Ever since the end credits rolled on the second series of The White Lotus, we’ve been desperate to know when we'd get our next fix of Mike White’s award-winning drama – and at last, it's here and you can stream it on NOW TV right now.
While series 1 satirised white privilege at a luxury Hawaiian resort and series 2 centred around sex and seduction under the Sicilian sun, the third is set in Thailand and sees a new cast of characters embarking on a holiday of a lifetime – only for some to experience their worst nightmare.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new series. Buckle up!
What will happen in The White Lotus series 3?
Speaking about the third instalment of his hit HBO show, writer/director Mike White said: “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”
And from the looks of the trailer, he’s certainly delivered on his promise. Set in a lavish resort in Thailand, guests flock to lap up the sun, sex, and debauchery on offer – “If everyone gives into their base instincts it would be total depravity, like a race to the bottom,” notes a wise teen guest – or seek some form of spiritual enlightenment.
But as a Buddhist monk ominously warns: “Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure, but they get there only to find more pain”. What that discomfort looks like remains to be seen, but it ranges from the disintegration of relationships to mental anguish and actual death (this is The White Lotus we’re talking about, after all!)
Who's in The White Lotus series 3 cast?
Expect to be introduced to a new crop of holidaymakers and staff in series 3, but there is one familiar face making a reappearance. Fan favourite Natasha Rothwell who played spa manager Belinda Lindsey in series 1 and was given a wad of cash by Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) to set up her own business has transferred to the luxury Thai resort.
“When Mike White was finishing up season two, he asked to grab dinner with me. I thought nothing of it,” Rothwell revealed. “He was already thinking about season three and wanting to explore Belinda more. I told him I’d follow him anywhere, and I meant it. I didn’t know where the shoot or the storyline were, it was just a yes.”
In terms of new faces, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan and Leslie Bibb play Laurie, Jaclyn and Kate, three old friends who are hoping to reconnect on a girls’ trip. Having said that, from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem to be going too well with Laurie calling Jaclyn “pathetic” behind her back because she “lives off male attention”. Ouch.
Jason Isaacs plays Timothy Ratliff, a wealthy businessman who's on holiday with his wife Victoria (Parker Posey) and their three children: eldest son Saxson (Patrick Schwarzenegger) who works for his father’s successful company; middle child Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), a college senior majoring in religion studies; and youngest son Lochlan (Sam Nivola) who's a high school senior. Victoria is less than pleased that someone has stolen her anxiety medication and plans to drink herself to sleep...the perfect family holiday then.
Meanwhile, Walton Goggins is highly strung Rick Hatchette, who's travelling with his free-spirited girlfriend Chelsea, played by the fabulous Aimee Lou Wood. Chelsea is hugely tolerant of her boyfriend’s foibles and seems well versed at talking him off the ledge – encouraging him to try the stress management meditations.
We'll also meet Lalisa Manobal – the rapper known as Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink – who makes her acting debut as a member of staff at the hotel.
Where was The White Lotus series 3 filmed?
The new series was filmed in and around Koh Samui (largely at the Four Seasons Resort), Phuket (at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas) – and Bangkok. With both Hawaii and Sicily experiencing a bump in tourism because of “The White Lotus effect”, viewers will undoubtedly be inspired to visit Thailand after watching the show.
How can I watch The White Lotus series 3?
The first episode of The White Lotus series 3 is now available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with new episodes released each Monday at 2am UK time.
A NOW TV subscription gives you access to all Sky’s latest shows. An entertainment package usually costs £9.99 a month, but if you sign up for six months minimum, you can currently take advantage of the £6.99 saver offer.
