High Drama and Harsh Truths in ‘The White Lotus’
Murray Bartlett, Jolene Purdy, Natasha Rothwell, Christie Volkmer, and Lukas Gage in The White Lotus | Credit: HBO
The first season of The White Lotus takes us to a beautiful Hawaiian resort where a number of wealthy guests are staying. We get a peek into their lives as they interact with each other and the staff, causing havoc in the process.
This satire is written and directed by Mike White and boasts a pretty spectacular cast, including Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney, Steve Zahn, and more. The guests and staff members are all colorful, interesting, and distinct people, each dealing with their own separate issues.
The White Lotus is also absolutely hilarious and features some ridiculous moments. In the first episode, we meet Lani (Jolene Purdy), a new employee at the hotel who happens to be pregnant but no other staff member knows. During the course of the workday, her water breaks, and she ultimately ends up going into labor.
What makes this show so incredibly smart is that it uses moments of humor, like this one, to make a larger point about the world around us. One of the many themes in this show is the usefulness of the working class to the upper class. We see that with the character of Lani — she’s pivotal to the first episode, but once she can no longer work, she’s not seen again.
Fred Hechinger and Steve Zahn in The White Lotus | Credit: HBO
The entire show revolves around the whims and desires of the rich guests who are staying at the hotel. The staff is expected to do what’s asked of them, even when the requests are ridiculous or outlandish. The tension often comes in when some of the staff push back against those who they come to work to serve.
The classism that exists here in the U.S. is just one of the many themes that The White Lotus touches on throughout the first season. It also brings up colonialism, cultural appropriation for entertainment, wealth, gender politics, what it means to be an activist, and so much more.
One thing that I love about this densely packed show is that it doesn’t give us any solutions to any of these many themes. There are no clear next steps, but merely an invitation for us to look at our own lives if we want to.
Next, I am going to talk about some major plot details that happened in season one, so if you haven’t yet seen this show and don’t want it spoiled, please don’t read on. You can watch The White Lotus on Max (formerly known as HBO Max).
Sydney Sweeney and Brittany O'Grady in The White Lotus | Credit: HBO
The White Lotus opens with the knowledge that someone has been murdered; we just don’t know who. Since Shane (Jake Lacy) is seen alone in the airport, it’s easy to assume that it’s his wife, Rachel (Alexandra Daddario), especially during tense moments between the two. As we meet the various guests and staff, it seems as though anyone could end up in that human remains box that we see loaded onto the plane.
The final episode is filled with some incredibly dramatic moments that are filmed in a very matter-of-fact way. Even the murder of Armond (Murray Bartlett) is somewhat toned down; we don’t see the sensationalism that I would’ve expected with an on-screen murder. Sadly, Armond’s death isn’t a shock. We see how Shane’s fear of an intruder collides with Armond’s ill-advised final revenge on his nemesis.
It is depressing that Shane doesn’t seem to suffer any consequences for taking another person’s life. Once again, the show reiterates that the wealthy and elite can do whatever they want without suffering consequences. As soon as a member of the working class ceases to be useful, they no longer exist.
It’s a very bleak ending.
This theme is echoed by Rachel’s decision to stay with Shane. Though she doesn’t fit into his world or want to be a trophy wife, she comes back to him. I think this is such an interesting and appropriate choice for this character.
Though she wants to be a serious journalist and wants a career and life she can be proud of; she can’t go back to how she was living before. Now that she has money, she’s not going to go back. Plus, it’s so much easier for her to stay with Shane than to be alone yet again.
The most chilling part of their reunion was her promising him, “I’ll be happy.” We have witnessed her emotional turmoil and her disgust at some of his choices throughout the season, and yet she’s going to remain with him. It’s not a matter of Shane changing and becoming a better person. Instead, it is up to her to be happy, to not rock the boat, and to fill the role that has been carved out for her. And she is, with her eyes open, choosing to do that.
Alexandra Daddario in The White Lotus | Credit: HBO
The White Lotus is a smart, thoughtful, and very well-written show. It’s dramatic and hilarious, with many invitations to think about deeper themes. We meet interesting and memorable characters whose interactions cause moments of significant tension.
Thankfully, the show doesn’t end there! Now, it’s time to continue the series in season two, where we meet many new characters and experience new hijinks. I cannot wait to dive in!