IMO, Mike White, the creator, writer and director of The White Lotus, is a genius. There, I said it. (Keep the stream going after the end of S2E7 to experience his thoughts on the characters.) From his time at the end of the '90s writing for Judd Apatow on Freaks & Geeks, through that perfect vehicle for Mr. Jack Black, 2003's School of Rock, and now the plethora of awards for this series, well this man hasn't been involved in anything that wasn't exceptional. I was wondering how he would wrap up all the story threads unwound in the previous six episodes, and he sure did that. And all the actors seem committed to his vision. Of course, the glue holding things together this season is the same as last: Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya. It's not possible to adequately describe her, as both the character and her embodiment of it are uniquely hers. And this year's additions include Aubrey Plaza as an outspoken wife becoming increasingly frustrated by her uptight husband (who seems to feel guilty even over the things he *didn't* do). There are 3 generations of Italian-American men seeking their Sicilian roots, and indeed anything to help ground their overindulgent desires. There's a local, high-end call girl and her best friend, a wanna-be singer; a couple of hotel staff members of note; and the one and only Tom Hollander, as Quentin, whose cadre of middle aged gay men anoint Tanya as their Diva Queen. Hollander has his own unique ability to be the most polite and respectful man you've ever seen, yet still project a little menace. Anyway, the "murder plot" all comes out in this 7th and final episode, and I dare anyone to see it coming in all its complexity and nuance. This episode, in particular, is the best of both seasons and so I rate it a 9/10 stars, which I rarely do.
