It might only be February, but it’s safe to say that The White Lotus is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the year. The satirical, dark comedy, now in its third season, follows a star-studded cast as they visit the fictional and highly extravagant White Lotus resorts all over the world. Previous seasons were set in Hawaii and Sicily, and starred Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney, Theo James and Meghann Fahy. Created by Mike White, the comedic anthology has won six Primetime Emmy Awards, with legendary actress Coolidge receiving the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2022.
The White Lotus Season 3 has been drumming up global attention, with the cast—which includes Blackpink’s Lisa in her acting debut—going on a multi-city press tour. The third season of the show is set in Thailand, the first Asian country to join The White Lotus universe. Below, take a dive into the show’s first episode (which was released worldwide yesterday on Max). But fair warning, spoilers ahead!
The pilot episode of the season starts off slow. There’s a lot of scene-setting—you see the lush rainforests that surround the Koh Samui island (where most of the season was shot), and there’s a slight sense of foreboding that comes with the shots of the monkeys that inhabit the natural habitat around the resort. This intense foreshadowing isn’t uncommon for the show; it’s almost expected, given the premise of seasons past.
But don’t worry, the pace picks up when someone is shot dead on the resort’s grounds, and is discovered by Zion Lindsey, the son of the Hawaii resort’s masseuse Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) from season one. From that point on, the symbolism of the monkey and other key Buddhist emblems becomes even more mysterious, as they appear more frequently throughout the episode.
Aside from the Lindseys, we’re introduced to some of the other eccentric guests that have taken up temporary residence at The White Lotus. A problematic couple on the verge of a split, a trio of blonde Barbies that reek of inferiority and feigned adoration for one another, and the “picture-perfect” Ratcliff family whose conversations allude to an implosion just waiting to happen. We also meet peculiar Sritala, who co-owns the resort with her husband Jim Hollinger.
For those who caught the first two seasons of the show, it’s nice to see some familiar faces, to see how their stories unfold when they’re dropped into a brand new locale. But surely, the most talked-about cast member of the season is Lisa.
I’ll admit, I was a little sceptical when Lisa was cast, but boy, was I wrong to underestimate her. Though this is her first foray into the world of TV and film, Lisa’s portrayal of Mook is quite natural and energetic on screen. A far cry from the glamorous image that we’re used to seeing from the Born Again singer, Mook’s humble role as an employee from the resort’s wellness team presents a new side to Manobal that we hadn’t encountered before in her past projects. For her first acting role, her performance is surprisingly nuanced, and her expressions bring out Mook’s layered relationship with both the resort’s staff and guests. In the show, Mook speaks mostly in her native tongue, which is a real treat for fans, since the star doesn’t often get the opportunity to speak Thai at events or during her performances.
In the opening credits, we see the name Lalisa Manobol (her “real” name, for those unfamiliar), not Lisa. This deliberate separation from her overwhelming stage persona is a breath of fresh air, hinting at how the megastar is trying to make it in the acting world without riding on the coattails of her pop star fame.
An eclectic mix befitting of the show’s absurdist nature, the score pays homage to the season’s host country—from Thai-language pop songs that sing of tropical bliss to the anxiety-inducing beats that only underscore the show’s darker themes. This season also introduces a brand new theme song that I actually found quite alluring but has stirred up some negative reactions from long-time fans of the show.
As expected, the first episode finishes on a cliffhanger. At this point, we’re no closer to finding out who got shot in the chaos, and who was behind the murder. But if the first episode was any indication, the newest season is set to be the series’s most gripping adventure yet.
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