The White Lotus [HBO] *Spoilers*

JP Liz V1

Connie Brittonis among the cast of HBO’s The White Lotus, a six-episode limited series that follows the guests and employees at an exclusive tropical resort over the course of one week, TVLine has learned. The self-described social satire is created, written and directed by Mike White (Enlightened).
Additional cast members include Murray Bartlett (Looking), Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls), Alexandra Daddario (True Detective), Fred Hechinger (Eighth Grade), Jake Lacy (The Office), Brittany O’Grady (Little Voice), Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Steve Zahn (Treme).
Production on The White Lotus begins this month in Hawaii. White will also executive-produce the series, along with David Bernad (Enlightened, 7 Days in Hell) and Nick Hall (We Are Who We Are).

https://tvline.com/2020/10/19/the-white-lotus-hbo-series-cast-connie-britton/

The Black Oil

Trailer's up. Starts July 11th.

Not sure what it's about. :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGLq7_MonZ4

The Black Oil

I've watched the first two. 

Spoiler Warning

Couple of initial thoughts, a main theme here is about people with clashing points of view.

The honeymoon couple - the husband being a dick, putting a squeeze on the manager, etc. The wife getting a life lesson to maintain her independence, until that backfired after Nicole found out who she is.

The daughter and her mate, remains to be seen if there's much potential for conflict there. However, it's the second time the show focused on them reading, and whilst yes, it's brief that they've books in their hands and it's a holiday activity, it may be a comment on the theme too. I'm a little worried about the son getting caught up in the sea as he's not currently trained for scuba. The daughter's friend's bloke who's staff, probably won't end well.

The hotel manager falling off the wagon.

That big old anvil they dropped about Mark's father and AIDS. Fuppin' hell!

Of course, behind all of this is the ocean churning away too.

artvanderlay

I thought it has been great so far and an easy watch. I get a strong sense of foreboding though, especially with all the aerial shots of the island and the waves lashing the shore. Despite the luxury on display, they are in a remote place, and things may go wrong very quickly! Good casting too; the characters have the potential to be quite odious, but the actors are likeable.

JP Liz V1

16th of August for Sky Atlantic

Tabnabs

Very enjoyable show, three episodes in and looking forward to see how it pans out.

The Black Oil

AV Club's review was less favourable towards the third episode than the previous two. I liked it, similar themes from what we've seen, there are things here about perception and departures too.

Spoiler Warning

Nicole and her online meeting with China, having the cúpla focail there and not being seen to be on holidays. Mark's memories of his Dad. The honeymoon couple's dynamic, again and Olivia and her friend. Departures, well the baby arriving in episode one, we know there's a body to come and Tanya's loss, of course. I did enjoy Shane's WTF facial reaction when Tanya started going on about the ashes as the tender boat fecked off in the background. There was some other humour in there, it escapes me now. Nicole's clearly not on board with the zeitgeist of the Gen Z social justice stuff. Things are going to crash for Armond somewhere.

TheSheriff

Up to episode four now, really enjoying this, an easy watch.

cmac2009

Armond is the standout character for me, great performance by Murray Bartlett.

metaoblivia

The fifth episode premiered tonight here in the States. Just one more left. It started out interesting enough for me to keep watching and now has me totally hooked. It's fantastic and the soundtrack is amazing. So many great performances with the standouts being Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge for my money.

The Black Oil

1.04 was quite big on friction between identities (as is the show), as did 1.05 (stupidly good episode, really), along with all of the power dynamic stuff too. The show does a great job of being a pressure cooker and dangling things in front of our noses, then letting things implode or indeed, explode.

Spoiler Warning

I thought Rachel was going to throw up if she heard one more conversation based around wealth, plus the mother in law's comments about her beauty as a bride and all of that. I'm a little fearful for Paula's safety now, tbh. Nicole cries about being a punching bag only for Mark to swoop in, take one and she realises what she has. Because of the exotic location and something's going to go down I keep thinking David Suchet's Poirot will crop up in the end (don't mean this as a criticism), although we don't know if the death is natural causes, accidental or sinister. We got some singing in the soundtrack this week, nice little scene Belinda and Armond too.

Zero-Cool

This is brilliant, loving it! Have ep 5 to watch tonight, my God, what an ending for Armond in ep 4! He's such a legend.

JP Liz V1

Renewed

The Black Oil

Hmm, thought it was a 'limited series'.

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117734885#Comment_117734885

New Hotel and Guests

https://tvline.com/2021/08/10/the-white-lotus-renewed-new-cast-and-hotel-season-2/

Zero-Cool

Haven't looked forward to a series finale like this in a long time. Building up to a serious eruption.

Hannibal_Smith

Me too Zero Cool. I cannot wait for the finale. It is so good.

artvanderlay

Great final episode. Probably the best show of the year so far. Funny, but also very human. Loved all the cast and characters. Glad too that I couldn't binge watch this because I really looked forward to my weekly episode. Now back into the abyss of no good shows to watch :(

Zero-Cool

Cracking episode and fantastic series. I don't know how the next season will match up but that's my favourite show of the year.

HeidiHeidi

This is bonkers stuff!! On episode 3, enjoying it but it's well out there.....

Hannibal_Smith

Great final episode. So captivating. My goodness the scenery. I felt like I was on holidays myself 😀

The Black Oil

Man, the show has such a pressure cooker thing going. Starting off with all that goes on behind closed doors.

Spoiler Warning

I did feel it was going to be Armond, character arc, organ music, nose powder and all that. Thought he was going to end up in the ocean by his own hand for a second there. He'd make a great foil for Columbo, in his sober days - a murderous hotel manager. The dump in the suitcase was something else. I saw someone coin the term 'suitcase shitter', it'll be hard to forget that and the image. Rachel's face at the end (an earlier too), Shane was so oblivious earlier on and throughout - his reference to going down a 'dark road' was scary, though. Sad for Belinda, online comments were predicting that fairly early on. Good old Irish flat 7 Up would have sorted Paula out. Props to cast here, great work. Bit of a nervous wreck after watching all that, the tone, music, setting and the points of view. Happy for Quinn. Saw speculation that the human remains were going on a Honolulu bound flight and may in fact that Greg.

Living Off The Splash

I enjoyed this. The current "Survivor Australia" is proving to be very good also.

gmisk

I have only watched episode one...but the bell-end count is seriously high in the guests....intrigued to see where it goes.

S.M.B.

Hard to keep track of when these shows land on platforms that are available to view over here. Going back through the thread I see it was added to Sky Atlantic yesterday so will check it out later. Looking forward to it.

HeidiHeidi

I kind of wish they wouldn't release entire series on the one day...... I sat up until stupid-o'clock last night / this morning because I just couldn't stop watching.

It's irritating, frustrating, bizarre, OTT - but fantastic.

gmisk

Watched it all in about 3 days...terrific show.

Bonkers in a good way and a seriously gripping last episode, not sure if a season 2 is needed but I will watch it :)

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769419#Comment_117769419

How's that, do Sky have it all at once or weekly?

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117775315#Comment_117775315

They started showing it on Sky Atlantic this week, but made all episodes available

thesultan

Thought it was a very good show.. A few things at the end.

Spoiler.

How did he manage to get away with the murder and just hop on a plane and go home? Why did the wife go back to him?.

The haiwain kid got a raw deal..

Tabnabs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117776183#Comment_117776183

Spoiler: I presume he got away with it because it was "self defence"? as he thought it was the burglar in his room. That and high priced lawyers... Hi wife struggled with self esteem and self worth vs an easy life and I guess she decided to take the money and keep stum. Which seemed totally out of character for her and not properly explained.

The 16 y/o boy staying behind to go paddling was farce, he'll just be put on the next flight home because he's a minor. I thought him being in the coffin would have been an interesting conclusion, their son, traded for the wealth and luxury that their life provided. Overall a fantastic show, but the ending was a little weak and just sort of wrapped everything up neatly and without much thought.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117776245#Comment_117776245

I dont think it was totally out of character for her at all. She was happy with the marriage up until the honeymoon where she had 'buyers remorse' while in the safety of a luxury resort, away from the realities of the world. I'd agree if she seemed enthusiastic at the airport but she looked terribly uncomfortable - to me it completely fits that she would choose to give it another try with her husband rather than dealing with all the repercussions of a divorce so quickly. Add to that how we saw in the show traumatic situations bring couples together, the death in the room could have done similar.

Shelga

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117778084#Comment_117778084

Yep, she was pretty spineless throughout anyway, and it was obvious she was going to make the easier choice. Her interactions with Belinda showed her up for the whiny, self-involved person she really was. “I’m too good looking and my husband is too rich!” to an underpaid black woman? Really? In that sense, she lacked self-awareness just as much as Shane. Thought it was really well portrayed.

kerplun k

2 Episodes in. Hands down, the best show of 2021.

Zero-Cool

Spoiler Warning

I think if Belinda would have told her to leave him, she would have but as Belinda got fecked over by another rich white woman, she was all out of advice :) I like to think that's what connected the guests anyway, how they treated reach other had a knock on effect.

Tabnabs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117778084#Comment_117778084

Then why put in all the groundwork and the back story of her coming out of a relationship, only to meet her new love interest and a whirlwind romance that ended up with them getting married? They portrayed her as a strong, career minded person, from modest beginnings, not at all a Stepford wife, and ready to take control of her life now that she saw what kind of person her husband really was. It was literally a theme running through the entire series. Then at the end it was like, 'sure look, be grand'... 👍️

HeidiHeidi

The Irish Times reviewer was less than impressed

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/white-lotus-the-couch-potato-equivalent-of-a-rainy-staycation-1.4649273

Can't say I entirely disagree, tbh.... is was all a bit suspension of disbelief and a bit too reliant on caricatures. Even if it did keep me up half the night to see how it ended!

thesultan

The head man in the hotel is brilliant in it.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117779230#Comment_117779230

I can maybe see where someone could take that perspective of her character but to me it ignores a huge amount of what they showed of her. I suppose one could say she was strong to verbalise that she wanted to leave the marriage but where was that strength up until that point? Is it strong to run the first time you have a problem - even to make that decision she bounced from person to person trying to get them to tell her what to do with her decision?

As Shelga mentioned, she showed little awareness of self but also little in judging others - there is no evidence that the traits shown by the husband on vacation were out of character for him, just that it was the first time she noticed or cared about them.

I think a defining aspect of her character is being a flake. She seems to float about doing whatever feels easy or good at the time, often directed by what people say she should do and many times even then doing it half-hearted. Being 'career minded' is an example of this, she likes the concept of having a job but doesn't seem to have any direction to what she actually wants to do, for example she initially is in no way assertive that she wants to write the article she is offered, she repeatedly can't verbalise a career plan for her future, and admits to Nicole that her article she was offended by was just a copy of another one. Like marriage, she likes the idea of a career but has no real drive to actually make the right decisions about it and to follow through.

I saw it completely within her character, and actually much more likely for her, to before fully following through to realise she was leaving a luxury resort in paradise and the choice in front of her was the wealth of her old life with Shane or poverty and a messy divorce and that she would float towards the easy option. I didn't at all see her statement at the airport as being 'sure look, be grand', instead just another half hearted decision that she'll probably flake on again in a few weeks or months.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117779791#Comment_117779791

Seems idiotic or pure click bait to frame so much of the article about the hype regarding the full series and then to just review a single episode. Seems like a reviewer with a terrible process to care so much about what others think or simply has nothing to say of their own.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117780895#Comment_117780895

Really good actor I have only see him in Looking.

2smiggy

Watched one episode last night after seen it mentioned on here and advertised on the tele. Ended up watching 3 episodes. Will probably end up finishing it up tonight !!

All a bit bizarre , with the back round noises/sound track really adding to it.

2smiggy

finished it off last night , found it excellent over all.

Spoiler Warning

everything sort of worked out in the end for everyone, in a very demented way !!

steve_r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117792459#Comment_117792459

The soundtrack was very impactful - I found myself hearing back the score in my head whenever I thought of the show. There's not many shows that have their own unique "sound" so I think that's a pretty remarkable achievement.

NIMAN

I'm halfway through it. Its good, but nothing else. Certainly not the best TV show of the year as many are saying.

shanos

Only watched the first episode so far, enjoyed it but my other half didn't so will probably go on without him! Skipping past the spoilers till I catch up and can add to this conversation more...

notahappycamper

Enjoyable enough watch. Agree with others that the ending was weak. Certainly not the best show of the year that title belongs to “Mare of Easttown”.

Homelander

Hands down best show of 2021 for me alongside Mare of Easttown. Amazing characters and performances.

Also not sure how someone could deduce that Rachel was strong, career-driven woman. The whole point is that she's a total flake, a "journalist" by trade but an unskilled and lazy click-bait writer in reality. It even outlines how one of her presumably larger pieces was a) plagurized and b) lazily slapped together and totally inaccurate.

She didn't arrive at her end destination in the show because it was what she wanted, she realised after having her moment that it might be the only way she will ever be anything "successful" in her world, taking on the advance from Shane's mother.

Just an astounding show for me, such excellent drama amid all the well-balanced measures of harmless and darker laughs.

bugsyb4

I enjoyed it and yeah I would watch a second season alright but would still have Mare of Eastown a bit ahead of it for 2021.

The last 2 episodes didn't do as much for me as the first 4 not sure why and it was a bit far fetched for me to finish with.

Sorry about spoiler below if someone can tell me how to put it in as spoiler will in future.

Granted he might get off with self defence and not get jail time for killing hotel manager but somehow I doubt he would be getting on a plane like 12 hours later and the body too for that matter. Also the son going off in the canoe for a finish beyond ridiculous!

Some excellent characters in the show all the same hotel manager and 2 husbands in particular.

kheb

Great show. Reminded me of Succession in that most of the characters are awful but the show is still good.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117803964#Comment_117803964

The conflicted journalist on honeymoon is lovely, far too nice for that dreadful family she's marrying in to