Vacation Personalities
The new Meyer-Briggs exam should be a deep dive into how you relate to the guests on White Lotus. I’m watching this show like an elder millennial, where you’re asking yourself in each situation, “would I have felt that way?”
Besties
The three besties are ones that end up in the chat after the episode is viewed. I’m more of a Kate, than a Laurie or a Jackie. When they took the party back to the suite, I’m Kate in that I’m just ready to be done and say goodbye to everyone. I related to Laurie when at her most wasted and vulnerable she starts talking about what’s in her heart: her work and how she wants to ensure it speaks for itself. When the guys in the pool laugh, she realizes they are not kindred spirits. Jackie I relate to the least, she’s on a pure ego journey fueled by issues she hasn’t even voiced. She’s the gen-x girl that followed the Carrie Bradshaw roadmap and can’t figure out why she’s not happy. I text a fellow librarian every Sunday about this show and my texts about the girls are usually, “it’s not that serious”.
Lorazepam
There’s nothing wrong with this family. Yes, the dad might end up in Club Fed for 3 years, but that’s the worst of it. The daughter is searching for meaning and wants to do it overseas where she doesn’t actually have to deal with her real life while finding herself. There’s an internet theory that she’s the one that ratted out her dad to the IRS. Regardless of where you stand on issues, especially within your own family, one of my rules of thumb is just never fuck with the money.
The brothers are normal - one is gay and the other is a douchebag. Both are under 25 and it’s understandable. Victoria is the 21st century valley of the dolls. She knows there is nothing else out there and she doesn’t want to pretend that there is, she just wants her mood pills and a comfortable chair away from people. I respect that. Nothing good or bad can happen to this family.
Maui Cast
Belinda will be okay. She’s solid and hopefully she doesn’t get pulled into the Gary drama. I don’t care about the dead heiress storyline. Italy is Thailand for women and she took care of all the people that were trying to exploit her before accidentally falling to her death. Gary orchestrated it, but if it wasn’t him it would have been some other similar asshole. Ditzy people with money attract vultures.
Girls
Chelsea is adorable. I think she’s a party girl who is ready to settle down and she genuinely wants to do that with Richard. Chloe is seasoned and cynical, she’s just there for the boat and will bounce to the next when the time comes. They come into play because their reactions to the characters they interact with showcase how you deal with Lotus guests when you are one, but not really.
Richard
He is on a grail guest. Never get in the way of a person on a grail quest. I love Goggins and this character is especially nuanced with multiple layers. He will learn the most on this season. That scene in the bar with Sam Rockwell is the stuff of legend and it’s what fuels the human experience. We would all react like Richard did, but those raw interactions of truth are what actually make this simulation real for brief moments in time. Both those guys are walking away with Emmy’s.
When it’s all said and done, I think I’m Kate. I came for the experience, but it was just to mark an item off a bucket list and I wasn’t asking or looking for any type of awakening. If her roommates get anymore untethered, she just might pack her bags and bounce.
I think every season has one character that the story follows and I think that character this season is Richard. His journey will shape the season.