We're Obsessed With "The White Lotus"
I kind of want to move to Hawaii?
by JACKIE SCIBETTA ★ AUGUST 27, 2021
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
“The White Lotus,” run to your nearest streaming device as fast as you can. Make sure you’re in a comfortable location with your favorite snack, because this six-episode series is so addicting, you will most likely be there for the next six hours. Although this series is filled with an extraordinary amount of suspense and constant tension, it is also very comedic and will have you laughing at the insane cast of hotel guests.
“The White Lotus” was filmed at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort on the island of Maui in Hawaii, and offers a fabulous tropical aesthetic that completely immerses you into the world of the show. In case you thought it couldn’t get any better, this show includes such a remarkable cast, including Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney, everyone’s favorite Legally Blonde nail tech, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, etc. Each cast member plays their role so well that you’ll feel like you’re at the resort experiencing the chaos with them.
The show begins at the airport with a very aggravated man waiting to board his plane. Meanwhile, behind him, airport staff are loading a wooden box labeled “Human Remains” onto the same plane. This scene is foreshadowing the murder mystery that is about to be a lot messier and harder to crack than expected. The next scene, one week before the murder, shows a ferry boat holding a group of rich American tourists that are arriving at a luxury resort in Hawaii, “The White Lotus.” At that point, these guests had no idea what they were in for. They are not just your ordinary rich American tourists, of course--they include lots of baggage, physically and mentally.
Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) is a depressing character that just makes you laugh. She plays a wealthy old alcoholic who has just lost her mother and has decided to go on a tropical vacation to throw her ashes in the ocean. Ms. McQuoid develops a special relationship with the sweet spa manager, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), but also tortures her with all of her sadness. Belinda is the sunshine of the show and probably the only character you will consistently love.
Next is the Mossbacher family who includes Nicole, Mark, Olivia, Quinn, and Olivia’s poorly mannered friend Paula. Nicole (Connie Britton) is a mother, and successful CFO of a tech company, her husband Mark (Steve Zahn; the Dad in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, anyone?) who is worried he might have cancer. Quinn (Fred Hechinger), their screen-addicted son, is constantly dealing with his sister's attitude, especially when she forces him to sleep in a small kitchen and the beach. Although he seems like your average video game-obsessed teenager, he grows immensely throughout the series and will most definitely surprise you at the end. Olivia (Sydney Sweeney), their college nightmare of a daughter, and her incredibly rude friend, Paula (Brittany O’Grady), will do anything in their power to stay away from her family. These college sophomores brought all kinds of drugs and planned to read at the pool every day, or just pretend to read to seem hot and smart? Assholes.
A newly wedded couple, Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) and Shane (Jake Lacy) accompany the cast on their journey and venture to the White Lotus resort to celebrate their honeymoon. Rachel, a clickbait journalist, has had to work hard her entire life and doesn’t come from money. Her husband Shane, who never seems to take off his Cornell baseball cap, hasn’t worked a day in his life and is a real-estate heir that has an extremely wealthy family. The two embark on their honeymoon more in love than ever, but some true colors are shown and Rachel begins having second thoughts within the first couple of hours.
When this group of entitled rich Americans arrives at the resort, they are immediately greeted by a hilarious group of staff members who take each guest to their rooms. Armond (Murray Bartlett), the Australian resort manager, is the comic relief of the series (best character IMO). He is in charge of the entire hotel and must make sure that every employee is tamed and every customer is satisfied. He starts the show off being five years sober and ends it...well, not so much. Let’s just say his job really began to test his sobriety when newlywed, Shane, made the week a complete living hell for him.
Unlike most television shows, “The White Lotus” is so unique because the entire plot is filmed in one singular resort instead of many locations. This makes it much easier to focus on the characters' growth and live vicariously through them. This series is not only an amazing production, it is a perfect example and examination of the everyday struggles many people face within today’s society. These struggles include social class, race, and gender, but most importantly the conflict between the rich and powerful with money and the poor staff members just trying to make ends meet. This must-watch murder mystery will have you on your toes the entire time.
Images via Vanity Fair, Vulture, Glamour