It looks like this vacation will pay off. A little over a week ago, the highly anticipated Season 3 of the HBO seriesThe White Lotusdebuted its first episode, and the numbers were pretty impressive: theMike White(Enlightened) series managed to attract over 2 million viewers across linear HBO network and its streaming platformMax. However, a week’s worth of performance has shown that there’s an even bigger portion of the audience that watches the episode a few days later or waits to see everyone’s reaction before pressing play. The first episode tripled its viewing numbers by the timeEpisode 2 debuted.
According toThe Wrap, the debut episode “Same Spirits, New Forms” shot up to 10.2 million viewers in the U.S. This is more than a 90% increase when you compare it tothe series' Season 2 premiere, which raked in 5.3 million viewers. One of the reasons for the significant increase may be anticipation: fans of the series had to wait three years tocheck out what happens nextin the White Lotus wellness center in Thailand. Another possible reason for the popularity of the episode is a lot more risqué, because series starPatrick Schwarzenegger(Gen V) makes his debut on the show with a full-frontal nude scene, and it had the internet talking about it for a week.
The follow-up episode, titled “Special Treatments,” also had an excellent performance. It had over 3 million viewers on Sunday, which means that more people were watching live thanon the season premiere. Should the viewing numbers escalate accordingly throughout the week, it’s possible that the HBO show becomes – once again –one of the hit titlesfor the network. Not by chance, the series scoredan early renewal for Season 4before Season 3 even premiered.
What Happened In ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 1?
In the first episode, viewers are introduced to the new guests of the luxury resort. They include Tim (Jason Isaacs), Laurie (Carrie Coon), Rick (Walton Goggins), Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Lochlan (Sam Nivola), Sritala (Patravadi Mejudhon), Victoria (Parker Posey),Season 1’s Belinda(Natasha Rothwell), who are welcomed by local staff member Mook (Lalisa Manobal). Just like in previous seasons, we see the super-rich acclimate to the vacation spot and start hiding their secrets while mistreating the resort staff. We also found out that there will be a shooting later in the season and everyone will be at risk, but for now they can just kick back and relax by the pool.
Aside from being massively popular in viewing numbers,The White Lotusis also a critics' favorite. Season 3 is already boastinga 96% scoreonRotten Tomatoes, andCollider’sEmma Kielyreviewof the new season called it “irresistibly entertaining.” Kiely wrote:
“Focusing on the disgustingly wealthy, largely amoral, and, for most of them, moronic guests of the White Lotus hotel franchise, the show has been at the forefront of the “eat the rich” trend of storytelling that has dominated TV and cinema for the past few years.”
HBO drops new episodes ofThe White Lotuson Sundays. you may stream the series on Max.
The White Lotus
Source:The Wrap, Nielsen
