The third episode of The White Lotus Season 3, directed and written by Mike White, continues to showcase the show’s signature combination of dark humor and social commentary. However, it doesn’t quite ] match the intensity or intrigue of its previous seasons.

The episode begins with Saxon receiving calls from the office, prompting Timothy to enforce the resort’s no-phone policy for the family. Meanwhile Chelsea, after tagging along with Rick into town, finds herself in a precarious situation. Jaclyn attempts to convince Laurie to have a vacation fling with Valentin, while Gaitok grows increasingly anxious about potential reprimands from his bosses. While these plotlines move forward, they often feel like they’re going through the motions rather than compelling narratives.

What continues to stand out in this season is the lack of a truly enthralling hotel manager performance. In the first two seasons, Armond and Valentina were pivotal to the show’s success, offering a mix of comedy, professionalism, and a unique chaotic energy. Both characters juggled multiple crises at once, maintaining a veneer of politeness while harboring deep disdain for the guests they’re forced to serve. Their intricate personalities and interactions were integral to the show’s charm] and played key roles in advancing the plot. Armond, in particular, was one of the most memorable characters in The White Lotus, a chaotic force that hasn’t been replicated in this season. The absence of such a performance leaves a noticeable void, as the show lacks that strong central figure who could balance the drama with dark comedy and compelling character development.

The third episode of Season 3 seems to meander, as though the show is simply going through the motions of setting up the inevitable big death. In a time when other shows like Severance are exploring far more innovative ideas, it makes one wonder, why watch The White Lotus? Though the show’s style of dialogue and social commentary remain, they no longer land as effectively as they did in the last two seasons. Many of the characters here come across as either unlikeable or flat, lacking the factor that made earlier seasons so engaging.

While it’s still early in the season, and there’s room for the show to subvert expectations, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something is missing. The performances, though not bad, fail to capture the magic of earlier seasons. Instead of subverting the usual rich-people drama with depth and nuance, this season feels more like a repetition of old ideas, leaving the audience disengaged.

The lack of a compelling hotel manager, paired with a reliance on familiar tropes, contributes to the feeling that the show has lost some of its spark. The characters don’t seem to hold the same emotional weight as they once did, and much of the dialogue feels like it’s trying too hard. Ultimately, this third episode of The White Lotus is a reminder of how powerful its earlier seasons were, yet it also highlights how the show may be losing its edge. Whether or not the season will recover and deliver the same intensity remains to be seen, but for now, it feels like the show is treading water rather than swimming forward with the same urgency and complexity that once defined it.

Rating: 6/10