The White Lotus Season 3 Teaser Does Little To Ease My Fears About The Show's Future

Summary The White Lotus season 3 teaser showcases Thailand and a powerhouse cast, but viewers' concerns linger about the show's formula growing tired.

Each season of The White Lotus centers on a murder mystery set at a resort, which was inventive when the show debuted.

The Emmy-winning series faces pressure in its third season as it aims to keep viewers engaged with a familiar-yet-effective formula.

HBO's first-look footage of The White Lotus season 3 doesn't do much to ease my fears about the show's future. After two highly successful outings, the pressure is on for Mike White's black comedy-meets-drama anthology to continue its impressive run. Initially intended to be a six-part limited series, The White Lotus season 1 made such an impression on critics and audiences alike that White and his team returned for a sophomore installment the following year — and I was more than onboard to watch another group of wealthy tourists confront dark mysteries and brutal truths.

Despite a fresh cast each season, The White Lotus' three installments share some connective tissue. Most importantly, the series centers on the often-disgruntled guests and always-disgruntled employees who cross paths at the fictional White Lotus resort chain. What really works is that each season opens by teasing a murder, with the potential victim and suspects coming into clearer focus by the day. Plus, my wanderlust is satisfied by the series' backdrops: While the first two seasons ventured to Maui and Sicily respectively, season 3 is set in Thailand. But even a new locale can't fix some worrying issues.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The White Lotus Season 3 Teaser Promises More Of The Same From The HBO Show

Mike White's Successful Formula Could Feel Tired In The White Lotus Season 3

Close

While I was excited to see White Lotus' season 3 teaser reveal Thailand as the next chapter's backdrop, I'm on the fence about the series' upcoming outing. As always, The White Lotus season 3's cast is bolstered by great performers, including Carrie Coon (The Leftovers), Walton Goggins (Fallout), and Jason Isaacs (The OA). For those sure-to-be-powerhouse performances alone, I'll be tuning in each week. Still, I can't help but feel worried about the show's concept growing tired. The formula is effective-yet-simple: disparate vacationers show up at a resort, dark secrets are revealed, and someone dies.

Even the characters who aren't directly involved in the killing have tangential and thematic connections to the foul play.

We spend the whole season of a White Lotus installment learning who, exactly, is involved in the death. Even the characters who aren't directly involved in the killing have tangential and thematic connections to the foul play. The first season focused on the nature of money — on what wealth does to a person — and the sophomore season delved into the nature of sex — a means of connection, control, and endless insecurity. White Lotus season 3 is a satirical look at death and spirituality, but I worry that's not enough to mix up the show's well-established formula.

Related The White Lotus Season 3 Story & Central Themes Teased By Star A new star added to The White Lotus season 3 cast teases the story, central themes, and overall scale to expect from the upcoming episodes.

Season 3's First Look Does Little To Ease My Fears About The White Lotus' Future

The White Lotus Season 3 Needs To Add Something New To The Emmy-Winning Mix

Close

After a few seasons, the once-inventive White Lotus formula could start to feel a bit tired. While I hope that isn't the case, the brief look at season 3 suggests its more of the same: secrets that don't make it home and fancy vacations. Although the third season seemingly won't feature Emmy-winning actor Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya — her character was one of very few who appeared in both seasons — the rest feels worryingly familiar. I want to be proven wrong by The White Lotus — it sure wouldn't be the first time the series surprised me.

The White Lotus season 3 is slated to premiere on HBO and Max in 2025.