In the White Lotus hotel in Thailand, we first see Zion (Nicholas Duvernay), the son of Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, who is the only returning cast member, from season one’s White Lotus in Hawaii), sat in the Lotus position with a Buddhist wellness guide encouraging him to silence his “chattering monkey brain,” – with all the monkeys around the resort, consider this a key metaphor for this season – when gunshots are heard.
High flying financier Tim Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) and his sleepy wife Victoria (a drawling Parker Posey), along with their three children: the swaggering Saxon – “I love to work, I don’t need holidays,” he declares, in true Andrew Tate/that guy from BrewDog style - played by Patrick Schwarzenneger (pumped up not quite like his dad but not far off), the quieter, nerdier Lochlan (Sam Nivola) and the daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) who is doing a thesis on Buddhism.
We were spoilt for choice for big performances in the first two seasons, from Murray Bartlett’s Armond in season one to Aubrey Plaza’s Harper in season two.
The White Lotus is back for season three at long last, and we are immediately in familiar whodunnit, or rather, whogotit, territory from the start.
The other main visitors are three women, led by Michelle Monaghan’s Jaclyn, a famous actress who is recognised around the resort, particularly by the owner, Sritala Hollinger (Lek Patravadi) who wants to cosy up to this American star.
