John Powers

I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man.

I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man.

I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man.

Okay, let's continue. Hands on buzzers. Mayor of New York. Yes, yes, yes. He's a Jew, Bob. Yes. That's right. Ed Koch is a Jew. Ten points.

Okay, let's continue. Hands on buzzers. Mayor of New York. Yes, yes, yes. He's a Jew, Bob. Yes. That's right. Ed Koch is a Jew. Ten points.

Okay, let's continue. Hands on buzzers. Mayor of New York. Yes, yes, yes. He's a Jew, Bob. Yes. That's right. Ed Koch is a Jew. Ten points.

That's his name. All right.

That's his name. All right.

That's his name. All right.

One of the most exquisitely cynical lines in 20th century literature comes in the Italian novel The Leopard. A young aristocrat is telling his uncle, the prince, why he's joined up with Garibaldi's revolutionaries. This is precisely the thinking behind successful TV franchises, which try to change things just enough to seem fresh, while still serving up what the audience loved the first time.

One of the most exquisitely cynical lines in 20th century literature comes in the Italian novel The Leopard. A young aristocrat is telling his uncle, the prince, why he's joined up with Garibaldi's revolutionaries. This is precisely the thinking behind successful TV franchises, which try to change things just enough to seem fresh, while still serving up what the audience loved the first time.

One of the most exquisitely cynical lines in 20th century literature comes in the Italian novel The Leopard. A young aristocrat is telling his uncle, the prince, why he's joined up with Garibaldi's revolutionaries. This is precisely the thinking behind successful TV franchises, which try to change things just enough to seem fresh, while still serving up what the audience loved the first time.

Except for maybe Fargo, no show tackles this challenge more honorably than The White Lotus, the Emmy-grabbing HBO series in which rich, entitled white folks cause trouble at enviably gorgeous beachfront resorts.

Except for maybe Fargo, no show tackles this challenge more honorably than The White Lotus, the Emmy-grabbing HBO series in which rich, entitled white folks cause trouble at enviably gorgeous beachfront resorts.

Except for maybe Fargo, no show tackles this challenge more honorably than The White Lotus, the Emmy-grabbing HBO series in which rich, entitled white folks cause trouble at enviably gorgeous beachfront resorts.

Written and directed by Mike White, The White Lotus doesn't merely introduce new characters and locales every season —the latest one is set in Thailand— but also shifts its tone and preoccupations. Still, it follows a template. Like its predecessors, season three begins with an unidentified dead body and then flashes back to show us who's dead and why.

Written and directed by Mike White, The White Lotus doesn't merely introduce new characters and locales every season —the latest one is set in Thailand— but also shifts its tone and preoccupations. Still, it follows a template. Like its predecessors, season three begins with an unidentified dead body and then flashes back to show us who's dead and why.

Written and directed by Mike White, The White Lotus doesn't merely introduce new characters and locales every season —the latest one is set in Thailand— but also shifts its tone and preoccupations. Still, it follows a template. Like its predecessors, season three begins with an unidentified dead body and then flashes back to show us who's dead and why.

We watch the guests arrive at the White Lotus, a wellness-centered resort on the island of Koh Samui. These include the well-heeled Ratliff family from North Carolina. The parents are played by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey. There are three 40-something girlfriends led by Jacqueline, a TV star played by Michelle Monaghan.

We watch the guests arrive at the White Lotus, a wellness-centered resort on the island of Koh Samui. These include the well-heeled Ratliff family from North Carolina. The parents are played by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey. There are three 40-something girlfriends led by Jacqueline, a TV star played by Michelle Monaghan.