White Lotus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

I don’t think she’s a gold digger, at least not consciously. Shane was a rebound guy, she enjoyed the perks of his wealth and everything moved too fast. I think she’s weak and naive, but not conniving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

I don’t think she’s a gold digger, at least not consciously. Shane was a rebound guy, she enjoyed the perks of his wealth and everything moved too fast. I think she’s weak and naive, but not conniving.

+1 She looked miserable at the airport when she took him back. She is not happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

I don’t think she’s a gold digger, at least not consciously. Shane was a rebound guy, she enjoyed the perks of his wealth and everything moved too fast. I think she’s weak and naive, but not conniving.

+1 She looked miserable at the airport when she took him back. She is not happy.

In the end she decided to make the "faustian bargain" (her words when she was confiding in Belinda), but it's obvious she is conflicted/not happy about it and who knows how that turns out down the road. It isn't clear if she ended up having a chance to talk to her mother about what she was feeling before reuniting with Shane at the airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

I don’t think she’s a gold digger, at least not consciously. Shane was a rebound guy, she enjoyed the perks of his wealth and everything moved too fast. I think she’s weak and naive, but not conniving.

+1 She looked miserable at the airport when she took him back. She is not happy.

In the end she decided to make the "faustian bargain" (her words when she was confiding in Belinda), but it's obvious she is conflicted/not happy about it and who knows how that turns out down the road. It isn't clear if she ended up having a chance to talk to her mother about what she was feeling before reuniting with Shane at the airport.

I wonder if they’ll continue on to the second leg of their honeymoon in Tahiti!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The show would have been so much better if there was some nuance to Shane instead of making him a one note parody of an unlikeable bro that everyone in the crowd can root against.

So many instances where the show's creators clearly think their audience is too dumb to grasp things unless they pound you over the head with it.

I think he did have a little nuance. He had a few moments where he showed some actual caring about Rachel. He looked genuinely shaken up when he stabbed Armand. He and his mom have a real relationship!

I didn’t understand how Rachel could fall in love and marry him, then hate all his personality traits as soon as the honeymoon started.
They portray her as innocent, but to get that far in the relationship she had to totally ignore some huge red flags.

She is a gold digger and had temporary remorse which she quickly overcame.

I don’t think she’s a gold digger, at least not consciously. Shane was a rebound guy, she enjoyed the perks of his wealth and everything moved too fast. I think she’s weak and naive, but not conniving.

+1 She looked miserable at the airport when she took him back. She is not happy.

In the end she decided to make the "faustian bargain" (her words when she was confiding in Belinda), but it's obvious she is conflicted/not happy about it and who knows how that turns out down the road. It isn't clear if she ended up having a chance to talk to her mother about what she was feeling before reuniting with Shane at the airport.

I wonder if they’ll continue on to the second leg of their honeymoon in Tahiti!

[Anonymous]

I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Good point. And good for Quinn, his mother is horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

Paula was at least genuinely trying to help someone else, misguided as it was. Rachel’s only trying to help herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

Paula was at least genuinely trying to help someone else, misguided as it was. Rachel’s only trying to help herself.

Was she, though, or was she just trying to screw over the Mossbachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

Paula was at least genuinely trying to help someone else, misguided as it was. Rachel’s only trying to help herself.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Her actions led to serious wrongdoing. She has a lot to be ashamed about, much more than Rachel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

Paula was at least genuinely trying to help someone else, misguided as it was. Rachel’s only trying to help herself.

Was she, though, or was she just trying to screw over the Mossbachers?

I think it was both. She cared and wanted to help the boyfriend but she hated that the Mossachers were so clueless about the struggles of the locals. She though it was the perfect plan to help him and to stick it to them.

[Anonymous]

Mike White is a really good writer. I could talk about these characters and their motivations all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it interesting that all of the weakest, “worst” characters were all still very tethered to their parents in adulthood, as if they’re just perpetual little children. We saw Rachel call her mom, Olivia went and cried to her mom, Shane’s mom shows up on his honeymoon, Tanya’s literally carrying her dead mom around, Mark’s problems spiraled when he found out about his dad’s past... By contrast, we know nothing at all about the families of Armond, Belinda, or Paula. They’re out there making their own ways without the benefit of (or burden from) parental ties. And then there’s Quinn, who seems to have found redemption in choosing Mother Earth over his own mother.

Paula is way worse than Rachel.

Paula was at least genuinely trying to help someone else, misguided as it was. Rachel’s only trying to help herself.

Was she, though, or was she just trying to screw over the Mossbachers?

I think it was both. She cared and wanted to help the boyfriend but she hated that the Mossachers were so clueless about the struggles of the locals. She though it was the perfect plan to help him and to stick it to them.

He's not her boyfriend, though. He asked her to stay in Hawaii and she basically laughed at him, it was so inconceivable. He was a fling. She didn't even care about him enough to text when their plan was in jeopardy. I think it's possible she fooled herself into thinking that this was a righteous thing to do but even a sliver of thought would have revealed all the flaws in the plan. I don't think she really believed that she was doing a good with this plan - I think she used that as pretext.