay the White Lotus role into big projects.

R316, Meghann just did an interview with "The Cut" where she talked about this:

"Fahy demures. “I wish I could claim ‘violently ambitious,’” she says, settling into the cozy booth opposite me at Brooklyn Public House in Fort Greene and wearing a decidedly laid-back navy cable-knit sweater and jeans. “I think I’d be in a much better place in my career if I was. I’m somebody who’s a bit go-with-the-flow.”

In addition to Christopher Landon's, "Drop" she has a bunch of stuff coming up including "Rebuilding" with Josh O'Connor, "Sirens" with Julianne Moore and "The Good Daughter" with Rose Byrne.

She's booked and busy.

Translation: she needs a better agent.

R328 needs to learn to read at least the last three posts before chiming in. Just a heads up for future threads.

[quote] I bet Sam’s next tattoo is going to be some inspirational words or an obscure quotation on his rib cage.

"Only God Can Judge Me"

When will Mike portray an actual gay couple as White Lotus visitors? He likes to make gays instigators and shit-stirrers, fine, but all the couple and families portrayed are squarely of the hetero variety.

when it goes to puerto vallarta

I will say the gay men I know are traveling to explore and have some fun, not spending their time hanging around a resort.

Is that what they call it these days? “Explore?”

You younger people are pussies.

they want to try local cock

[quote] The best way to get Laura Dern on this show would be to have Amy Jellicoe show up at a White Lotus resort,

Would that conveniently open the door for Mike White to make a cameo? He's already used Molly in WL season 1; that might be a strange storyline to weave.

Seeing so many people complain about the show being “sooo slow” has made me realize how utterly rotted brains have become by short form content like YouTube and tiktok. It’s an hour an episode. Plenty happens in the hour. If you want to be blasted with an entire plot in 60 seconds, ask yourself why that is.

Not a dig at all of you, just something I’ve found irritating.

Dig it!

I think Piper is gonna throw her virgin puss at Belinda's son when he arrives.

R311 In that full Today show interview, when discussing his episode 1 nude scene, explaining it was his idea to get naked, and that so far it is "nothing" compared to the craziness and bonkers upcoming episodes. Hopefully, it lives up to the tease.

The show is stretched out and so far nothing much has happened, so no, r338, everyone else’s brain is not rotted. It’s not as if the content we have been given is so rich and full of nuance and telling detail. It’s just not well-written.

Natasha Rothwell on returning to 'The White Lotus': "If I survive this season!"

^^^^

Fantastic interview!

Natasha Rothwell is very lovely, and she explains the show perfectly.

[quote] Parker Posey Had a 'Ziploc Baggie of Ice in Between My Legs All the Time' Filming “The White Lotus” in Brutally Hot Thailand

Parker Posey had an interesting way of dealing with the intense heat while filming The White Lotus season 3 in Thailand.

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Wednesday, March 12, Posey, 56, spoke about playing the lorazepam-popping Victoria Ratliff in the hit HBO show, admitting that the weather meant it was a bit of a struggle to film at times.

"It was so hot in Thailand, you know what they said at the Elephant Sanctuary? There are three seasons in Thailand - hot, hotter and hottest," Posey told Meyers.

"I had like a Ziploc baggie of ice in between my legs all the time and ice at the side of my chair. I'd just be like holding on to that ice and getting through," she said.

Posey recalled a banyan tree dropping big berries that would often be a "distraction," continuing of the heat, "I'm talking about at night, it's that hot. It's like summer, August New Orleans hot. Atlanta, Georgia, Texas, Austin hot… and then, like, going to a car and turning on the heater. It's like that hot."

"But it's nighttime time and it's outside and you open the door. And it was just like, 'Whew!' I can't believe we did it," she told the host.

Despite the heat, it seems like the cast had a great time in Thailand, and Posey had nothing but praise for how they were treated during filming.

"A lot of people are in love with Thailand. When I went back a few weeks ago, I went to the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, where we shot, and they said, 'Welcome home' … It's a beautiful country kingdom," she said, praising the hospitality.

Posey insisted, "People were burning up. They're sweating their faces off … and they're like, 'We're never going back to America.' Like, they love it. They love it."

Can any women here confirm if putting a bag of ice cubes in your cooch is a common practice?

She had it between her thighs, not up her fucking snatch you dumbass.

Jason said in early Four Seasons portion of the shoot, senior cast members got their own private "villa" with dedicated butler service. But he bemoned that after 7 months of playing tennis, snorkeling and hanging out, you do get bored - plus for continuity reasons they couldn't get tanned.

Is 7 months the normal amount of time it takes to shoot an 8 episode season?! Sounds like hell.

Seven months seems preposterous for 8 episodes with zero special effects. That seems like an appropriate timeline for a show like Stranger Things.

I can see maybe the full shoot taking 7 months, but the number of cast members who've said they were there for the whole time seems ridiculous. The scenes where the individual groups of the cast are together have been relatively small so far - and since few are shot in sequence, they should have worked out logistics where the majority of the actors were not required to be there. In that interview Issacs said that some did leave and come back.

White Lotus: Fire Island Pines has potential.

I used to shoot 24 half-hour episodes in 5 months. Call me, Mike!

[quote] White Lotus: Fire Island Pines has potential.

White audiences like the Asian locations because the Asian characters are exotic to them.

Plus, there are no hotels, let alone resorts, on Fire Island. There IS potential for stories there, but not in this franchise.

I would have thought that it was obvious the Fire Island reference is a joke, but I guess it was not obvious to some of you.

WHOOOOOOSH!

R338, i agree. What the fuck? Are you expecting a car chase?

Not literally "action" like a car chase but the plot needs to move along.

You type stupid

Maybe like a rickshaw chase to add some action.

r359 the previous two seasons really moved along, this one is dragging things out.

[quote]Maybe like a rickshaw chase to add some action.

OMG you are so fucking funny!

It's at the halfway point. I'm surprised by the people who thought they were watching Die Hard in the first two seasons.

Get off the use of the word "action" r363. It's meant to say that the plot is moving too slow, not enough is happening.

I never used the word action R364. And while I'd agree it's a slow burn, I'm not bored. We have a man who's having a complete breakdown over an embezzlement scheme, a murdering grifter who's been found out by Belinda, a basketcase who in some way is out to avenge his murdered dad's death and, most importantly, incest and Jason Isaacs' cock in another cabin.

How sex starved are you old queens that a two second flash of a fake dick is getting you all hot?

^^^That's just not enough for me! I need poison paint in the rooms, and for Fallon, er, I mean Piper, abducted by a UFO!

And Parker Posey needs to wear leather pants and sing "See what the Boys in the Back Room will Have," and be shocked when Dominique, uh, I mean Belinda, tells her that her champagne is burnt!

God you're tedious r367

R367, if that is what passes for an “inside” joke for you, then you literally *are* the asshole you’re complaining about.

Everyone's skin looks so bad and their teeth so yellow.

Whitestrips for everyone.

They need a nice, established, middle-aged gay couple next season. Ben Aldridge vibe.

Why are people so triggered by a difference of opinion about a TV show?

If it takes them 7 months to shoot 8 episodes, something is very wrong. Cut the fat, Elon!

^^Make the next season in Cape Town, Seth Africa. I'd watch that.

[quote] White Lotus is 6 months of filming in a different country.

Link please? It takes 8-10 days to film an hourlong show.

[quote] Make the next season in Cape Town, Seth Africa. I'd watch that.

Well that'll be no fun.

Everyone in the cast will be shot dead by criminals, by the third episode.

R376 = Elon

[quote] 2. Sam seems a bit pretentious.

[quote] Sam, as it happens, had just fled the Nivola home, in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, to attend Columbia. "Absolutely hate it," he reported. "I decided to go here because it's in the city, and I didn't want to be in Poughkeepsie or whatever. Annoyingly, there's a lengthy list of prerequisites you have to take in order to take anything interesting, so right now I'm doing, like, Film 101, which is watching 'Citizen Kane' and having a bunch of kids being, like, 'I think it's interesting how the shadows symbolize darkness? " He wore a green sweater and cologne that his mother had brought him from Italy. ("I normally have really bad B.O., so I try to mask it.")

Hair 9

Body 9

Face 3

Personality 1

Acting 6.5 so he’ll probably do well.

[quote]Body 9

Are you out of your mind?

It takes 8-10 days to film an hourlong show.

Not when Mike White is writing it as it's being shot.

That’s the only reason I can think of for shooting to take so long. The cast and crew must have had a lot of down time. Very expensive.

White Lotus: North Sentinel Island. Send us your Christian holiday goers.

White Lotus: Pyongyang. Let’s see who can avoid prison or death.

I wouldn't mind spending seven months in Switzerland or Italy, but Thailand? No thank you.

Mike White: All right.....camera......background......and no action!

The interviews I have seen with Parker Posey lately she really has the makeup caked on. Maybe she is one of the few not to get face work done, although 56 to me isn't that old.

R386 Slightly scarey here.

Maybe they had to work around the hotels' schedules- I can't imagine that they would close each hotel down completely, like they did in S1/Covid. They also did have to do 4 major location moves to 4 different hotels (that are probably not that close to each other) that represent 1 hotel- so with all the gear and trucks, that would probably a week between moves from break down to set up- so that's one month right there. Plus all the actors got food poisoning at one point, so they would have to move around the schedules to accommodate them. So 6 months for 8 one hour episodes, each episode at around 15 (business) days tracks- hour longs are around 10-13 days. Throw in 1-2 weeks of pick ups/reshoots at the end of the shoot, plus travel to the different locations.

Thank you. Finally, some actual knowledge displayed on this thread.

So they all had the shits? Yikes.

R388 It does not take a week for a company move. The luxurious shooting schedule is all on Mike White and HBO. And Just Like That is set up the same way - about a month per episode.

How long does it take a full company to move from an island facing the Gulf of Thailand to a beach a few hundred miles away in the opposite direction—Indian Ocean? Just curious.

Not a week.

r391, When I worked in Romania, we had week long company move between Bucharest and Transylvania. I also forgot to add if it rains, company goes down for a while if they established a sunny day. If there is thunder + lightning, it's 30 minutes wait from (I think) 6 miles from the last strike. That was a big time waster in Atlanta in the summer, where it rains almost .every afternoon

Also, having been in Thailand a few times, the roads are very twisty turny, and I didn't recall seeing giant semis like the ones in the US and the main cities in Europe.

R388, at least with the first hotel they took it over completely because they couldn't have guests there while they were shooting with all the commotion.

They were there for 7 months but some people would come and go.

Jason Isaacs, for instance, was there the entire time and his wife came a month in.

Carrie Coon, was not but she also has two kids at home and immediately had to work on The Gilded Age.

They all seemed to a lot of hanging out when they weren't shooting and the sun was going down because they couldn't tan.

The person who said Mike picks places he wants to go on vacation may have nailed it because that's basically what they were doing.

I read he initially loathed the main location, because it was where the Survivor cast members were “stashed” during filming. He didn’t think he could do it there.

The island I mean, not necessarily the hotel.^

Survivor films in Fiji.

No, they filmed in different locations back then.

Mea culpa—you are right and I am wrong.

He was there in the Amazing Race, and was hesitant to go back. etc. etc.

Lo siento.

Back when? They’ve been in Fiji since 2016.

[quote] Mike White was eliminated in Thailand during his first time competing on 'The Amazing Race.'

I just stood corrected. Thx

PS. Fiji was not always the sole location—only since 2016.

[quote]I just stood corrected.

But you weren't wrong . R397 said "Survivor", when it should have been "The Amazing Race". Although Mike White appeared on Survivor, it was filmed in Fiji when he did.

Also, Mike White lives in Maui, where the first season of "White Lotus" was filmed.

I was wrong—I’m the one who mixed up the two shows. The story remains true otherwise.

Jeff Probst Talks About "White Lotus" Creator Mike White's Time on "Survivor"

He gave the Survivors cameos.

As a non-Survivor watcher and an Amazing Race fan, I wish he would give cameos to Flight Time and Big Easy, or the Cowboys.

The way Mike speaks of Natalie (@ 1:23) - she has a "Masters in Ungraciousness" - it's surprising he cast her.

Mike would be a perfect edition for the Survivor 50 season.

[quote]The person who said Mike picks places he wants to go on vacation

David Seltzer set The Omen in London because he always wanted to visit.

It just occurred to me- shouldn't the Italian authorities have questioned Portia? She would have been under Tanya's name, and usually the police question all people who are directly in constant contact with them. Portia knew everything- including Greg's connection to The Gays.

Mike White is so appealing on camera for someone who is not in the least bit handsome.

What makes you think they didn’t question Portia?

The only thing we know from what Belinda looked up, is that they tried to question Greg but couldn't find him.

If Portia had of lied and said she didn't know anything, it would have been enough that Tanya's husband suddenly went missing after previously being at the hotel and that one of the male victims was in a photo with Tanya's husband at his house, that they could have put the pieces together without Portia.

[quote] If Portia had of lied and said she didn't know anything, it would have been enough that Tanya's husband suddenly went missing after previously being at the hotel and that one of the male victims was in a photo with Tanya's husband at his house, that they could have put the pieces together without Portia.

Was this translated from Esperanto to Hungarian to English?

Parker Posey reminds me of Jacqueline Susann.

[quote] Mike White was eliminated in Thailand during his first time competing on 'The Amazing Race.'

So this is interesting, is it then the policy that Amazing Race participants who are eliminated are sequestered in the location where they've lost, until they're all convened for the finale of the race?

The no tanning rule for the cast is so dumb. Would anyone really care up to a certain point?

No interest in travelling to Thailand. 20 hours of travel when Hawaii is 8 and the Caribbean is 5? If I was going that far I'd check out Vietnam or a guided tour of India.

R420 It seems like some of it could be handled in make-up - but if a character shows up tanned in an early scene, and then later in the same episode is all pale, that might be very obvious. They almost never shoot in sequence.

Makeup artist here. r430 is right-It's also a pain in the ass to maintain fake tans, especially with light colored clothing and water scenes involved. Michael Caine emphasized in one of his books to always wear sunscreen to maintain continuity. Every season represents only 1 week, yet they filmed for 7 months.

R421 Thanks for letting us know.

I wondered why Patrick Schwarzenegger’s legs weren’t tan. And I assume they do tan, him being a Kennedy and all.

Didn't know Leslie Bibbs married to Sam Rockwell!

Not sure how you missed that R426. She was mugging for the camera at every awards show the year he won for Three Billboards to Ebbing

[quote] And I assume they do tan, him being a Kennedy and all.

He's only a quarter Kennedy.

If he didn't get the awful Kennedy horse teeth, the genes from the other families must have won out.

Just binged Season 1.

So much better.

I've been on Parker Posey's team since Party Girl, but she is totally miscast here.

It's all "Watch Parker Posey be campy and do a wild, inconsistent accent," instead of inhabiting an actual character.

Jennifer Coolidge's character was camp, too, but Tanya still felt like a real person.

Why does everyone's teeth look so bad??

Jason Isaacs has a mouthful of corn kernels.

R428 It looks like he might also have gotten some of the Kennedy hair.

Parker is a little over the top, but I’m loving it. I do know Southern women who are very similar to Victoria.

Patrick is JFK’s great-nephew.

R421 Why would anyone choose India over Thailand for their holidays destination? And Hawaii are 10x more expensive than Thailand.

R430 agree about Parker Posey. Nowhere near as good as Connie Britton or Jennifer Coolidge in S1. I am not really feeling the writing this season either though, to be fair.

r431, he's British, as is Aimee Lou Wood. I'm truly surprised at the Quebecois woman's teeth- they're so dark.

Tonight’s the night!

Think Saxon’s going to serenade Lochy with this banger before the banging begins?

Season 1 was so good. There was a depth to most of the characters, a complexity to their relationships and real emotional power in little moments. My favorite bit of dialogue, after the botched robbery Olivia says to Paula “Something really bad could have happened” and Paul responds “Something did.” Kai’s ruined life never crossed Olivia’s mind.

I don’t care about any of the season 3 characters.

hope he wears a condom

Circling back to Portia - she was given the advice to go straight to the airport and get on a plane, so the authorities wouldn't have had a chance to catch her by the time they identified Tanya and put all the pie es together. So yes, she might have talked to them by phone once they figured it all out.

HBO gave Mike White eight episodes for this season instead of the previous six and seven, and he hasn't done anything with the extra time.

The complainers will all immediately backtrack after tonight’s episode.

There's a lot riding on tonight's episode!

Yeah I have not seen press screeners or anything but obviously there is a lot building towards tonight's episode. We know the full moon party with Saxon/Lochlan is going to have some shit go down and that the three women hanging out with the Russian gangsters is going to have some shit go down.

People should finally get their "action".

Hopefully we don’t see the shit literally going down as we did in the climax of Season 1. I had managed to forget about that little tidbit.

Even if there is great drama and plot development tonight, these character have no depth to them, their relationships have no complexity and too much time has been spent treading water.

I'm not missing action. Like R439 said, I'm missing character depth, psychological complexity, nuanced writing.

The ratings are pretty good this year - so I don't think HBO is complaining they have more episodes to air.

Oh god. Just shut up, R447.

Then just stop watching, r447.

No one is forcing you to watch this show.

I've known several people who traveled to India and they all got sick AF there.

[quote]People should finally get their "action".

Good! Shit needs to happen and move things forward.

Visiting India = automatic diarrhea

My mother once said to me, “The only way you could ever get me to India would be to fly my dead body there and then toss it out on the tarmac.”

[quote] Also, Mike White lives in Maui, where the first season of "White Lotus" was filmed.

Mike actually has a home in Kauai, according to his Wiki page.

[quote] Mike White is so appealing on camera for someone who is not in the least bit handsome.

I actually find him very attractive.

Then again, I find most guys attractive. I like to eat a variety of foods at each meal, and not just one type, so I think it's a quirk in my personality.

Variety is the spice of life!

[quote] Visiting India = automatic diarrhea

You DO realize that the entire cast got food poisoning in Thailand.

And there was another poster upthread, who said they got sick eating food in Thailand.

I think this is the case with most "developing countries."

They just don't have the basic hygiene standards found in Western countries. So you can't just single out India.

I got food poisoning in Galway last year. There’s also just a higher risk of food poisoning if you are eating in restaurants three meals a day.

I’m guessing one of the three cougars gets raped by one of the Russians,

[quote] My mother once said to me, “The only way you could ever get me to India would be to fly my dead body there and then toss it out on the tarmac.”

Hahahaha.

That reminds me of this scene from Seinfeld.

"India is a dreadful, dreadful place."

"You know it's the only country that still has the plague?"

ROFL.

My MIL took a business trip to India and had a lot of negative things to say about it. The only positives were that some of the people were kind, beautiful and the attire could be gorgeous,

I got food poisoning in Paramus, NJ when I was a teenager.

My pussy stinks.

I got food poisoning in Manhattan, but it was an Indian restaurant.

R447 - "I'm not missing action. Like [R439] said, I'm missing character depth, psychological complexity, nuanced writing."

Then shaad up and go read "Citizen Kane", Carol-Ann.

R463 again. I stand corrected. Although there have been books written about Citizen Kane, Citizen Kane is a movie not a book.

I think I said book off the top of my head, because we all know that R447 does not read. Get back to the movie R447!

[quote] Plane passenger throws up 30 times after eating ‘smelly’ meal on a six-hour flight

Cameron Callaghan, 27, recently revealed his experience on the “flight from hell” when he vomited 30 times after eating a “smelly” inflight meal on an Etihad Airways aircraft.

“It ruined the first few days of my holiday,” Callaghan told Kennedy News.

The British traveler was on a six-hour connecting flight from Manchester, UK, to Abu Dhabi, UAE, on his way to Bangkok, Thailand, when he claims to have gotten food poisoning from a “tomato, cheesy, chicken pasta” he was served.

Callaghan said he still ate the food even though it had a foul stench because his flight had been delayed five hours and all he’d consumed before was an egg sandwich.

“It did smell a bit weird but all plane food kind of does,” he told the outlet.

It wasn’t until 20 minutes after he’d consumed the dish that his stomach started bothering him.

Callaghan immediately went to the bathroom to try and relieve his gastrointestinal issues, but they only got worse from there.

“I had diarrhea twice and 10 minutes after that I was just constantly throwing up for the duration of the flight,” he confessed.

“I was going to the toilet every five minutes, laying in the fetal position and towards the end of the flight, I’d emptied my body so much that I couldn’t even stand up,” Callaghan continued, noting that he was forced to stay in the back of the plane with a flight attendant so they could keep the bathroom available for him.

The traveler said he felt “embarrassed” when others on board tried to use the restroom.

After six hours in the air, the flight landed. However, Callaghan was feeling extremely weak, and he could barely stand.

“They had to get a wheelchair and they wheeled me to the medical room in Abu Dhabi’s airport,” he said.

Once he was under the careful watch of a doctor, Callaghan was placed on an IV with an anti-nausea drip.

And though his symptoms started to subside, he wasn’t 100 percent until a few days after he finally arrived in Bangkok.

Callaghan said: “The next two or three days after arriving in Bangkok I was just bed-bound.

“I believe the food had been sitting out since the original time the plane was supposed to take off and not been stored properly,” he went on to say, adding that he felt completely fine for hours after eating the egg sandwich in the airport.

Callaghan also pointed out that he hadn’t eaten anything the night before his January 6 flight because he had anxiety.

In a statement sent to the Post, a spokesperson for Etihad Airlines said: “We take all such matters very seriously and investigate thoroughly. Our food on this flight, as with all our flights, was prepared and stored under strict temperature-controlled conditions to ensure safety and quality.

“We did not receive any reports of illness from other passengers on this flight who were served the same meal. Our first priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew,” the statement continued.

Why are some people so triggered by any criticism of this show? Weird.

Wild theory: Every hotel guest in each season is dead, and the White Lotus is purgatory. The one who "dies" gets to go to heaven, but the ones who "live" end up in hell.

Isn't that Lost?

Yes r468, @ segment of the audience want this show to be Lost or Westworld.

It's just a human dramedy with a dead body mystery thrown in as a hook to get people people to watch. Look back at other Mike White creations, we know the type of writer he is.

Can you stream it live? on Hulu you have to wait until the next day

“You’re not moving to Taiwan!”

You can stream live on Max.

Fabian is useless.

Greg/Gary is not a guest Fabian, he just hangs out there

Fuck off fabian but what was she expecting

I hope Saxon doesn't force himself sexually on snaggletooth

That alexei better have an only fans

Is that Sam Rockwell? His wife is playing the Texas blonde

That security guard better man up and get that gun back

Will we see a MILF gangbang?

Mook is a devil in disguise

Hot hooker alert

Belinda is a fool

The scene with Parker and the daughter shows how much the writing and acting have slipped since season 1.

Connie Britton had spicy conflicts with Sydney Sweeney, and the intergenerational clash of values was so much better written and performed.

Parker is just "UNH!" and dropping her jaw in theatrical shock and the daughter is underplaying like Diana Scarwid in Mommie Dearest.

I’m scared

Say no to drugs Lochy

It's Sam Rockwell!

He loved to walk around naked in the NYC Crunch Lafayette locker room before he got famous.

I saw him multiple times strolling out of the shower with a towel around his neck and standing bare-assed in front of the mirror drying off.

More of the naked cocks

Adore Sam Rockwell

[quote] the daughter is underplaying like Diana Scarwid in Mommie Dearest.

Understand...

Leslie Bibb's hair bugs me and her tits look floppy in that dress

Slutty Russians

These ladies are getting played like violins

Maybe I’m just horny but a guy who never buttons his shirt gets me distracted

*penis alert*

Parker Posey is not giving a performance, she's just trying to generate memes.

Erection!

One of the 3 ladies is going to get sexually assaulted or robbed

The Catholic CHURCH

R496 is 100% correct. The character is not dumb, but she said a lot of stupid shit this episode that was clearly meant for SEO maximization. Like referring to Taiwan when she knows they’re in Thailand.

Anyway, the highlight of the episode so far has been the appearance of San Rockwell.

And the Russian whores

Lochy looks good with his shirt unbuttoned

Rick is like "uh huh" I wish you were still drinking

Lochy looks GREAT with his shirt unbuttoned

Walton Goggins is so good.

No drugs for Saxon

Parker is funny as shit this episode. "A sex cult!. "Catholics!".

I hope these MILFs are on PrEP.

Uh huh!

I hope Sam Rockwell is on prep

Cute alexei’s name isn’t even right!!

Now I am worried somebody will drown

Christian girl doesn’t like the Russian whores!!

OK, this Sam Rockwell confession scene is the first really good/profound scene of this season.

I’m agree

Also, pornchat or what ever his name and Belinda are a charming couple

The three friends are going to be trafficked.

Sam Rockwell talking about getting fucked by a bunch of guys will be the highlight of my month.

Or taped and sold

So far no gay sex just a kiss.

Oye

Alexei I’d kiss

Fabien is dense.

Vlad wants a kiss

Saxon is getting a bad trip

Hollywood MILF is insatiable! Isn't satisfied by her boytoy back home; she has to have Valentin's tight ass too.

Or alexei

Carrie coon will go full frontal

Did Saxon just have a gay awakening?

I’d fuck Sam Rockwell - but not as an Asian girl

The MILF characters are so uninteresting, they're just Hollywood MILF, Carrie Coon and Leslie Bibb to me.

Sam would be magical to fuck

I wish we had to option to adjust playback speed.

Well, as they used to say, this was one big pricktease of an episode.

In the coming atteactions it looks like Saxon is getting blown. It better be by his brother.

Heavy party episode.

I am officially starting to HATE this season. NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

The pacing is that of a 13- to 22-episode season, but there are three episodes left.

At this point in season 1, there was ONE episode left.

This season is all marketing and NO CONTENT - memes and Today show appearances and retail collabs and NO DAMN SHOW.

I sort of love vlad, he’s got a face only a Russian mother could love

In the look-ahead for next week, it reallllly looks like Saxon gets a high/drunken blowjob from Lochlan.

So now that Rick has a gun, I take it he's going to kill the older Asian woman owner of The White Lotus.

Sam Rockwell's monologue was gold. If you didn't love that you are watching the wrong show.

Not before pornchai fucks Belinda

R538, perfection

R534 can you give an example of something that would be an example of “something happening?”

Because a lot of stuff has happened so far this season. Like… a lot. And in this episode especially

Drugs, sex and bad dancing

I see Mike White has discovered autogynephilia.

[quote]The complainers will all immediately backtrack after tonight’s episode.

Nope, still feel the same.

However, Sam Rockwell, not even a regular on this season, came in and delivered a monologue that was better than anything that has been said this whole entire season.

The idea of Sam Rockwell and Walton goggins doing role play gets me excited

[quote]Hollywood MILF is insatiable! Isn't satisfied by her boytoy back home; she has to have Valentin's tight ass too.

Come on now. It's been established that in reality they barely ever see each other and we see he has ignored her calls and texts the entire time she has been in Thailand. She is desperate to feel wanted.

She’s getting some Russian cock

So the guard house was just left unoccupied and Fabian was OK with that?

Not that I don't love Sam Rockwell but the last thing this season needed was a new character.

It needed him and his pussy getting banged by numerous men!

I find it hard to believe that any 18-year kid could consume that much booze and drugs and still be awake, much less hard.

And the chamomile tea

White Lotus always has characters that show up for the back half of the season r549. In Season 1 it was Molly Shannon, and in Season 2 it was Quentin and Jack. We still have Zion showing up as well.

R395: The only places in Thailand with twisty roads are in the mountains. there are plenty of modern highways with plenty of semis. You've only seen a tiny part of the country. I've lived there and been to all the regions about 2/3 of the provinces.

The brothers smooching is hot. Sorry. It’s sick. And it’s hot

So much for the virgin act, Lochlan seems to know what he's doing.

Jason Isaacs with the gun isn’t hot

I was thinking that r551.

Someone's Lochlan's age gets fucked up very easily. The show has it portrayed where he is handling all the booze and drugs better than his brother who is like a decade older. It's framed as the Lochlan taking advantage of Saxon to me.

That family is fucked up

I was clutching my pearls convinced dad was going to off himself.

Me too

Posey is awful in this but so is the writing. The MILFs are so uninteresting, but again the writing sucks.

Mike White looks wierder in every picture I see of him.

I like the end music.

It's not believable that amid the fentanyl crisis 20-somethings would be popping pills from strangers like that. This show used to be more believably topical.

That monologue from Sam Rockwell was great.

As someone that still hits up big parties and raves occasionally, I assure you that's the most believable thing that happened in this episode r564.

This season is incredibly awful. Tonight did not redeem it.

I can't even imagine what these scripts looked like in written form. Surely, the actors did a lot of (bad) ad libbing, encouraged by Mike White.

[quote]I was clutching my pearls convinced dad was going to off himself.

I wasn't, because it's not believable he would do it in the villa for his family to discover his body.

Killing yourself at home is an aggressive act against the residents of the home.

This character has been established as being so soft and supportive toward his kids — he'd hike into the mountains to blow his brains out.

R564 are you nuts? Kids are as reckless as they have ever been. Pelenty of grown adults as well. When was the last time you were in a trendy nightclub in a tropical resort town or major American city? There was nothing unbelievable about the way that happened.

r566, are there lots of 18 year old virgins at your raves?

HBO backed up a Brinks truck of cash for this season's locations, marketing, and AI-generated monkeys.

The story was clearly an afterthought. They just assumed it would be great. It is not. Really not.

So, on tonight's episode:

*the two brothers kissed (something rarely seen on a TV show)

*the two brothers and the two girlfriends of balding losers did drugs

*the three blondes got drunk and fooled around with the three Russians, and then Jaclyn fucked Valentin behind Laurie's back

*Pornchai fucked Belinda

*Timothy almost suicided, and is still on the brink of doing so

*we had a long monologue from Rick's friend in shady business about how he fucked hundreds of women and ladyboys, and then decided to regularly dress up as a ladyboy and got fucked by hundreds of men, and then gave it all up to become a Buddhist

*The friend gave Rick a gun and a mask, which he is obviously going to use against the wealthy man whmo he said his father killed....

...And yet, according to Datalounge, nothing happened tonight!

[quote]are you nuts? Kids are as reckless as they have ever been.

No, they are not, R569.

Gen Z is not doing drugs. They are barely drinking. They are very risk-averse and savvy about things like getting poisoned by fentanyl or tainted drugs abroad.

Season 1 was much more fresh and provocative in showing how young people actually think and feel, and creating drama out of it.

I was happy as anyone to see the Russian’s ass, but where was the sex? Lochlan kisses his brother and that’s it? Meh.

I'm loving it don't know what you complainers are talking about. This is how the show ALWAYS is. A slow burn. And a vive and I am vibing with it. I think the Walter Goggins will go to kill the person and it turns out that it's his real father. Can't tell if the Patrick Character was freaked out and actually grossed out or had a realization. My bet is he didn't like it. They hinted at it when they wanted him to take drugs. He's actually more innocent then he portrays. He's all talk. The brother however....

I'm glad the noise in Belinda's place turned out to be a lizard and not Greg.

On The Prestige podcast for this show the hosts were told by someone who’d already seen this episode that something extremely huge was going to happen which everybody would be talking about and he was amazed it hadn’t been leaked yet.. What did he mean? Sam Rockwell’s stupid monologue?

Mike White, you fucked up. Can’t win ‘em all.

I'm enjoying it as a great distraction from the real world.

Hon those are generalizations r573. Yes Gen Z parties less than prior generations. Actually shown this episode by Saxon not wanting to drink heavily and saying he never does drugs normally, Mike basically making your point for you

Lochlan clearly is struggling with the awkward desire he has for his brother, and Saxon is not going to be made to feel like a pussy by his babybro. We see clearly why they make the decisions they do.

I bet Jeremy Renner came like a gusher tonight while listening to Sam Rockwell's monologue.

[quote]They hinted at it when they wanted him to take drugs. He's actually more innocent then he portrays. He's all talk.

I don't know why some people didn't pick up on that.

Saxon is all talk and he likes saying crass things for shock to his brother and sister but he doesn't actually mean any of it. I don't even think he was serious about what he said to his brother the first episode. He was just messing with his head.

The problem is that Lochlan has issues, and has no idea who he is yet -- so he's taking his brother seriously. I think it will turn out to Lochlan is the monster at the end of that book. He has been giving crazy vibes since episode 1.

[quote]I'm loving it don't know what you complainers are talking about. This is how the show ALWAYS is. A slow burn.

It has always been a slow burn, but in previous seasons' episodes, there have been 1-3 scenes/exchanges each episode that have had the profundity or dramatic effect of the Sam Rockwell scene tonight.

This season, it took five episodes to get one. It's been all exposition and no action or insight.

R577 probably the Saxon/lochlyn kiss. Which was not much of anything, really. I hyped myself up too much, because that was nothing.

I bet in the preview for next week Saxon is just jerking off in bed and his brother isn’t blowing him.

[quote]On The Prestige podcast for this show the hosts were told by someone who’d already seen this episode that something extremely huge was going to happen which everybody would be talking about and he was amazed it hadn’t been leaked yet.. What did he mean? Sam Rockwell’s stupid monologue?

This season: All marketing. No show.

Saxon is probably the virgin, not Piper or Lochlan.

A Walton and Sam Rockwell hookup would be nice! Loved Sam in this episode.

So, on tonight's episode:

*the two brothers kissed (something rarely seen on a TV show)

*the two brothers and the two girlfriends of balding losers did drugs

*the three blondes got drunk and fooled around with the three Russians, and then Jaclyn fucked Valentin behind Laurie's back

*Pornchai fucked Belinda

*Timothy almost suicided, and is still on the brink of doing so

*we had a long monologue from Rick's friend in shady business about how he fucked hundreds of women and ladyboys, and then decided to regularly dress up as a ladyboy and got fucked by hundreds of men, and then gave it all up to become a Buddhist

*The friend gave Rick a gun and a mask, which he is obviously going to use against the wealthy man whmo he said his father killed....

...And yet, according to Datalounge, nothing happened tonight!

Because they succeeded in making all this surprisingly boring. And I wish we would never have to see Snaggletooth again. At least they have started talking about the Gary-murder thing, which I guess is supposed to be one of teh big secrets here.

Lochlan has experienced some things...not the ingenue we were lead to believe.

[quote]They are very risk-averse and savvy about things like getting poisoned by fentanyl or tainted drugs abroad.

lies

Nah I believe Lochlan is actually a virgin, but obviously there are a lot of perverted thoughts running through his head and the kid is still trying to figure himself out. He wants to explore. But at heart I could definitely see him being the real creep in the family, not Saxon.

The boys kissing each other was just about as provocative as the girls kissing each other.

A lot of things may have happened in this episode but really nothing that we weren't expecting and predicting by the second episode. So, very little shock value. Shame it took this long.

[quote]I find it hard to believe that any 18-year kid could consume that much booze and drugs and still be awake, much less hard.

I'm assuming you've never been to an actual Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. Happy to report that PLENTY of studs manage to stay rock hard even with all the drugs!

[quote]It's not believable that amid the fentanyl crisis 20-somethings would be popping pills from strangers like that.

Sure, if you're viewing it from a purely American perspective. It's the Mexican cartels that are selling this shit, and guess where they definitely do *not* work? Southeast Asia.

What's ACTUALLY a problem is both women & men being roofied & robbed, but not ODing.

Nobody on earth could have predicted that Sam Rockwell scene r592. And I have never seen anything like it on television before.

[quote]*the two brothers kissed (something rarely seen on a TV show)

At long last, I can rest in peace.

[quote] I find it hard to believe that any 18-year kid could consume that much booze and drugs and still be awake, much less hard.

We just saw Lochie take one pill.

R594, you need to get out more.

[quote]Gen Z is not doing drugs. They are barely drinking. They are very risk-averse and savvy about things like getting poisoned by fentanyl or tainted drugs abroad.

So naive. So innocent. This book is ENTIRELY about the extreme levels of college-level abuse of various drugs purchased on the dark web.

You should read it before making stupid, uninformed assumptions, dear.

New thread.

Poor Gaitok!

So dull no one is even talking about him.

I don’t have my lorazepam so I’ll have to drink myself to sleep.

Zzzzzzzz