# White Lotus
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc
**Created:** [December 2, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900 "2022-12-02T02:35:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/1 "2022-12-02T02:35:10Z")
Does it get any better? It’s supposed to be a comedy? A comedic drama? A dramatic comedy? I’m on the third episode (the things we do for love) and there hasn’t been anything I find amusing. All I can think is how much I hate everyone in the show. Does a volcano open up and swallow everyone?
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### Author:  [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/2 "2022-12-02T03:43:35Z")
If you are watching the 1st season… it’s ok. The 2nd season is better and so far stands alone.
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### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/3 "2022-12-02T05:03:34Z")
You’re not supposed to like any of the people. They’re awful. Ideally, you find their awfulness entertaining. If that’s not working out for you… well, probably it’s not the show for you.
I absolutely loved season 1, and season 2 is just as good, if not better. It’s gotten a ton of acclaim.
So… maybe give it one more episode?
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/4 "2022-12-02T12:59:27Z")
I don’t find awful people entertaining. That’s why I hate reality TV. Not awful in that way anyway. Everyone in _Its Always Sunny_ is awful but it’s hilarious. _Barry_ is one of the best shows ever made. I just don’t see any even potential humor in _White Lotus._ Even Jennifer Coolidge isn’t entertaining to watch. The Olivia character is a good argument for beating children.
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### Author:  [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/5 "2022-12-02T18:07:13Z")
I’m with you. I don’t enjoy watching terrible people. I suffered through the first season, but could only watch three episodes of the second before I told my wife to watch it without me. She enjoys it though.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/6 "2022-12-02T18:15:56Z")
I’ll push through and watch the rest of this season for my girlfriend but then I’m going to make her watch some Marvel movies with me as penance.
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### Author:  [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/7 "2022-12-02T21:07:53Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> You’re not supposed to like any of the people. They’re awful. Ideally, you find their awfulness entertaining. If that’s not working out for you… well, probably it’s not the show for you.
This is correct - it’s a dark comedy (Mike White, who wrote this also did Enlightened, which has a similar tone). When I realized this was how I was supposed to watch Succession, I liked it a whole lot better as well.
These are terrible rich people who don’t really care for their ‘lessers’. I found it a fantastic show and deserving of all the awards it got. I don’t think the second season is as good (mostly because the manager of this White Lotus isn’t as good as the first season), but I’m liking it just the same.
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### Author:  [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/8 "2022-12-02T21:22:14Z")
It’s REALLY not my kind of show. I like dark comedies, but I am finding nothing humorous. You know something else that is absolutely not my kind of entertainment? _Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf_.
I find I cannot look away from either. Somehow, I’m dragged in. I don’t understand why, but they both draw me in. I hate them. I don’t even care - AT ALL - what happens to the characters…but somehow I have to watch to find out.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/9 "2022-12-02T21:35:23Z")
> [@Raza](#):
>
> It’s REALLY not my kind of show. I like dark comedies, but I am finding nothing humorous. You know something else that is absolutely not my kind of entertainment? _Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf_.
I feel the same way. I love _Barry_ and you can’t get any darker than that. I haven’t found anything even mildly amusing so far. I don’t even see anything that is supposed to be funny at all.
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### Author:  [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2022, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/10 "2022-12-04T07:02:48Z")
The first season was odd but enjoyable. The second one though I’m really struggling. It’s more of a hatewatch thing. I love Jennifer Coolidge but her FACE is maddening this season. I can’t stand any scene she’s in. I know she has an unusual face but it’s generally pleasant, it’s just what she’d doing with it that makes my teeth hurt.
I get we’re not supposed to like anyone. They’re all awful people. Except the one son, he doesn’t seem so bad. Yet!
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2022, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/11 "2022-12-04T07:40:51Z")
Oddly, Jennifer Coolidge has been the one element in both seasons that I actively couldn’t stand. I loved her in _Best In Show_, but she is just intolerable in this show.
I love Aubrey Plaza, and it’s good to see her in a different role than on _Parks & Rec_. And I’d watch Simona Tabasco read a phone book.
I think the quality of acting is a little better this season. F. Murray Abraham is always a pleasure to watch, even if all he’s doing is chewing scenery.
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### Author:  [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2022, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/12 "2022-12-04T09:43:16Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#):
>
> I love Jennifer Coolidge but her FACE is maddening this season. I can’t stand any scene she’s in.
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> Jennifer Coolidge has been the one element in both seasons that I actively couldn’t stand.
One key element of both seasons, which I heard the director / writer talk about was he wanted to highlight just how ugly Americans were when they landed en masse in other peoples’ countries, especially the attributes which they take for granted when living their normal lives. I think Jennifer Coolidge is being drawn as a very particular type of American ugliness, but if there was an award for the most horrible and flawed, there would be soooo many contenders.
I’m really enjoying Season 2 and think its hilariously dark, but don’t sit down waiting for punchlines. You’ll be waiting a while.
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/13 "2022-12-06T13:53:40Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#):
>
> I’m really enjoying Season 2 and think its hilariously dark, but don’t sit down waiting for punchlines. You’ll be waiting a while.
I get what you mean, a barrel of laughs it ain’t. At the same time, I kind of dig how it seems to be setting the scene for one thing and then they just move on to something else. Like, there’ll be some exchange between two characters and one says something outrageous and you’re just waiting for the other’s reaction and CUT.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/14 "2022-12-06T15:49:12Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#):
>
> I’m really enjoying Season 2 and think its hilariously dark, but don’t sit down waiting for punchlines. You’ll be waiting a while.
I keep going back to _Barry_. It’s dark. You really can’t get any darker. There is nothing I would consider a punchline. But it is hilarious along with a bunch of other reactions thrown in. With _White Lotus_ I don’t see anything that could be considered humor. Dark comedy is usually right up my alley. I don’t see any even attempted comedy. I will get through the remainder of the season (probably tonight) for my girlfriend. I doubt I’ll try season 2.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/15 "2022-12-06T16:35:26Z")
I am apparently in the small minority that loved Season 1 and am lukewarm on Season 2.
@Loach, you’re the OP but you haven’t (and may never) see S2. Are you ok with us discussing plot points of S2 in this thread?
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### Author:  [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/16 "2022-12-06T16:47:14Z")
I like both, but note, one of the main differences is WL S1 is 6 episodes while S2 is 7 episodes. So S1 was tighter written, while S2 is a slight bit slower moving.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/17 "2022-12-06T16:49:19Z")
I found the Season 1 characters to be more interesting and I thought that Season 1 was funnier. I also hate plot lines that are predicated on a sitcom like misunderstanding.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/18 "2022-12-06T16:51:15Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#):
>
> I like both, but note, one of the main differences is WL S1 is 6 episodes while S2 is 9 episodes. So S1 was much tighter written, while S2 is a bit slower moving.
No, the second season (i.e., the current one) is seven episodes. Sunday, December 11 is the finale.
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### Author:  [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/19 "2022-12-06T16:51:24Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> I also hate plot lines that are predicated on a sitcom like misunderstanding.
I am curious… which ones do you think are predicated on a sitcom like misunderstanding.
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### Author:  [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-lotus/975900/20 "2022-12-06T16:51:43Z")
I mistyped… I meant 7, but I hit the 9 on my phone’s keyboard.
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