Warning: this article contains spoilers for all seasons of The White Lotus.
HBO Max’s dark comedy anthology seriesThe White Lotushas gained popularity since its premiere in 2021, but for the upcoming season, the show may feel very different from its original premise and tone.The White Lotusis one of the best comedy shows of recent years, but season 3 veered more than ever into dark, existential territory.
Each iteration ofThe White Lotus’s cast of charactersexcels at sowing chaos into a seemingly idyllic vacation, balancing the turmoil that real people can face with outlandish rich people problems. The result is something incredibly entertaining, and this even excludes the murder mystery aspect ofThe White Lotus, which also marks the show’s biggest change over the years.
The Stakes For The White Lotus Season 4’s Deaths Are Drastically Different From Season 1
Each Season Has Included More Deaths
The White Lotusof 2021 looked drastically different fromThe White Lotusof 2024, and the deaths are a big part of that. The first season of the series had a much smaller cast, and the stakes were noticeably lower. While the characters did get into arguments with each other,the only person truly spiraling was Armond.
Even then, Armond’s struggles with drug use and stress over the guests' behavior were far less existential than the qualms of the characters in season 3. Ultimately, when Armond broke into Shane’s room to defecate in his suitcase and was accidentally stabbed as a result,it was a complete accident, and still kept a level of humor.
Subsequently,The White Lotusseason 2 raised the stakes again, butit did so in a way that still kept the show’s dark humor perfectly intact. Tanya McQuoid, who is still the most iconic character in the entire series, went out in a way that felt entirely fitting for her character and created ahilariousThe White Lotusmeme.
Importantly, in both seasons 1 and 2,The White Lotusmaintained its pattern of creating funny deaths that did not end the show on too much of a dark note.
Thus,The White Lotusseason 2 saw the death of one main character, Tanya, and several supporting characters. Though the series was setting Tanya up to be the victim for the final few episodes,how her death happened and the deaths of her companions on the boat were a great surprisewhen it came to the finale.
Importantly, in both seasons 1 and 2,The White Lotusmaintained its pattern of creating amusing deaths that did not end the show on too much of a dark note. In this, season 3 marks a stark departure from this tone.Season 3’s multiple deaths were downright sad, all hints of dark humor had been removed.
By theend ofThe White Lotusseason 3, both Rick and Chelsea were dead, along with several supporting characters, including Jim Hollinger, who was revealed to be Rick’s father.This gaveThe White Lotusseason 3 the quality of a Shakespearean tragedy. If season 4 follows this same path, it may become even more intense.
The White Lotus' Deaths Have Become Much More Intentional Over Time
Season 1’s Death Was A True Accident, Season 3’s Were Tragic
Part of what made the first two seasons ofThe White Lotusso great was just how crazy and unexpected their deaths were. Armond’s death in season 1 was certainly foreshadowed by his drug use and growing lack of concern for his job, but when it actually came down to it,it was utterly ridiculous in the best way possible.
While Armond’s death was unexpected, Tanya’s season 2 death was somewhere in the middle. She was purposefully being targeted by Gary for her money, causing her to end up on the boat in the first place. However, when it came down to it,Tanya slipping and hitting her head was an accident.
The absurdity of their deaths gave the series an interesting take on death as a whole. It is always random and senseless. In its own way,The White Lotusseason 3 showed this as well, but its tone was entirely different, completely changing how the show’s conclusion felt.
When Rick reaches an unstable state after speaking to Jim and decides to kill him, it is an act of desperation, of human intervention. This could have been the case for Tanya, but having her slip made the ending much funnier. In contrast,Rick and Chelsea being shot after Rick kills Jim is a purposeful retaliation.
The White Lotusseason 4 has the same choice to make between an accident and murder.
It could be argued that both season 2 and 3’s deaths were unavoidable.Gary set out to kill Tanya, and Rick set out to kill Jim. Gary’s plans didn’t exactly work, but the outcome was the same. Rick and Chelsea’s deaths were even darker.The White Lotusseason 4 has the same choice to make between an accident and murder.
The White Lotus Season 4 Will Likely Be The Darkest Outing Yet
Mike White May Choose To Up The Stakes Again
It will likely be a while beforeThe White Lotusseason 4 hits HBO Max, but if it continues the direction previous seasons have been heading, it will be the darkest season yet. So far,each subsequent season has included more deaths and a darker tonesurrounding those deaths.
While the show’s creator, Mike White, could choose to return to a truly accidental death like season 1, that could prove tricky after the stakes have been raised so high by seasons 2 and 3. To a certain extent, after 3 successful seasons,the pressure is up to do something even more extreme or unexpected.
Part of the fun ofThe White Lotusis trying to guess who the victim and murderer could be, so more deaths could change audience interaction with the show quite significantly.
If the show does continue with that formula, that would mean thatseason 4 could include numerous main character deaths and even darker motives. Part of the fun ofThe White Lotusis trying to guess who the victim and murderer could be, so more deaths could change audience interaction with the show quite significantly.
The White Lotusseason 3 earned 23 Emmy Award nominations.
At the same time, more deaths and more extreme set-ups for them will become passé as the show progresses. Audiences may come to expect this, forcing the series to stray too far from its comedic roots. With the popularity that now surroundsThe White Lotus,season 4 presents both a great opportunity and a tricky balancing act with its tone.
The White Lotus
Cast
The White Lotus is a television series that explores the interactions of guests and staff at an upscale tropical resort. Premiering in 2021, the narrative unfolds over a week, revealing underlying complexities and tensions among the resort’s seemingly ideal travelers and employees.
