Locating the Lotus

After the Four Seasons hotels in Italy and Hawaii, The White Lotus is set to film in Asia next. There's plenty to choose from

- VIR SANGHVI

Have you seen the American streaming show, The White Lotus? Season One, filmed and released during the pandemic, focussed on a group of wealthy guests and the staff at a luxury hotel in Hawaii. It was a huge hit because it showed up the rich for their sense of entitlement and the way in which they treated the staff at The White Lotus. (Actually it was a Four Seasons in Maui.)

I enjoyed the show but I thought reviews and the Emmy nominations were a little over the top.

I changed my mind about The White Lotus only when I watched the second season, in my view one of the best streaming shows ever made. It took the same basic idea. But instead of the one-dimensional theme about entitlement, the story had many layers from family dynamics to infidelity to crime.

It helped that it was set in the Four Seasons Taormina, a more beautiful hotel than the Hawaii property. Even if you did not like the plot you could feast your eyes on the location.

There will be a third season of The White Lotus and though the makers have not announced (as I write this) where it will be shot, we do know that it will be set in Thailand. The team has visited Chiang Mai, the Golden Triangle (the land bordering Burma and Laos), Bangkok and Koh Samui to scout for locations.