The White Lotus is a weird show. I appreciated the cinematogrophy and it was interesting for the most part, I just don't know what the viewer is supposed to take away from it. I found its point to be very enigmatic.
The White Lotus is a weird show. I appreciated the cinematogrophy and it was interesting for the most part, I just don't know what the viewer is supposed to take away from it. I found its point to be very enigmatic.
I laughed hard, I cringed harder, and I wanted to book my next Hawaiian vacation so it hit all the marks for me. I also immediately wanted a sequel but then realized that type of weird surprise magic probably can't be done twice in a row.
I paid zero attention to this simply due to the subject matter, but seeing those names attached and finally watching the trailer I'll have to check it out now
Like Hemi, the subject matter didn't interest me or my wife.
That being said We will give it a go.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
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The White Lotus is a weird show. I appreciated the cinematogrophy and it was interesting for the most part, I just don't know what the viewer is supposed to take away from it. I found its point to be very enigmatic.
It's subjective of course, but I took this away from the show:
Spoiler!
In general, i think the theme is class divide. Specifically a sort of privilege that exists among the guest and the hotel employees. It also bleeds into the colonialism/corporatization of "paradise".
We see each hotel guest essentially make the life of the staff objectively worse. They all come in, do their damage (kill the manager, get a young kid arrested, promise and later renege on a business deal) and go home like nothing has changed. These people's week in paradise left a lasting and detrimental impact on the hotel and the working class. While the guests can go home better for it. The family is closer (will get to the kid), the couple get back together, the spinster has found some solace.
The rich guests face zero consequences for their actions. The working class take the burden.
Now, the issue is the kid choosing to stay, which I didn't like cause it sort of threw off the theme. He could have easily just went back home to his life on his gaming system and phone and it would've matched with the theme; however, i think he is the exception that proves the rule in this case. I can see why they went that way.
Mix in the fact that the show was hilarious, well acted, amazing soundtrack, and a tight 6 episodes, it was easily my favourite show of 2021.
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It's subjective of course, but I took this away from the show:
Spoiler!
In general, i think the theme is class divide. Specifically a sort of privilege that exists among the guest and the hotel employees. It also bleeds into the colonialism/corporatization of "paradise".
We see each hotel guest essentially make the life of the staff objectively worse. They all come in, do their damage (kill the manager, get a young kid arrested, promise and later renege on a business deal) and go home like nothing has changed. These people's week in paradise left a lasting and detrimental impact on the hotel and the working class. While the guests can go home better for it. The family is closer (will get to the kid), the couple get back together, the spinster has found some solace.
The rich guests face zero consequences for their actions. The working class take the burden.
Now, the issue is the kid choosing to stay, which I didn't like cause it sort of threw off the theme. He could have easily just went back home to his life on his gaming system and phone and it would've matched with the theme; however, i think he is the exception that proves the rule in this case. I can see why they went that way.
Mix in the fact that the show was hilarious, well acted, amazing soundtrack, and a tight 6 episodes, it was easily my favourite show of 2021.
Yeah, I considered those points as well, but something about it doesn't sit right with me.
Spoiler!
The fact that Rachel embraced Shane at the airport on their return home made very little sense to me. "I'll learn to be happy", she says. What does that even mean? You married an entitled egomaniac, who you truly saw on the honeymoon. Why is him killing the manager a reason for you to go back to him?
Similarly, the friendship between the 2 girls reached a point where but for some major personality changes, was irreparable. The fact that Kai was caught stealing shouldn't have been the catalyst for Paula to repent and rekindle her friendship with Olivia.
The one story that fits the theme you mentioned is Tanya and Belinda. I felt really sorry for Belinda and could see Tanya's 180 coming the moment she met that dude.
I think we'll watch the second season considering it's an anthology, but hope that the message is a little clearer.
So it turns out that most of the shows I enjoy have some form of military in it. Whether it be CIA, Special Ops, Navy, etc. shows such as 24, The Unit, Homeland and just recently Jack Reacher. I've watched quite a few but what are some other shows you people recommend in this category?
Also speaking of The Unit is that show on any steaming device?
If you haven't seen the BBC shows Line of Duty (6 seasons) or Bodyguard are great
Yeah, I considered those points as well, but something about it doesn't sit right with me.
Spoiler!
The fact that Rachel embraced Shane at the airport on their return home made very little sense to me. "I'll learn to be happy", she says. What does that even mean? You married an entitled egomaniac, who you truly saw on the honeymoon. Why is him killing the manager a reason for you to go back to him?
Similarly, the friendship between the 2 girls reached a point where but for some major personality changes, was irreparable. The fact that Kai was caught stealing shouldn't have been the catalyst for Paula to repent and rekindle her friendship with Olivia.
The one story that fits the theme you mentioned is Tanya and Belinda. I felt really sorry for Belinda and could see Tanya's 180 coming the moment she met that dude.
I think we'll watch the second season considering it's an anthology, but hope that the message is a little clearer.
I think looking for a clear message in White Lotus is misguided. It’s prestige drama (or dramedy). The point is that people are complex and we’re all compromised. Don’t expect good guys and bad guys and clear moral messages.
Spoiler!
For example, when Rachel embraces Shane and says she’ll learn to be happy, she’s doing what most people end up doing in life - taking the path of least resistance. If that doesn’t leave you feeling inspired, it’s because it’s not meant to.
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Originally Posted by fotze
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Yeah, I considered those points as well, but something about it doesn't sit right with me.
Spoiler!
The fact that Rachel embraced Shane at the airport on their return home made very little sense to me. "I'll learn to be happy", she says. What does that even mean? You married an entitled egomaniac, who you truly saw on the honeymoon. Why is him killing the manager a reason for you to go back to him?
Similarly, the friendship between the 2 girls reached a point where but for some major personality changes, was irreparable. The fact that Kai was caught stealing shouldn't have been the catalyst for Paula to repent and rekindle her friendship with Olivia.
The one story that fits the theme you mentioned is Tanya and Belinda. I felt really sorry for Belinda and could see Tanya's 180 coming the moment she met that dude.
I think we'll watch the second season considering it's an anthology, but hope that the message is a little clearer.
Well even with Tanya and Belinda...
Spoiler!
Belinda ended up with a fat stack of cash at the end, and likely is better off not trying to go into business with a person like Tanya. I'd say she easily has the happiest ending of any of the staff, and it even shows Tanya in a good light as even though she reneged on her deal at least she left Belinda with something that could still be positively life changing. Tanya was the only one to treat any of the staff as an actual person and not a simple servant
So it turns out that most of the shows I enjoy have some form of military in it. Whether it be CIA, Special Ops, Navy, etc. shows such as 24, The Unit, Homeland and just recently Jack Reacher. I've watched quite a few but what are some other shows you people recommend in this category?
Also speaking of The Unit is that show on any steaming device?
Obviously you previously watched Jack Ryan on Prime, as well as Reacher?
The Americans might fit. It's a pretty great series.
So it turns out that most of the shows I enjoy have some form of military in it. Whether it be CIA, Special Ops, Navy, etc. shows such as 24, The Unit, Homeland and just recently Jack Reacher. I've watched quite a few but what are some other shows you people recommend in this category?
Also speaking of The Unit is that show on any steaming device?
I believe Burn Notice is on Disney+. It is awesome.
So it turns out that most of the shows I enjoy have some form of military in it. Whether it be CIA, Special Ops, Navy, etc. shows such as 24, The Unit, Homeland and just recently Jack Reacher. I've watched quite a few but what are some other shows you people recommend in this category?
Also speaking of The Unit is that show on any steaming device?
The Night Manager is excellent.
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Finally got around to a Station Eleven and loved it. I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories and they’ve been done to death recently but this felt really fresh. It was nice to see a little light in the doom and gloom of the genre.
That's what it was for me. Too many of these shows in this genre are tired takes on "everything's ****ed, we're all animals again and the strong destroy the weak". It's become so bleak.
This truly captured a nice take on a post apocalyptic society with kindness, trust, collaboration and support amongst "rivals", and importance of art and meaning in life regardless of hardship around the human race that is remaining etc.
There's so many shows like this lately and I just can't get into them. I don't understand the appeal, as connecting with characters in a positive way is huge for me. Maybe I'm in the minority, I guess?
There's so many shows like this lately and I just can't get into them. I don't understand the appeal, as connecting with characters in a positive way is huge for me. Maybe I'm in the minority, I guess?
I definitely missed the positive connections in White Lotus, but picked up on it early on. Then it was just a fascination with how horrible they could actually be. But ya, definitely not a theme I'd like to follow often.
There's so many shows like this lately and I just can't get into them. I don't understand the appeal, as connecting with characters in a positive way is huge for me. Maybe I'm in the minority, I guess?
I hope the popularity of shows like Ted Lasso let producers know that there's an audience for programming that can tell great stories but still be happy.
I love a good depressing, intelligent crime show but it's great to balance that out with something positive that is still story driven (not garage reality TV).
So it turns out that most of the shows I enjoy have some form of military in it. Whether it be CIA, Special Ops, Navy, etc. shows such as 24, The Unit, Homeland and just recently Jack Reacher. I've watched quite a few but what are some other shows you people recommend in this category?
Also speaking of The Unit is that show on any steaming device?
It is a mini-series, but Generation Kill
There isn't another show/movie that I have seen that reflects the modern military like this show.
It is so on point on so many universal military truths.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
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I hope the popularity of shows like Ted Lasso let producers know that there's an audience for programming that can tell great stories but still be happy.
I love a good depressing, intelligent crime show but it's great to balance that out with something positive that is still story driven (not garage reality TV).
I think the generalization "horrible people doing horrible things" is being applied too broadly here. two of my favorite series that I picked up last year (Succession and White Lotus), I consider the characters flawed, spoiled, out of touch, outwardly happy/self-assured, inwardly miserable. but even though I'm not like these people I still relate to them because they interact with their world believably and consistently.
might be just me but I don't find either show depressing in the slightest. I'd put both of them in the dark comedy category. maybe it's how the little/common folk generally don't get much justice or vengeance that bugs a lot of people? that's sort of just real life, but I can see the desire to find more of an escape from that.
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Yeah, I laughed my ass off watching White Lotus and Succession. Whereas I found shows like Mindhunter and True Detective to be a total downer, even though they’re about justice and have admirable protagonists. I couldn’t get through more than a few episodes. I hear Mare of Easttown is really good, but I’m in no rush to watch it either.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Yeah, I laughed my ass off watching White Lotus and Succession. Whereas I found shows like Mindhunter and True Detective to be a total downer, even though they’re about justice and have admirable protagonists. I couldn’t get through more than a few episodes. I hear Mare of Easttown is really good, but I’m in no rush to watch it either.
Yeah, I was the same way with White Lotus. Really enjoyed it and the humour helped levitate some of the depressing themes. I still need to watch Succession.
I was definitely speaking more to shows like Mindhunter and True Detective. I really enjoy both but they can be pretty draining. TD, specifically is just a downer but really well done. It's also the one that seemed to set off the rest of genre for well made crime dramas that are also just really dark and depressing. Mare of Easttown could be in there. The Outsider (though supernatural). The Killing. The Sinner. Broadchurch. Cardinal. Even Ozark, Bloodline, etc.
They're all great shows but you need to sprinkle in some positivity between series or you end up thinking the world is a hell hole.
