The White Lotus Season 2

Release Date: October 30, 2022
Director: Mike White
Starring: Jennifer Coolidge, Aubrey Plaza, Theo James, F. Murray Abraham

Alright folks, buckle up, because we’re diving into the second season of The White Lotus. After the wild success of season one, I was buzzing with excitement for what was to come next. I mean, if season one taught us anything, it's that vacations at the White Lotus resorts end in luxury, drama, and, oh yeah, a dead body or two. But this time, instead of Hawaii, we’re transported to the sun-soaked, history-laden, mafia-filled paradise that is Sicily, Italy.

The Plot Thickens (and So Does the Sexual Tension)

From the very start, season two gets the ball rolling with a hook: Daphne (played by the underrated Meghann Fahy), a guest at the White Lotus in Sicily, stumbles upon a dead body while enjoying one last swim. Before you know it, more bodies turn up and, as expected, chaos is around the corner. Let’s be real—finding a dead body at a resort is already a red flag, but more than one? That’s a full-blown siren screaming, "Welcome to Sicily, where you either leave with sunburn or in a body bag!"

Right off the bat, you’re asking yourself: Who’s going to bite the dust this time? Could it be one of the self-destructive couples? The wealthy oddballs? The clueless tourists? If you thought season one was stressful, this season takes it to another level. The show is pure tension with a sprinkle of, “Oh my God, did that really just happen?” moments. All while Mike White gives us a stunning view of Sicilian cliffs, Mediterranean waters, and, of course, beautifully crafted hotel rooms that make you want to throw all your savings into an overpriced vacation package.

Tanya’s Back… And So Is Her Crazy!

Jennifer Coolidge returns as the fan-favorite Tanya McQuoid. Remember her from season one, the eccentric heiress with zero self-awareness? Well, she’s back, and just as hilariously clueless as ever. This time, she’s brought along her assistant Portia (played by Haley Lu Richardson), who may be cute but has the dating IQ of a doorknob. Honestly, the girl couldn’t pick a good guy if her life depended on it, but we’ll get into that later.

Tanya’s plotline is arguably the craziest this season, and that’s saying something considering we’ve got a whole family of cheaters, horny old men, and Italian sex workers running wild through this episode buffet. Tanya hooks up with a bunch of supposed high-society gay men led by Quentin (Tom Hollander), but let me tell you, these guys aren’t here for brunch and mimosas. Nope, they have something much more sinister in mind. Remember the saying, "Don’t trust rich people with crumbling palazzos"? No? Well, now you do.

Cameron, Daphne, Ethan, and Harper: Swingers or Swindlers?

Now, let’s talk about the show's most confusing, cringe-worthy, but can’t-look-away couple: Cameron (Theo James) and Daphne. They give off serious swinger vibes, but it’s not entirely clear if they’re just twisted like that or if it's all an act. Then, there’s Ethan (Will Sharpe) and Harper (Aubrey Plaza), the "we're so intellectual, we don’t need to have fun" couple. Harper is clearly not buying into the idea that everything’s perfect in paradise, especially when it comes to Cameron and Daphne’s way-too-happy-go-lucky relationship. I mean, who would? Those two make 'normal' look fake.

So, when Ethan suspects something happened between Cameron and Harper you know things are about to go off the rails. It’s the classic jealousy-fueled spiral. Ethan goes from being this mild-mannered tech guy to basically wanting to beat Cameron to a pulp. It’s all very toxic masculinity meets midlife crisis, and when you throw in a potential affair, let’s just say it’s one hell of a cocktail.

But the real kicker? After Harper admits to kissing Cameron (which, by the way, we’re all pretty sure was more than just a kiss), Daphne’s reaction isn’t what you’d expect. Instead of losing her mind, she practically shrugs it off and takes Ethan for a "long walk." And by walk, I mean something far more interactive. They even out the playing field, and suddenly everyone’s back to their fake smiles and bikini shots by the pool. These people have more emotional baggage than the overhead compartment on a Ryanair flight.

The Di Grasso Clan: Three Generations of Male Idiocy

The Di Grasso family might just be my favorite dysfunctional unit this season. You’ve got Bert (the legendary F. Murray Abraham), Dom (Michael Imperioli), and Albie (Adam DiMarco)—three generations of men, all of whom have a hilariously different approach to women. Bert and Dom are basically cut from the same sexist cloth, though Dom’s trying to do better (keyword: trying). But Albie? Albie is your classic "nice guy" who, as Portia not-so-tactfully points out, needs to stop being such a pushover.

Throughout the season, Albie’s infatuation with Lucia (Simona Tabasco), a local sex worker, is pure comedic gold. This poor guy actually thinks she’s into him for who he is, and not for his wallet. Spoiler alert: He’s wrong, but hey, love’s blind—and broke, apparently. Meanwhile, his dad is going through his own midlife meltdown and Bert is, well, Bert. The guy’s just horny, constantly. Every scene he’s in, he’s ogling women, and you can’t help but laugh at how shameless he is about it. Generational trauma? No, more like generational horn-dogging.

Portia and Jack: Trainwreck Waiting to Happen

Now, back to Portia. This girl—bless her heart—is a walking disaster in the romance department. She’s stuck working for Tanya, whose grip on reality is as loose as her fashion sense, and when she finally tries to break free, she ends up with Jack (Leo Woodall), a cheeky, grungy Brit who just screams, "bad news." He’s the type your mom warns you about, but you date anyway because he's “fun.”

Turns out, he’s also sleeping with his “uncle” Quentin, which, yeah… let that sink in. There’s something just so perfectly twisted about the way Portia keeps stumbling through bad decisions like she’s in a 2000s rom-com gone wrong. Portia and Jack’s “relationship” is like watching a slow-motion car crash. You can see it coming, but you’re stuck, eyes glued to the screen, knowing full well it’s going to end in flames. And it does. Sort of.

Lucia and Mia: The Hotel Hookers With Hearts of Steel

Speaking of flames, let’s not forget Lucia and Mia. These two are not playing around. From hustling hotel guests to blackmailing the entire staff into letting them do whatever they want, they’re the definition of “getting that bag.” They’ve got a plan, and they execute it flawlessly. Mia, in particular, has a great arc where she goes from messing around with the hotel’s piano player to almost killing him, then taking his job. I mean, that’s one way to audition for a gig, right?

Lucia, on the other hand, is basically the queen of manipulation. She cons Albie, gets 50,000 euros from his dad, and walks off into the sunset like a boss. No remorse, no second thoughts—just pure, unadulterated hustle. And frankly? You love to see it. These girls played everyone and came out on top.

The Big Finale: Gays, Guns, and a Yacht

Now, the finale. Oh, man. Tanya, in full Coolidge brilliance, finally realizes that Quentin and his merry band of Sicilian gays are planning to kill her. But instead of being the victim, Tanya channels her inner action hero and shoots her way out of trouble. Well, almost. I mean, of course, she trips over herself and drowns. Classic Tanya, right? The woman can’t even survive her own victory. But I’ve got to give it to her—her last stand was one for the ages.

And just like that, the season wraps up with death, drama, and a whole lot of "WTF just happened?"

Final Verdict

So, how does season two of The White Lotus stack up? In short: brilliantly. Mike White somehow made lightning strike twice, giving us a season filled with rich, entitled, and deeply flawed characters that you can’t help but love and hate in equal measure. Between the jaw-dropping twists, laugh-out-loud moments, and that iconic Sicilian backdrop.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (9/10)