White Lotus Season 3 Review

We hope you have an exciting time with your stay at The White Lotus.

Season 3 of Mike White’s comedy-drama The White Lotus aired on HBO in 2025. A new set of guests arrives to enjoy a relaxing time at the hotel. Dramas plague each group from discovering secrets, business scams, and relationship issues.

I was a fan of White Lotus when the first season aired. It should have remained as a stand-alone series. The latest seasons haven’t been able to emulate the first season’s strong storylines, instead, becoming a cringy porn series with no real characterization.

The characters are hit or miss, lacking depth or believable personalities. I missed Jennifer Coolidge (Tanya McQuoid) so much! She was the glue that kept this series together because of her eccentric, bubbly, and funny personality. None of the characters stuck out.

Let’s start with the Ratliffs. Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey star as parents, Timothy and Victoria. While Isaacs is commendable in selling his character's anguish and stress, Posey acts like she is trying to be the next Jennifer Coolidge. Either that, or Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek.

Patrick Schwarzenegger (Saxon), Sarah Catherine Hook (Piper), and Sam Nivola (Lochlan) play the Ratliffe siblings. Cut out all their sex talk, the random scene where Timothy flashes his family, and the incest storyline, and we could have had a riveting family drama.

The storyline that I liked the most was the girls’ trip. Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan were excellent in their performances and manifesting a realistic friendship. It was the most realistic narrative, depicting the realities of friendship.

Relationships don’t always stay the same, and people change. Coon’s monologue about their evolving friendship was well-acted, and one of the highlights. I would have been satisfied if the series had focused on just them.

Rick and Chelsea (Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood) had zero chemistry. Goggins and Wood are both great actors, but their storylines deserved more development.

I had one wish come true this season. Sam Rockwell, one of my favorite actors, plays a supporting character named Frank. He brilliantly delivers the strangest monologue ever.

More credits include Tayme Thapthimthong, Lalisa Manobal, Lek Patravadi, Natasha Rothwell, Jon Gries, and more.

Let’s not forget about the tropical Thailand setting for this season. Filming mostly happened on the island of Koh Samui, using the Four Seasons Resort. While I didn’t want to spend my time with the characters, I would have loved to soak in the sun with a delicious drink in hand.

Why did The White Lotus turn into a porn show? Every single conversation is about a character’s sex life. It’s delivered with the most unrealistic dialogue. Did you know that auditionees walked out when they heard about the incest storyline? I would have, too.

What has this show become? The White Lotus started as a character-driven series with exciting storylines about serious matters. The characters and their relationships were realistic. If White Lotus continues, it’s time for a new writers team - ones who are not porn writers.

The popularity of the first season of White Lotus’s success went to Mike White’s head. He hasn’t been able to reciprocate the exciting storylines and dynamics from the first season. Episodes are so slow!

The ending felt rushed. With how events play out, none of the characters are affected. They continue with their lives and relationships like nothing happened.

I was constantly disappointed while watching this season. There are some exciting and thrilling moments, but not many. Here’s my recommendation: only watch the first season of The White Lotus.