Denials

Wow. As usual, the music was excellent, the writing was sharp, and of course the acting was superb (Patrick Schwarzenegger stood out this episode). With the White Lotus, I've come to expect these aspects to shine-but the storytelling in the back half of this season is proving to be very effective.

This episode was shocking, yet surprisingly grounded. One of the things that makes this show so special is the way that tension escalates. Each character is progressively mentally unraveling, and the murder mystery aspect keeps the tone ominous. Mike White knows how to keep us guessing, and this show is the perfect example of that. I'm very excited to see how this story concludes.

Come on, really? I was so excited to see what would happen between the two women and the brothers from the last episode, but really? Saxon vomited just thinking about it, and I can understand that.

The reviewers who were complaining about the brother-brother thing in the last episode might not be able to digest what happened in this one. The show is getting interesting story-wise, but I feel like all the characters are just waiting for the final episode to do something crazy because it's the rule-killing usually happens in the finale, so they're just waiting for it.

Also, who hired that security guard? For two episodes now, he's been scared about something that someone stole from him, and to get it back, he's behaving like a thief-even though it's his own thing he's trying to take back. Were the resort owners looking for a security guard to take care of Mook or the resort?

Overall, the tension is building up. I just hope the characters don't wait for the finale and actually do something in the next episode.

Such a good job of keeping us sweating. Every scene makes you feel an emotion you can't describe. Mike White has created a show that will live on as one of the greats. Thank you for challenging the norm and forcing viewers to feel weird about the dark thoughts we all think about.

This episode had be gasp, cringe, sigh and worry. Why is the family dinámica so strange? What's going to happen with the gun? Who do you think is going to lose it? That's this episode. It keeps you guessing, and everyone is a suspect.

Will I be happy to know who did it...well no. Who's happy when someone is murdered. But, it will be epic.

Okay, "that" plot twist didn't really seem out of character for the series. The whole schitck is, pushing boundaries. The agenda seems pretty obvious, to depict the Ratliffs as so dysfunctional that Piper, by far the most "normal," will happily flee to a monastery, for a lot longer than a year. Maybe Dad will go with her, if he was actually listening to what the monk was saying.

Some of the plotlines are getting tedious, such as the guard and his gun. Is there a point other than filling time? Ditto for the three cougar friends. They're a mess, okay, I get it. But not an interesting mess.

I'm afraid Rick's plotline is headed for a twist I saw coming several episodes ago. That leaves Greg vs. Belinda as the most interesting story. No idea how that pans out.

Here's a random thought: Tim cuts a deal with the feds in return for ratting out Greg. Murder beats money laundering, right? There's been no setup at all for that idea, so they'd have to move fast.

I always forget to give a shoutout to Parker Posey from this season, but her accent and the way she acts are hilarious and adorable. This was another solid episode that pulled down a bit from the prior episode, but still kept the same energy. Seasons are always slow burns with beautiful shots and slow pacing, but it works every season. Whether it's some of the Ratliff family that are taking on the repercussions of their decisions or Rick, who is aggressively pursuing what he came to do in Thailand, they go in different directions, but somehow give that uneasy anxiety that pulls you in as you get deeper into the season. Can't wait for the last two episodes. 4/8 stars.