The White Lotus: A Study in Class and Complexity
The latest surprise bonus episode of Systematic Geekology features an in-depth discussion of HBO's acclaimed series, The White Lotus. Hosts Kevin Schaeffer and Elizabeth Pangalangan Clyde, affectionately known as Liz or Pang, delve into the intricacies of this captivating narrative that satirizes the lives of the affluent through a lens of dark humor and suspenseful storytelling. The duo examines the character dynamics and societal themes that permeate the series, offering insights into the moral complexities and transformations of the characters across its three seasons. With the recent season finale fresh in their minds, they engage in a lively dialogue about the show's exploration of class, privilege, and the human condition, while also pondering the implications of the shocking events that unfold. Join us as we unravel the layers of this compelling show and contemplate what lies ahead for its richly drawn characters.
A detailed exploration of the series 'White Lotus' unfolds as hosts Kevin Schaeffer and Elizabeth Pangalangan Clyde engage in an incisive and thoughtful analysis of its intricate narrative structures and character dynamics. In this bonus episode of Systematic Geekology, they delve into the thematic richness of the show, which is characterized by its satirical examination of wealth, privilege, and the moral quandaries faced by its characters. The duo reflects on the show's unique format, which sees each season set in a different luxurious resort, focusing on a new cast of characters while maintaining a consistent thematic core. The conversation begins with Kevin and Liz sharing their personal experiences with the series, highlighting their enthusiastic responses to its compelling storytelling and complex character arcs. They dissect the series' ability to intertwine dark humor with poignant social commentary, illustrating how the characters, despite their often despicable traits, are presented with depth and nuance that invites the audience to engage in a critical examination of their own values and societal norms. As the discussion progresses, they provide a tantalizing overview of the third season, which culminates in a murder mystery that serves as a backdrop for deeper explorations of identity, morality, and the consequences of privilege. Through their analysis, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the implications of the show's narrative choices and the broader societal critiques it presents, making this episode a must-listen for any fan of the series or those seeking to engage with contemporary television in a meaningful way.
Takeaways:
- The White Lotus series, through its rich character development, adeptly satirizes themes of wealth, privilege, and class dynamics, offering a profound exploration of human nature.
- Each season of The White Lotus introduces a new location and cast while maintaining a central murder mystery that serves as a backdrop for deeper character studies.
- The juxtaposition of characters from affluent backgrounds against those in service roles highlights the show’s critique of societal hierarchies and moral ambiguities.
- The narrative structure of The White Lotus unfolds in real-time, providing an immersive experience as viewers witness the characters’ intertwining lives over the course of a week.
- Season three delves into spiritual themes, contrasting the characters' materialistic pursuits with their search for meaning in a world defined by privilege and power.
- The complexity of character arcs, such as the transformation of initially despicable characters into more nuanced individuals, challenges viewers' perceptions and expectations throughout the series' progression.
.
.
We discuss all this and more in this one! Join in the conversation with us on Discord now!
.
Support our show on Captivate or Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our store!
.
Listen to all of Kevin's episodes:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/84fd7d06-cf1f-48e5-b358-09a01c5a6bc9
.
Listen to all of Liz's episodes:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/b4feaf6c-e817-4e86-b6f3-e13c0abc7147
Mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to our show on YouTube
You can get the video version of the show and lots of extra exclusives on our YouTube channel!
Systematic Geekology
Our show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.
Anazao Ministries Podcasts - AMP Network
Check out other shows like this on our podcast network! https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm/
Anazao Podcast Network
Our show is part of the Anazao Podcast Network and you can find other great shows like ours by checking out the whole network with this link!
Join the team over on Patreon
Sponsor our show or follow us for free on Patreon for extra content, free merch, and more interaction with the show and our hosts!
Get your SG swag!
Buy merch and represent Systematic Geekology out in the wild!
Transcript
Foreign.
Speaker B:What is the craziest vacation you've ever had?
Speaker B:This is systematic geekology.
Speaker B:We are the priest of the geeks.
Speaker B:I am one of your hosts, Kevin Schaefer, here with my fellow geekologist, Liz, AKA Pang.
Speaker B:Liz, how are you today?
Speaker A:I'm pretty good.
Speaker A:How are you today?
Speaker B:I'm doing all right for a Monday.
Speaker B:It's not bad.
Speaker B:I'm a little tired, but I had a really good weekend, so it was good.
Speaker B:But I, I did the topic we're discussing today.
Speaker B:I watched the season finale last night and then went bed, which may or may not have been the best choice because I had so many thoughts going like coming out of the finale and I'm like, I should have processed it more.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But yeah, so I've been, aside from working today, I've been reading all the like after thoughts and reviews and analysis.
Speaker B:So I'm very excited to talk about this one today.
Speaker B:But which brings it to, yeah, this episode we are discussing the White Lotus, which is the hit HBO Max original series that just ended its third season.
Speaker B:The season finale was last night as of this recording.
Speaker B:So Liz and I are fans of the show.
Speaker B:I don't know who else of the Systematic Ecology crew is, but when we found out we were both fans were like, we got to talk about this show.
Speaker B:So I'm very excited for it.
Speaker B:But Liz, before we get into the main topic, what have you else have you been geeking out on lately?
Speaker A:So random that I got into this anime and I got into it a little late, but I've been watching Dr.
Speaker A:Stone and I didn't realize I would love it so much, but I'm obsessed with it and well, I'm ready.
Speaker A:I'm almost caught up now with the whole show.
Speaker B:What's the premise?
Speaker A:So pretty much it's kind of like post apocalyptics.
Speaker A:So everyone got turned into stone.
Speaker A:And so one high school genius somehow got revived and so he had to figure out how he got revived and now he's trying to bring the world into modern day science.
Speaker A:And so obviously there's a reason why everyone got tender stones or he, you know, tries to search for the truth and you know, get everyone out of the Stone Age because everyone is stone.
Speaker B:Oh, interesting.
Speaker B:I love the title too, that song.
Speaker A:Yeah, well, and I thought it was like something just dumb.
Speaker A:But like Taylor loves to have me do like anime quizzes on YouTube because I just know so many anime and I get like 90 of them.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:But like Dr.
Speaker A:Stone was one of those ones.
Speaker A:I could never obviously pinpoint it would be like guesses anime after like a one second clip.
Speaker A:And I always got Dr.
Speaker A:Stone wrong because I've never seen it.
Speaker A:So I'm like, I'mma do it now and I love it.
Speaker B:Is it on?
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:That sounds good.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:What I think you can't out on.
Speaker B:I know you're not as big into superheroes, but this one you might actually like because it's very anime influenced like and the style is almost.
Speaker B:I mean it's called My Adventures with Superman which is on Max, which me Christian will did a full episode on it last year on that and also a Batman animated series.
Speaker B:But I've been rewatching my Adventures of Superman especially getting ready for the Superman movie and it is so delightful.
Speaker B:You know you can go back to that episode and get a more detailed description.
Speaker B:But it's basically Clark, Lois and Jimmy as interns of the Daily Planet and you know, Clark in his early days as Superman.
Speaker B:And so it, you know, and it kind of does other kind of reimaginings of iconic characters and villains and but the especially the relationship between the three of them is what really is the bread and butter of the show.
Speaker B:It's just so delightful.
Speaker B:The animation is spectacular and again it's very like anime influenced.
Speaker B:So you might like it just for the animation style alone and the characters it feels like, I mean Dragon Hobby is a superhero show, but it also could fit into the same realm of like you know, Last Airbender or I think Last Airbender isn't an anime but another anime influenced cartoon.
Speaker B:So it's a delightful show.
Speaker B:I cannot recommend it enough to whether you're a die hard Superman fan or not.
Speaker B:I'm thoroughly enjoying rewatching because when I watch it the first time I was doing an episode at a time.
Speaker B:So now going back to the able to binge it and being able to not have to pay attention so closely to what's happening.
Speaker B:But just like I know the big points and now I'm just enjoying it on a rewatch.
Speaker B:So that is a lot of fun.
Speaker A:Nice, nice.
Speaker A:Yeah, that one.
Speaker A:I mean maybe one, one day I'll like watch it but it probably won't get on my radar.
Speaker B:No, that's fair, that's fair.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:I mean it is very like.
Speaker B:And, but I do like the kind of gaps it had like the different audiences it can reach because it can reach anime fans, it can reach comic book fans, it can reach DC fans and I think like others will have enjoyment.
Speaker B:But I know you watch so much anime, it's hard to, like, prioritize.
Speaker B:But if you do ever get around to it, I would be really interested in your take on it.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker B:Sweet.
Speaker B:Awesome.
Speaker B:Well, getting into the main topic here.
Speaker B:So we are discussing the White Lotus, which, again, just completed.
Speaker B:It's season three on hbo.
Speaker B: that premiered, I believe, in: Speaker B:I'll check on that.
Speaker B:But I know it was like, you know, in the wake of COVID But, Liz, to start off, if you had to give someone an elevator pitch of what this show is about, how would you describe it?
Speaker A:Rich people get woke.
Speaker B:That's kind of a brilliant, like, one.
Speaker A:Liner there, because I think you.
Speaker B:Because I was trying to describe it to a friend a couple weeks ago, and I was like, yeah, horrible rich people go on vacation for a week and someone dies at the end.
Speaker B:But that's really only the scratching the surface of it.
Speaker B:Yes, but.
Speaker B:Yeah, but it is.
Speaker B:I mean, so.
Speaker B:Because what.
Speaker B:I love your description because it is really this fusion of ideas.
Speaker B:You think you're like, you're going to go in and just like 100% hate all these characters, and you do.
Speaker B:Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of despicable ones, but the really brilliant thing about this show is the way it satirizes themes of class, social dynamics, money and power, and fleshes out these characters to where none of them are one note, even the ones who are inherently despicable, they still have rich backstories and rich characterization.
Speaker B:Thanks to creator Mike White.
Speaker B:We'll get into that and just how the writing is.
Speaker B:But, yeah, and I was, you know, someone dies at the end of the week because.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So for we're going to do.
Speaker B:The way that we're going to do this episode is we'll talk a little bit at the beginning.
Speaker B:Just kind of a general overview.
Speaker B:So if you not watch the White Lotus, this might incentivize you to.
Speaker B:So we'll talk about it kind of in general terms for a bit.
Speaker B:Then we will get into spoilers, particularly about this season.
Speaker B:So you'll have that opportunity, if you want to listen for a bit and then pause it, go watch the show and then come back.
Speaker B:But if you are a fan of the show, bear with us for a little bit, as you'll probably already know the basics at the beginning here.
Speaker B:But, yeah, the central concept of the White Lotus is that a group of characters in each season are staying at this luxurious resort.
Speaker B:And the White Lotus is the just like is the hotel suite.
Speaker B:So each season takes place at a different White Lotus resort.
Speaker B:The first season is in Hawaii, the second is in Sicily and the one that just ended is in Thailand.
Speaker B:And you meet these, this cast of characters in each season.
Speaker B:The majority of them are rich, elite, upper class.
Speaker B:And you get a few characters who are kind of outside that's that dynamic, that world.
Speaker B:But for the most part it is these rich again, really despicable.
Speaker B:Like it's like people we zero in on and spend time with for a week.
Speaker B:But the other element of it is that in each season you know that someone will be murdered by the end of the week.
Speaker B:Each season starts off with a flash forward scene where we don't know who or even how many people will be dead, but we know that there is going to be a murder take place in summer of some kind.
Speaker B:And so as you're watching each season, that is the question in the back of your mind.
Speaker B:But what I really love about the show is that while the murder mystery element is a central component, it's more about the character dynamics and satirizing, like I said, money, class, power, all these themes and really gazing into the lives of these people for a week and learning about them.
Speaker B:What would you.
Speaker B:Well, as what was your background on the show?
Speaker B:Were you watching pretty much from the beginning or when did you start?
Speaker A:So I started with season three.
Speaker A:So that's kind of like a fun thing with the White Lotus.
Speaker A:You do not have to watch the first two seasons to appreciate the third one.
Speaker A:Now if you did watch season two from.
Speaker A:I watched it with my husband and my housemate and my housemate has watched the other two so he was able to fill us in.
Speaker A:Like, so they'll like recycle.
Speaker A:Not recycle, but like reuse characters from like the previous seasons to go into the other one.
Speaker A:So it doesn't really like do any like affect the plot or the storylines.
Speaker A:It's just, it's kind of nice.
Speaker A:If you did watch last season, you get to see maybe another character that you appreciate and there's still a part of the story, just a different way in the story.
Speaker A:So it's kind of fun.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:Like it's.
Speaker B:I mean there is an overarching narrative, but it is mostly in an anthology series in that the main cast in each season is different and like I said, the location is different.
Speaker B:But yeah, there's, there's one character that is who has appeared in all three seasons played by John Grease, who is fun fact was Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite.
Speaker B:I love when people learned that.
Speaker B:And I see that meme pop up regularly.
Speaker B:It's like, oh, this is what the Uncle Rico is the villain now.
Speaker B:So he has a really interesting storyline.
Speaker B:And then also in season three, one of the main cast members, Belinda, was a central character in season one because she's an employee of the White Lotus.
Speaker B:And so she works at the Hawaii location in the first season and then is sort of on part vacation, part work trip in the season.
Speaker B:And then there is one other character who is in the first two seasons.
Speaker B:But for the.
Speaker B:Like you said there, I.
Speaker B:And you're not the only one I know who just went ahead and started with season three because I think as the show has grown in popularity, more people have jumped onto it.
Speaker B:But then, like, as when season three was on, people were like, well, I don't really want to.
Speaker B:I don't know if I have time to go back and watch the first two seasons, but if this is one I can kind of jump on, I'll watch this season.
Speaker B:If I like it, I'll go back and watch the other two.
Speaker B:So I know people who are doing that.
Speaker B:And for me, I was.
Speaker B:I would.
Speaker B:I had the show recommended to me after the first season it completed.
Speaker B:And so I binged that first season.
Speaker B:I got really hooked on it, I think.
Speaker B:So I watched that over the course of a week about.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Let's see, that was like maybe three years ago, I think, and I really enjoyed it.
Speaker B:I was a friend who is a big TV buff and particularly murder mysteries, but he was the one who told me that while there is a murder mystery element to this show, it's not the defining feature because like I said, it's more a character study and a social satire.
Speaker B:And so that really appealed to me.
Speaker B:So I thoroughly enjoyed the first season.
Speaker B:I like season two even more and that seasons two and three I was able to watch as they.
Speaker B:The episodes aired, which was really fun.
Speaker B:And I think especially it was especially important to do that with season three because, I mean, all Red FIFA from the official White Lotus Account and so many others.
Speaker B:Like, the spoilers have been rampant off, like, after each episode.
Speaker B:So you kind of have to watch it right as it airs, if you are.
Speaker B:If you do want to be really plugged into it.
Speaker B:So I have been able to watch seasons two and three as they've aired.
Speaker B:But yeah, so I have been on the show for, yeah, a few years now, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Speaker B:And I would say so far, season two is my favorite.
Speaker B:Season three, we'll get into More in a bit.
Speaker B:It does have some of my favorite moments and scenes and characters, but I think season two for me is the strongest overall.
Speaker B:But Liz, going back to, you know, as I say, you're live like rich people get woke.
Speaker B:What.
Speaker B:What are some of your favorite elements of the show that enticed you to get into it and keep watching?
Speaker A:The only enticing thing that had me keeping watching was I was watching it with people.
Speaker A:So, like, it was already owned in my house.
Speaker A:As we kind of talked about earlier, I'm kind of a one flavor type of girl, so White Lotus is not in my flavor wheel.
Speaker A:I still enjoyed it great.
Speaker A:It wasn't like miserable watching it, but it was still, you know, not something I probably would have kept up with.
Speaker A:Probably my favorite group because these White Lotus, it had about maybe like four different groups of people we were following.
Speaker A:I really enjoyed the three girls because, like, being like a female and stuff like that and having a healthy, like close friends and stuff, it was just really funny watching them be fake nice to each other and so happy for each other.
Speaker A:And I'm like, you guys are like the fakest things I've ever seen.
Speaker A:What the heck?
Speaker A:And it was quite, quite entertaining because I'm like, it's lies.
Speaker A:What are you saying?
Speaker A:And then I really enjoyed.
Speaker A:So they had a family, as you know, from North Carolina, like this Richie Rich family and with these awful, like, Southern, like, draws and.
Speaker A:Because you're from North Carolina, right?
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, man.
Speaker B:I'm not a Duke rat or anything, so I kind of like that they like this.
Speaker B:Like, really.
Speaker B:I went to NC State, so like I and my mom went to Carolina.
Speaker B:So it was pretty funny that the ultra rich, like, kind of unlikable and very strange family was from Duke.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But yeah, but yeah.
Speaker B:So they're.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, they referenced going up multiple times with his family.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:And so, which is crazy because they were giving Charleston vibes, not really Duke vibes.
Speaker A:So I mean, if you guys are from the Carolinas, you can kind of identify which region, personality they came.
Speaker A:And so I'm like, they should have been Charleston, but whatever.
Speaker A:I mean, I'm glad they tarnished your state and not mine, but it was just, just the.
Speaker A:It's crazy how they had three kids and the one you thought was a tool you ended up liking the most at the end.
Speaker A:Just kind of how that played off.
Speaker B:And that's the way we will definitely get into the arcs there.
Speaker B:I think that family in particular was fascinating and it really did subvert your expectations of like, who you hated at the beginning and then who you actually came to.
Speaker B:Even if you don't love them, you come to understand them a little bit more and then kind of despise the people that you initially liked.
Speaker B:That's what I love about the show is that it takes you on this whirlwind of a journey where it almost plays out in real time because essentially, for the most part, they do change it some.
Speaker B:But for the most part, each episode it kind of takes place over the course of a day at the hotel.
Speaker B:So you get to see these scenes play out.
Speaker B:Except for this season, There was a three episode arc that really plays out over about 24 hours because there was.
Speaker B:There's an episode that was building up to a big party and a big confrontation sequence and then the confrontation of the party and then the aftermath of that.
Speaker B:So that played out.
Speaker B:But for the most part throughout the series, it's like you get.
Speaker B:Because it's about eight episodes each season and so you get each day.
Speaker B:Each episode is like a day of the vacation that each character is on.
Speaker B:So it's a really fascinating storytelling structure there.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But yeah, I mean, I think you hit on something that really makes the show is that you really become fascinated with these characters.
Speaker B:And like you said, so character you were referring to, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, who is just like you think of in the first episode is just a one note, complete misogynistic, like horrible person.
Speaker B:And to be fair is not necessarily good, but you become a little more empathetic toward by the end of the season.
Speaker B:And then his sister for me was one.
Speaker B:The one you like at the beginning.
Speaker A:More and I hate her now.
Speaker B:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker B:That was the thing.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, it was.
Speaker B:It was a brilliant twins where like you think at the beginning she's going to be the one that's different from the rest of her family and wants to get away.
Speaker B:And then they just like reverse that completely to reveal her true colors of like, oh, she's actually as much as she says she wants to get away from the privileged lifestyle that she's been born into, she could not live without it and is really.
Speaker B:And I have to give.
Speaker B:I mean, there are so many cast members this season in particular I can just rave about.
Speaker B:But Parker Posey, who plays the mother in this family, deserves such an Emmy for the humor, comedic timing of her delivery in every scene is absolutely brilliant.
Speaker B:But in that scene at the end where, sorry, we are getting a little into spoilers now, but so, yeah, I think we'll transition now into getting more deeper into the season.
Speaker B:So if you've not watched White Lotus yet, hopefully that gives you kind of a little bit of an overview.
Speaker B:Go watch it and then come back to listen to the rest of this episode.
Speaker B:But, yeah, so with Piper, she has this arc of, yeah, she wanted to leave behind her family after she graduates college and spend a year in Taiwan in Thailand.
Speaker B:So she had told her family that she was here for a research project.
Speaker B:But in actuality, she came to learn about the monastery that is sort of connected to the hotel, and she wants to spend a year there after graduation and kind of go on the spiritual journey.
Speaker B:And, you know, she has a site, and then she spends one night there with her younger brother Lachlan, and almost.
Speaker B:And hates it almost right away and realizes that, oh, she actually can't get away.
Speaker B:And so.
Speaker B:And like you said, you absolutely come to hate her by the end because she gives this monologue where she's just like, I just like, there are people suffering in the world, and I wish I could do something about it, but I don't think I can leave the privileges of my lifestyle.
Speaker B:And Parker Posey as Victoria, her mother just has this moment of like, that's my girl coming here.
Speaker B:It is a brilliant piece of writing and acting right there.
Speaker B:Even with the despicable characters, the themes here.
Speaker B:I just love that.
Speaker B:The journey that Mike Wait takes you on.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:Yeah, so you are initially empathetic toward her at the beginning of the season, and then by the end, you're like, oh, yeah, no, that's.
Speaker B:She's like, just like her family, if not worse.
Speaker B:Whereas Saxon, again played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, is, you know, horrible misogynistic, and, like, still has his attributes.
Speaker B:But then you come to kind of see more complexity with him by the end of the season.
Speaker B:And I don't know if I would necessarily say I root for him by the end, but I kind of want him to.
Speaker B:I kind of think maybe he can change, you know.
Speaker A:As soon as she was like, well, she was like, well, I lied because I wanted to do this monastery type deal.
Speaker A:So there is no research paper.
Speaker A:I'm like, you are just selfish and a little prick.
Speaker A:And like, what the heck?
Speaker A:So I hated her mid season.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:No, very much so.
Speaker B:And then Lachlan is just a very strange individual, like, as.
Speaker B:Just, like, one of the most bizarre.
Speaker B:All right, so, I mean, again, we're getting into spoilers here now, but it's very much.
Speaker B:This is something that they didn't.
Speaker B:Despite the fact that seasons one and two do have a lot of sexual themes, and particularly season two revolves around sex and relationships.
Speaker B:But this season introduced an incestuous plotline, which was kind of hinted at from the very beginning of the season and then played out more midway through.
Speaker B:So I don't need to go into the gory details there, but.
Speaker B:But it's not only that that is obviously despicable, but one of the things about Lachlan, I was.
Speaker B:So another thing, like you said, that this is a show where it is enhanced by watching it with people.
Speaker B:The first couple of seasons I watched by myself, but I got one of my caregivers hooked on it.
Speaker B:This is so I was able to watch.
Speaker B:We were able to watch the last few episodes together, and it was the last game of the Draxens.
Speaker B:But one of the things I remarked on night watching the season finale is so, you know, again, you're.
Speaker B:Throughout the season, you're wondering, oh, who's gonna die?
Speaker B:Who's gonna be killed?
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I kind of figured multiple characters would die in this season because it was kind of building up to that.
Speaker B:And especially it's the third season, the trio was hinted at multiple times, but they pulled a really interesting twist here where you think Lachlan is going to die because his father, who is terrified of a financial devastation he's about to encounter and is about to lose everything.
Speaker B:He contemplates not only killing himself, but his family to spare them the pain of, you know, losing everything that they've worked to hold on to in the materialistic wealth that they've accumulated over the years.
Speaker B:And he ultimately backs out at the last minute.
Speaker B:But this is just like such a white lotus thing where.
Speaker B:So the way he was going to do it was using a poisonous fruit that was on the hotel resort and blending it in with a pina colada and getting family members to drink that.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And originally he was going to spare Lachlan because he has a scene where he asks him, would you live without material wealth and stuff?
Speaker B:And Lachlan answers, yes.
Speaker B:And so he thinks he's the only one who could survive.
Speaker B:And so he doesn't let him drink, but he has the other family members, but then he takes it away from them.
Speaker B:But then Lachlan doesn't clean the blender that his father used to make the poisonous pina coladas.
Speaker B:And so he injects him unknowingly, injects himself with poison the next morning when he's making a shake.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And in this moment, you think, oh, he's dead.
Speaker B:And they make you think that he does.
Speaker B:So instead, he has a very near death experience and ends up waking up.
Speaker B:But the thing I noted when I was watching this was a.
Speaker B:The surprise of that twist.
Speaker B:But also at the very end, when the family is back on the boat and headed home, Lachlan is just looking at his phone and I'm like, this guy has such a nonchalant reaction to a near death experience.
Speaker B:I was just like, why?
Speaker B:I don't even know how to unpack this character.
Speaker B:Very detestable, but.
Speaker B:But just so strange and very much a part of this universe is all I can say.
Speaker B:But so let's also going back to.
Speaker B:Okay, so since you jumped on with season three and you're watching with people, you know, so, you know, kind of the basic premise, but were you very much invested in the murder mystery aspect or what?
Speaker B:Or were you more interested in just the character dynamics?
Speaker B:Like, what was the main draw for you throughout the season?
Speaker A:So at the beginning, I was like, oh, I hope this one doesn't die.
Speaker A:I hope this one doesn't die.
Speaker A:But at the end I was like, man, I want this one to die so bad.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, you know what?
Speaker A:I was like, they can all die.
Speaker A:Actually, if they all died, that's fine.
Speaker A:Because at the beginning, all you hear is like, you see the guy.
Speaker A:So, you know, kind of one person who isn't really.
Speaker A:Because the person who was working there, slash vacationing there, her son came so you could realize, and he was the one that was doing a session, and then he's trying to escape from gunfire, and you see a body floating face down, and so you can tell it's an Asian male.
Speaker A:And so you're like.
Speaker A:It's like, oh.
Speaker A:So I thought for the longest time it was going to be the guard who died.
Speaker B:Right, right, right.
Speaker A:I forgot his name.
Speaker A:But I was also okay with him dying.
Speaker A:Guy talk.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So I was okay with him dying.
Speaker A:He did not die.
Speaker A:Was.
Speaker A:It was unfortunate because he was just a little wimp.
Speaker A:And then I really want to mook the die.
Speaker A:Who is.
Speaker A:What's her name?
Speaker A:Blackpink, I think is the.
Speaker A:She was like the most famous person.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Wait, the mooc?
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Because she was just manipulative.
Speaker A:But, yeah, I mean, I wasn't really rooting for anyone.
Speaker A:My husband was obsessed with Chelsea because he thought she was super precious.
Speaker B:She was.
Speaker A:A lot of people love Chelsea, and.
Speaker B:I think that's the strength of the show too, is like, not that.
Speaker B:I mean, she was like a much more likable character, even though she had a questionable romantic choice because I.
Speaker B:Walter Goggins, who huge shout out to Walt and good Walt Goggins right now.
Speaker B:I know there's a lot of hype about him right now because he's on this.
Speaker B:The righteous gemstones, which Evan and I talked about recently on a what's News episode.
Speaker B:And then he's in Fallout, and he's all over the place right now and is just a brilliant actor, but his character is specifically as great as his performances.
Speaker B:His character is like, okay, Chelsea, you should probably get away from him.
Speaker B:Like, you know, it's not going to end well here.
Speaker B:And sure enough, like, by staying with him and thinking that she can save him from his darker side proves to be, you know, false.
Speaker B:And they end up both getting killed in the.
Speaker B:But I.
Speaker B:Which is pretty heartbreaking.
Speaker B:But no, I think one of the things that speaks to not just the writing, but the acting so much.
Speaker B:I think.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:With your husband there, it's like you would just become so, like, rooted.
Speaker B:You're rooting for Chelsea so much because I think this Amy Louis performance is so enamoring and you are.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:She is just like, oh, I just want to put like, her to be safe.
Speaker B:Like, please get away from these people and go live a happy life, you know?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:She has, like.
Speaker A:She pretty much is like, I believe in love and faith and being a good person and we're soul mates and all that stuff, so.
Speaker A:Which is crazy that she was the.
Speaker A:One of the most normal, normal ones.
Speaker A:And then so.
Speaker A:And then her boyfriend, her soulmate, he pretty much just has like, this grudge.
Speaker A:He's trying to find out who killed his father.
Speaker A:And he thought like, you know, the.
Speaker A:Well, he's like the owner husband is the one who killed my father.
Speaker A:But he wasn't in Thailand.
Speaker A:He was in.
Speaker A:Yeah, he was in Thailand.
Speaker A:He was in.
Speaker A:Well, I guess back.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But he was in another part.
Speaker A:And so he was all her, like, please don't do it.
Speaker A:You need to let it go.
Speaker A:You need to forgive, you need to blah, blah.
Speaker A:So he.
Speaker A:And that's just a whole nother side quest of what is the White Lotus.
Speaker A:Because then we travel with him to Bangkok and he meets a friend who became sober.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:But he's going to help trick the.
Speaker A:The people because he pretty much pretended to be this movie producer, agent or whatever or know someone.
Speaker A:And the owner, who's like this really sweet Asian woman, used to be in showbiz.
Speaker A:So he's like manipulating her to try and get to her husband.
Speaker A:And literally the, like the scene whenever he first meets his friend and the friend pretty much like, I'm so banal.
Speaker A:I found religion.
Speaker A:It was like he went into this monologue of how he realized all he wants to do is be like an Asian female getting screwed this guy.
Speaker A:And so much.
Speaker A:I'm just like, it was so uncomfortable.
Speaker A:And my husband and I were the type of people, so we just.
Speaker A:Because it's one of those things like what?
Speaker A:Yes, we're, we're pastors and stuff like that, but we don't like, shield ourselves from everything.
Speaker A:So whenever the inappropriate things came on tv, we just hit fast forward.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:Because if you like say, I'm not going to watch everything, that's not, you know, I mean, so we fast forward.
Speaker A:And so, like, there was quite a lot of scenes.
Speaker A:We just went like, okay, fast forward, fast forward.
Speaker A:We don't, we don't want to see that.
Speaker A:But it's there.
Speaker A:But gosh, I would just love to see the bloopers of that conversation because the things he was describing was so out of pocket.
Speaker A:And it was honestly, like, hilarious because he was like.
Speaker A:And I just realized he's like.
Speaker A:He was like, I would pay a little Asian woman to watch pretty much him get screwed from behind by a dude because I wanted to be the Asian woman.
Speaker A:And the way he, like, said it and detailed with such a straight face and the way, way the other actor just kind of like stared at him trying to listen but not like, offend him because he needed him was like, probably the funniest scene in the whole movie.
Speaker B:This was a show stopping scene from the entire series that this guy that got the people most talking and.
Speaker B:Well, first off, because you're watching that episode and you're like, oh, wow, it's Sam Rockwell.
Speaker B:Like, this Sam Rockwell never does tv.
Speaker B:I mean, he does and he's talking about that he does like movies and plays.
Speaker B:And so to get him on a TV show at all is a big deal.
Speaker B:And then, you know, and part of it, like, although they said that Leslie Bibb, who is his partner, she plays one of the three women in this season, they're romantic partners.
Speaker B:And so there were memes about that of like, oh, he just like, vacationing with her while she was working on the show and was like, hey, Mike, can you write me a part?
Speaker B:But apparently Mike White had him in mind from the beginning for this role and was able to convince him to do it.
Speaker B:But yeah, that monologue specifically, I was reading about it and he, Sam Rockwell did extensive training with his acting coach for months just for that scene alone because he knew it had to be delivered perfectly and it was done so well.
Speaker B:Oh my gosh, like, what?
Speaker B:That monologue is going to be used to get some kid into Juilliard one day.
Speaker B:I mean, that, you know, it's just, I mean, it is that iconic and in that well written and, and it is, I mean, it's bizarre, it's unsettling and it's just perfectly delivered.
Speaker B:And then when you have it juxtaposed with, like you said, Walter Coggins is just like drop mouth, drop facial expressions.
Speaker B:It was, there were so many memes the next day and still are because it's just but brilliant scene all around.
Speaker B:And so that's why, for me, I think it is like a lot of those elements to me are even more interesting than the murder mystery.
Speaker B:Like, I was still, I mean, I'm still very much interested in like, okay, who is going to die.
Speaker B:And like you said too, I'm like, okay, I like this character less and less.
Speaker B:I want them to die.
Speaker B:And if you can save this one, that would be great.
Speaker B:But you also, okay, I do want to go back to Guy Talk for a minute because this is something the show, I think it really explored from the beginning is the different sides of masculinity.
Speaker B:So, like, you brought up, like, with him, he's kind of a wimp and just like, you know, overly sensitive.
Speaker B:And like, not just that, but not like willing to take action.
Speaker B:Then you pair him with someone like Saxon who again, is the overly misogynistic, like it just like, you know, full of himself kind of character.
Speaker B:And so I like how it explores these different dynamics.
Speaker B:And so for Gyok's journey, him being the one to kill Rick at the end was huge for him and totally unexpected because he would be the last one you would expect to.
Speaker B:I mean, he was someone who, he's a security guard at the hotel.
Speaker B:But he couldn't even stop, like an unarmed robbery early on or take any force there.
Speaker B:So it's like, what is this guy doing in this role?
Speaker B:And you know, I mean, I, I, I, I didn't hate him.
Speaker B:I think he was just like, you know, I mean, yes, he could be more, you know, firm and, you know, take action when needed, but he's also, I kind of like, am more empathetic to the more sensitive characters on the show because they are surrounded by the more aggressive, you know, toxic masculinity characters.
Speaker B:So that was an interesting dynamic to explore.
Speaker B:And to have him again make that decision at the end and be a few, be a huge momentum in his story arc was really interesting.
Speaker B:So, yeah, so that is I, you know, getting into the characters.
Speaker B:But I think this season by far has the most spiritual themes.
Speaker B:I mean, it very much revolves around Eastern spirituality, Buddhism, religion.
Speaker B:And the previous two seasons do touch on some of those themes a bit.
Speaker B:But, like, season one is more focused on money and class.
Speaker B:Season two is focused on sex, and then season three revolves around spirituality, meaning.
Speaker B:So what was, I guess, like, was there any particular character storyline that resonated with you in a more spiritual sense of like, their journey to find meaning, you know?
Speaker B:And what did you think of how it was handled?
Speaker A:Yeah, no, no, nothing resonated with me like that.
Speaker A:Yeah, I appreciated the.
Speaker A:So if it kind of alludes to season two.
Speaker A:So pretty much one of the characters in season three, he was in season two.
Speaker A:And the person who died, I mean, if you guys haven't watched season two, we already said spoilers, so turn it off now.
Speaker A:But the person who died was his wife.
Speaker A:And so he pretty much fled the area.
Speaker A:And that's just from what I know, I didn't watch season two.
Speaker A:And so then the worker who was also in season two but now is getting training in season three, like, she recognized him and so he's like, you know, trying to like, keep her quiet.
Speaker A:It was never proven that he killed his wife, but like, he fled and his wife was.
Speaker A:Was worth a lot of money.
Speaker A:And the.
Speaker A:He offered her a hundred thousand dollars to keep quiet so he can live a peaceful life.
Speaker A:And her son, who was like, mom, let's get more money.
Speaker A:So he turned $100,000 into $5 million.
Speaker A:So I mean, that resonated with me because I would love.
Speaker A:I mean, obviously I don't want to be an accomplished to a murder or anything like that, but I would love $5 million.
Speaker B:It's kind of like I.
Speaker B:I mean, that was.
Speaker B:The really interesting thing with Belinda is like, yes, it's definitely blood money.
Speaker B:You know how horrible Gary Greg is.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But it's like you've been with this character from the beginning and you really do want her to have just some stability and comfort for her life because her and her son have been through a lot.
Speaker B:But what was really interesting there in the season finale, so Belinda has a love affair with one of the employees in the season, and it's a really sweet romance.
Speaker B:There was.
Speaker B:There was that line where they're hooking up and and she asked about consent and she's like, do you have that here?
Speaker B:And I.
Speaker B:That was one of the moments.
Speaker B:I was just on the floor laughing because again, it's just such a white lotus thing with the dialogue there.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But so you.
Speaker B:Yeah, she connects with this guy Pornchai, and they talk about starting a business together and doing things, and then she ends up just leaving him at the end and going off with her son and taking the money, which directly mirrors what Tanya did with her in season one because they had a.
Speaker B:And like, that's exactly what Tanya does.
Speaker B:And because they talked about also, like, you know, starting something together.
Speaker B:And then Tanya ends up going off getting rich and.
Speaker B:And, you know, and leaves her behind.
Speaker B:So it was fascinating to see Belinda come full circle in that respect.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But I mean, at the end of the day, they hooked up once and they talked about it.
Speaker A:They didn't plan it.
Speaker B:That's what I feel.
Speaker B:I guess people were saying, like, oh, that's kind of cruel to like.
Speaker B:I'm like, okay, think about it.
Speaker B:They only.
Speaker B:They had just met and, you know, I mean, sure, he seems like a nice guy and like, I.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, they may end up talking again or something.
Speaker B:But I agree.
Speaker B:I was like, I would not be that harsh on her in this scenario because they just met.
Speaker B:You know, she's just like, loaded with this massive amount of money away from the freaking murderer.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Like, I mean, her priority there is get her and her son to safety, leave all this behind, and then she can, you know, maybe talk with him at a later time.
Speaker B:But I agree.
Speaker B:I was like, I really don't.
Speaker B:It's not like she's leaving behind her boyfriend of five years or something like that, you know, I mean.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And they had plans to get.
Speaker A:It was a hookup.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:So I really wasn't that hard.
Speaker B:I mean, I liked the symmetry there with, you know, again with, like, her and Tanya having that as well.
Speaker B:But again, I.
Speaker B:That one.
Speaker B:I didn't think less of Belinda just because she chose to get out of there as soon as she had the money.
Speaker B:Because, I mean, realistically, I think that's what most of us would do in that scenario.
Speaker B:I mean, she deserves to go and live her life and have some safety for a while and then, you know, figure out what's next.
Speaker B:But, you know, when there are bodies all over.
Speaker B:And Gary.
Speaker B:I call him Gary Greg because he changes the name, like, to.
Speaker B:Once he goes kind of into hiding over here in Thailand.
Speaker B:But she is.
Speaker B:She knows how dangerous he Is.
Speaker B:And, you know, we are.
Speaker B:The tension is building up in that finale of, like, is she gonna get the money?
Speaker B:Is she not?
Speaker B:Is he gonna, like, find her and threaten her?
Speaker B:You know, what's gonna happen here?
Speaker B:So when she does get it and has the opportunity to leave, heck, I would absolutely do that, too.
Speaker A:You know, you would never see me again.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:If I ever disappeared, I got $5 million, you would just never see me here for me ever again.
Speaker B:And I like to say.
Speaker B:I mean, I'm not saying since then, a moral superiority sense, but I like to think I would do something good with if I had anywhere near that much money.
Speaker B:Like, I would definitely live, like, you know, set up security and comfort for, like, me and my family.
Speaker B:But then, you know, I mean, I would give, like, plenty to charities and stuff, so.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But if I was anywhere near a murderer and stuff, I would get away from them first.
Speaker B:I mean, that's just, I think, logical.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But, yeah.
Speaker B:And then.
Speaker B:Yeah, I don't know that, like, it's hard for a show like this to really find any characters relatable, necessarily, or ones that really resonate with you, like, oh, I see myself in this person.
Speaker B:But I think it's more looking at, okay, what kind of spiritual journeys do they go on?
Speaker B:And, you know, what stands out about that?
Speaker B:And I think here it was the Ratcliffe family, particularly the father, how he goes from so terrified of what financial ruin would do to him and his family that he just considers ending it all right then and there to this, like, moment at the end where he says, okay, we're going to make it through this.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And again, it is more like, I.
Speaker B:I don't take this moment as a complete, like, you know.
Speaker B:You know, like a really cheesy, like, over the top of, you know, like, they're gonna be okay kind of thing.
Speaker B:It's more.
Speaker B:They live in such a different plane of reality that they really don't know what's.
Speaker B:He doesn't know what's gonna happen for them.
Speaker B:And, you know, once he drops the bombshell that they're about to lose everything, I think they will not know what to do with themselves at first, and there will be massive tension.
Speaker B:And because, like I said, because earlier in the episode, he talks about how, like, they've never had to endure suffering and they've never had trauma.
Speaker B:I'm, like, really, like, these guys.
Speaker B:I mean, they're like.
Speaker B:The parents are probably, like, in their, like, 60s, and then the kids are, what, Saxons, like, probably late 20s, early 30s.
Speaker B:And then Piper Just finished college.
Speaker B:Lachlan is, you know, about to start college.
Speaker B:For none of them to have experience any kind of trauma, I'm like, you guys just live in such another plane of reality.
Speaker B:But nonetheless, he does have this spiritual element that he discovers there a little bit, where he's trying to imagine what it would be like without enormous material wealth and go from there.
Speaker B:So it was really interesting.
Speaker B:I mean, a lot of this show is very satirical, so it's not like it's trying to be extremely profound in that sense.
Speaker B:But I think there was enough of an exploration that was compelling from a spiritual lens.
Speaker A:I just don't understand, obviously.
Speaker A:And so pretty much the crime he did was money.
Speaker A:He works in finance and he did money laundering.
Speaker B:Big.
Speaker A:No, no.
Speaker A:But I'm like, okay, sir, you do something illegal, you don't have an offshore account.
Speaker A:You don't have a.
Speaker A:Go back.
Speaker A:You're already in Thailand.
Speaker A:You're already in Thailand.
Speaker A:You're escaped.
Speaker A:Like, you don't have an offshore account.
Speaker A:And then like, you had.
Speaker A:You had a heads up because he was like, your partner's about to flip or he's about to tell you.
Speaker A:So you literally had at least 24 hours before your account froze to move money in an offshore account or to do something.
Speaker A:But I'm like, what?
Speaker B:That was bizarre there.
Speaker B:And I mean, like, yeah, it's.
Speaker B:I mean, death, obviously, crime, like, you know, don't, you know, it's just me working in his finance like he is, but it's like, you know, okay, he didn't commit murder.
Speaker B:It's not like he's gonna, you know, be in prison the rest of his life.
Speaker B:I mean, he is, you know, wealthy upper class.
Speaker B:Like, But I had that thought too.
Speaker B:I was like, does he not just move it somewhere else or, you know, figure something out there?
Speaker B:So that I think I.
Speaker B:I don't know if it was just he panicked so much in the moment and was so afraid to tell his wife that, like, and anyone that could have given him practical advice, maybe, or probably Saxon would have recommended that too, you know, like, I, I.
Speaker B:The fact that he would withheld it from him when he works for the same company and probably could have said something like that, like, you know, put me to a different account or at least leave some there and then we'll figure it out, you know.
Speaker A:But that was like, go ahead and transfer it into, like, your son's name or something like that.
Speaker B:Right, right.
Speaker A:Go ahead and do, like a quick deeds.
Speaker A:Like, go ahead and do a quick deeds claim or something.
Speaker A:Like that and transfer your house into your son's name because like, then it's not your assets anymore.
Speaker A:They can't seize it.
Speaker A:And I'm like, sir, I only have an mba.
Speaker A:And I'm like, I've thought of like, granted, number one, don't break the law, but if you're going to do it, do it better, in my opinion.
Speaker B:Yeah, that advice.
Speaker B:Yeah, great, great one.
Speaker B:So for CIS fact, egonys, if you're going to break the law, do it smart, you know?
Speaker A:Yeah, just do it better in this case scenario, own TV in a fiction setting, do not do it in real life, please.
Speaker B:Well, and like it sounded like the company was just going to crash and burn too.
Speaker B:Like that.
Speaker B:Like it wasn't.
Speaker B:But when it was real, it was really like you said, just like, okay, his screw up and everything.
Speaker B:Like, yeah, put it in Saxon thing.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:That was.
Speaker B:That was interesting.
Speaker B:But, but I did find like the spiritual journey interesting there.
Speaker B:And, and again, going back to Piper, like how it is a complete reverse.
Speaker B:Like you think, oh, at first he's gonna be the one to get away and actually kind of embrace more eastern spiritual philosophies of, you know, letting go of a material wealth.
Speaker B:And then she is not that person at all.
Speaker B:Like, I mean, I.
Speaker B:You come you hate her, but it just also works from a storytelling perspective.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Well, so I did like that.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But yeah, it was.
Speaker B:I don't know anything else about just like, I mean.
Speaker B:Well, there was also that scene between the three women where they're kind of just like get into how Kate is now has started to like going to church with her husband and, and so like she references that.
Speaker B:I know.
Speaker B:What do you think, just in general of any of those moments or how they address religion and spirituality?
Speaker B:Like, I, I think what I liked is they do it in kind of a.
Speaker B:Like Mike Wade is never trying to say anything definitively about like, oh, this is the right way or the wrong way, but just kind of like examining different worldviews.
Speaker B:And so that's kind of what it stood out to me.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But are there any scenes like that that stuck out to you?
Speaker A:No, I mean, I could see how each.
Speaker A:It's crazy.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's three childhood friends and they each chose different paths.
Speaker A:So one became an actress and so she married a Hollywood star.
Speaker A:And so you can tell she's super vain.
Speaker A:And as they got into like fights and you know, like, they kind of like did like a little caddy, like, like expose each other, but they Made up at the end.
Speaker A:But like it was like you've always been this way.
Speaker A:You flirted with so and so's husband at my wed boyfriend and stuff like that.
Speaker A:And then you had one who, who just got married.
Speaker A:And so she's just making and she's the church lady.
Speaker A:And so they go to church and they do this and they just have the perfect life.
Speaker A:So she's definitely expounding on how great her life is.
Speaker A:And I'm like, well, for anyone who's been married longer than probably like six months, you know, marriage is not all rainbows, but all she has to talk about is rainbows.
Speaker A:And then you have the single mom who just can't make the right choice.
Speaker A:Like her career is not great, her relationship with the childhood's not great and stuff like that.
Speaker A:So I appreciate the different areas of life.
Speaker A:You know, like they, they show they did a good job.
Speaker A:Like kind of like even though it's a Richie Rich place, like you still had so many people from different backgrounds and not just Richie Rich background, like the single mom who lost a job and like the worker who's there for training.
Speaker A:So I appreciated that.
Speaker A:But I mean nothing like resonated where I had like an epiphany.
Speaker A:I'm like, man, that's a great or wow.
Speaker A:Like I'm really glad that they focused on this in the show.
Speaker A:I was just kind of like get to killing people.
Speaker B:That's fair.
Speaker B:I mean, I don't think I like, you know, it was an interesting angle to go with the more spiritual themes here, but I don't think there is.
Speaker B:I haven't watched it yet, but Mike White also did a short lived show with Laura Dern years ago called Enlightenment, which is next on my watch list.
Speaker B:Especially now that this is a White looks over but people rave about that one and how that really is a, a more deep, insightful look at spirituality and religion.
Speaker B:So I do want to check that out.
Speaker B:I think this one didn't have anything like in the season profound to say about anything like spiritual.
Speaker B:But I mean there were themes there, but for the most part, yeah, I mean I'm interested in like, you know, okay, how is the murder mystery plot gonna play out?
Speaker B:I like just the overt, you know, satirical elements of the show.
Speaker B:The humor, like I said, I mean Parker Posey had just some like just, you know, laugh out loud moments and several other characters are just, I mean whether it's the facial expressions, the dialogue, it's just so funny.
Speaker B:Throughout this season was a little darker, but seasons One and two especially, you're laughing pretty hysterically.
Speaker B:At least I was in a lot of instances.
Speaker B:So those are more the main draws for me.
Speaker B:But there is still a spiritual angle here and particularly how it examines, like, the.
Speaker B:The impact of wealth.
Speaker B:And, you know, I don't think it.
Speaker B:It's a Joe that says, like, oh, having money is instantly bad and, you know, all rich people suck.
Speaker B:Like, it's certainly a critique of, you know, social divides and classes and a satire, but it also gives nuance to characters from different backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
Speaker B:So I think that's where it's really more interesting.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Well, is there anything else about the show that either, either positive or negative that you just want to talk about or why you would recommend it to someone?
Speaker B:Because I did find it when we were talking about this because we were trying to pick a topic before the hey, Arnold episode.
Speaker B:And, like.
Speaker B:And when you.
Speaker B:We had.
Speaker B:I think we had just, like, after we picked that.
Speaker B:I forget if I brought up White Lotus or something and you're like, oh, we should do an episode on that.
Speaker B:I was actually surprised, too, because I know you're a huge anime fan and, like, that's kind of your niche.
Speaker B:So this was a really interesting one that.
Speaker B:I mean, I know it's a.
Speaker B:It's pop culture zeitgeist, but.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And I think.
Speaker A:I think I was like, only episode one or two in.
Speaker A:So I wasn't really, like, knowledgeable, like, when I went.
Speaker A:That's why we didn't go to White Lotus automatically.
Speaker B:Sure, sure.
Speaker A:When we did that.
Speaker A:But I mean, I.
Speaker A:Yeah, I would say give it a watch if you don't mind suspense and you, like, trying to figure out what, you know, like, kind of like who's gonna die.
Speaker A:Like, honestly, I can say.
Speaker A:And I like that we didn't share who actually died of the thing.
Speaker A:So we left it a little, like, elusive because, like, that's kind of what.
Speaker A:What White Lotus is.
Speaker A:Because there's still.
Speaker A:Even though it ended and you know who dies, you still don't know how it ends for, like, really anyway, if you think about it, right, like, with the woman, like, if her business or how the family's gonna recover or, you know, like, how the friends are going to, like, are they gonna stay friends?
Speaker A:So you really just don't know how it's ending and you don't know who died.
Speaker A:So I kind of love that.
Speaker A:But, yeah, if you.
Speaker A:I say watch it.
Speaker A:I'm bad at double screen syndrome.
Speaker A:So when I watched it, like, I Played matching games on my phone.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:So like, it didn't have my full attention, but like, I don't regret watching it.
Speaker B:Interesting.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:Like, I.
Speaker B:That's one of the things I.
Speaker B:This is where I have, like, I can't distract myself with anything else with like, I have to be fully in tune on it.
Speaker B:So there are other shows like, that I can be looking at my phone or like, especially if it's like a sitcom or something that I've seen a million times.
Speaker B:But this is one that actually like, does demand my full attention.
Speaker B:So it's interesting you say that like, not a criticism.
Speaker B:I just want it like it's like different preferences.
Speaker B:Right, right.
Speaker B:And I, and I do think it is a show that is really fun to watch with people.
Speaker B:I watch a lot of TV just on my own, but.
Speaker B:And I usually go, you know, the movie theaters with people.
Speaker B:But you know, like, this is one.
Speaker B:If you do have someone you can watch it with, it is really entertaining too because you can in a.
Speaker B:It's fun to speculate with the other person, like, oh, who do you think is gonna die?
Speaker B:Or what do you think is gonna happen between these characters?
Speaker B:Or, you know, whatever.
Speaker B:It's fun to build off each other and also to react to some of the most shocking, funny and unsettling moments throughout.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:Yeah, but if you guys watch White Lotus, let us know.
Speaker A:Are you happy with the ending?
Speaker A:I mean, I'm content with the ending.
Speaker A:Like, I'm very.
Speaker A:Husband was not content.
Speaker A:I was.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:I was.
Speaker B:I mean I was content in some ways.
Speaker B:Like, I think with the Racklers, I wanted a little more like.
Speaker B:But it also, I mean, you know, I saw a bunch of like posts on Blue sky saying, oh, you could just make a whole spin off show of just that family and like, like examining how they adjust to the aftermath.
Speaker B:But then it would be a very different show because then it wouldn't be like white motives because that would be them in the.
Speaker A:You know, but yeah, yeah, my prediction.
Speaker A:So I guess you're gonna know who doesn't die, but you don't know if they all survived.
Speaker A:It's like the family is gonna, is gonna be the ones in season four, but they're going to end up working at like a White Lotus or like kind of like maybe the Help or something like that to try and you know what I mean?
Speaker A:So that's my prediction.
Speaker A:We're going to see them again, but they're going to like kind of be down a few pegs.
Speaker A:Society where they're like, you know, like maybe the mom is a housekeeper now like in another White Lotus or something like that because they can't afford the luxury.
Speaker A:So that's my prediction.
Speaker A:We'll see if I'm right.
Speaker B:Oh, that would be a really interesting dynamic.
Speaker B:Is that something they haven't really done before of like having someone go from, you know, rich to have it all to oh, now they're on the, you know, working class end of the spectrum and how do they adjust to that?
Speaker B:That would actually be really interesting and funny.
Speaker B:And I can say, I mean, I would, I mean the family is just wild and you know, for the most part extremely unlikable, but nonetheless, like you're still enamored with them and like I would love to see Parker Posey more because she is just having the time of her life playing this role and delivers so much perfect comedic timing that I would love to see more.
Speaker B:So that I think is a great idea.
Speaker B:Maybe, maybe if Mike Wake happens to come across this podcast among the millions of others that are talking about the show, maybe he'll take your idea.
Speaker B:That would be.
Speaker A:Maybe.
Speaker A:That'd be great.
Speaker A:I want royalties.
Speaker A:$5 million please.
Speaker B:I think that's absolutely fair request.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Awesome.
Speaker B:Well, yeah, so definitely go watch White Letters.
Speaker B:You know, let us know what you think of it.
Speaker B:Liz, do you have any other recommendation either related to this topic or something completely different?
Speaker B:Doesn't have to be related.
Speaker A:The one other show that.
Speaker A:Well, a few other shows I've seen outside of anime, I guess I also finished season two because my husband made me watch it.
Speaker A:So I guess you can go watch that.
Speaker A:Season one and two of Severance.
Speaker B:Severance is absolutely brilliant.
Speaker B:I get not.
Speaker B:And we actually just put an episode out reviewing the first two seasons and yeah, so excellent recommendation there.
Speaker B:Mine would be if you are, you know, like kind of wanted something in the same vein ish as White Lotus.
Speaker B:This is more like straight up murder mystery.
Speaker B:But when I really enjoyed they came out last year on Netflix called the Perfect Couple with Nicole Kidman.
Speaker B:I really enjoyed that one.
Speaker B:They it also, you know, deals with wealth and class and is a big murder mystery.
Speaker B:It was a lot of fun.
Speaker B:It was a limited series.
Speaker B:Like I don't know if they are gonna make more seasons or not.
Speaker B:I think I heard something they might, but I don't know.
Speaker B:But, but, but even if they don't, I think it works as a very self contained story.
Speaker B:So I did enjoy that.
Speaker B:The Perfect Couple on Netflix.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Thanks.
Speaker B:Awesome.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Well Liz, this was a blast.
Speaker B:Thanks so much for joining me.
Speaker B:Today.
Speaker A:No problem.
Speaker A:Thanks for suggesting this episode.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:And also for everyone out there.
Speaker B:Please support us on Patreon.
Speaker B:Leave us a review wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker B:Leave us a review on YouTube for any episodes there.
Speaker B:Because will promises to either frolic through a field of flowers or do something to that extent if we get enough likes on any one video.
Speaker B:So we appreciate all your support, we appreciate our Patreons, and remember, we are all a chosen people.
Speaker B:A geekdom of priests, baby.
