The White Lotus Season 3 to be Set in Thailand: Expect Major Changes!

HBO has declared that The White Lotus season 3 will be set in, Thailand. This new location will significantly transform the show’s landscape as the previous seasons were set in upscale resorts in Hawaii and Italy.

Thailand, which is outside the Westernized world, will be the show’s first location with such a setting. This change could create a completely different set of difficulties for the characters, who are often portrayed as humorously self-centered, pampered, and incredibly affluent.

The guests staying at the hotel in The White Lotus season 3 may encounter unforeseen challenges due to cultural differences between Thailand and the Western world, unlike in the previous seasons.

It is anticipated that the creator of The White Lotus, Mike White, will continue with the show’s core satirical theme in the upcoming season 3, despite his close friend Johnny Knoxville almost revealing the new location.

The characters portrayed in the show are typically depicted as insular, entitled, childish, and extremely privileged. The staff of the luxury resorts they stay at reinforce their egos by fulfilling their demanding needs, given their societal status.

White has mentioned that season 3 will have a renewed focus on Eastern tradition, religion, and spirituality, which was absent in the previous seasons. This suggests that by setting the show in Thailand, it will undergo significant changes.

The majority of Thailand’s citizens practice Buddhism, which is the country’s national religion. Buddhism’s influence is evident in all aspects of Thai culture and infrastructure. Modern life in Thailand incorporates Buddhist temples and monks, and the teachings and philosophy of the Buddha are embedded in daily life.

Many Thai people actively practice Buddhist principles and integrate them into their daily routines. While other religions or faiths are not discriminated against in Thailand, the impact of Buddhism is unavoidable in both individual and societal contexts. This extensive religious devotion also results in certain cultural expectations that tourists should take note of.

Although the official cast of The White Lotus season 3 is yet to be announced, it is probable that the show will feature wealthy American vacationers similar to the previous hotel guests, through both new and familiar characters from the White Lotus. These characters, in the previous seasons, appeared to be indifferent to anything outside their narrow worlds, including religious doctrines or spiritual philosophies.

In Thailand, where Buddhism has a significant influence, these characters are likely to encounter new challenges and might struggle with the proper conduct when encountering monks or Buddha statues. Moreover, the show could potentially explore a new theme in which some of the characters aim to adopt Buddhist ideals into their lives.

Thailand’s contemporary culture is still strongly influenced by ancient traditions, which could potentially catch some of the unaware White Lotus season 3 cast members off guard. In Thailand, concepts like respect, hierarchy, and maintaining calm are taken very seriously, and many Thai people strictly adhere to these values.

Making any comment, whether positive or negative, about the royal monarchy or the Buddha can land foreigners in hot water, and even lead to arrests. Additionally, it is customary in Thailand to show immense respect towards elders and to be polite to waitstaff at restaurants. These traditional customs can create further trouble for impatient and bossy American guests.

The strictness of the punishment for violating Thai customs adds new tension for the White Lotus characters in season 3. In the previous seasons set in Hawaii and Italy, these cultural considerations were not relevant to the characters. Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles,” is renowned for its people’s efforts to maintain their calm demeanor, and it is viewed as dishonorable for someone to display anger or frustration in public.

If the characters in season 3 remain true to their usual behavior, it is almost inevitable that one or more of them will have some sort of emotional outburst and face cultural ridicule in ways that have not been seen on the show before.

In Thai culture, “losing face” is a permanent public disgrace or embarrassment that can harm one’s reputation. The concept of “saving face” is prevalent and involves avoiding negativity and conflict. Even if a person has a valid reason to be upset, expressing anger in public is considered a sure way to lose face.

Instead, it’s better to hide one’s feelings and avoid criticism or complaints that could lead to public scrutiny. Given the character types in The White Lotus, it seems likely that someone will “lose face” in season 3.

The clash of American and Eastern cultural norms in The White Lotus season 3 will provide a platform to highlight the issue of Western wealth. Seeing wealthy Americans “lose face” in Thailand would underscore the idea that wealth should not excuse or enable disrespectful or inappropriate conduct.

This discourse would also question why such self-centered and inconsiderate behavior is tolerated in American society. It would be gratifying to witness the local culture respond to The White Lotus guests’ harmful and inconsiderate actions in a natural way.

The upcoming season of The White Lotus will introduce its characters to the cultural norms and traditions of Thailand, which could create conflict and frustration for the wealthy American vacationers.

In order to avoid “losing face,” it would be wise for them to adopt customary greetings like the wai, as well as be aware of customs like sharing meals and avoiding touching someone’s head. Failure to follow these customs could attract negative attention and hinder the experience. The shift towards cultural assimilation in season 3 adds a new layer of drama and sets it apart from the show’s previous seasons.

About The White Lotus

The White Lotus is an American satire comedy television miniseries created, written, and directed by Mike White that premiered on HBO on July 11, 2021. Season 1 was set in Hawaii, and season 2 in Sicily.

The White Lotus follows the vacations of various hotel guests over a week as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. But with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees, and the idyllic locale itself.

Jennifer Coolidge and John Gries star in both seasons with a rotating cast in the two seasons. The series was renewed for a third season.