If there is a protagonist in this ensemble, it is Armond (Murray Bartlett), the resort manager. In Episode 1, we see him training a new employee, Lani, while dropping exposition in the most natural way possible. We quickly learn that Armond is a recovering addict with five years of sobriety.

There is nothing quite like the opening of HBO’s The White Lotus . Before we even meet the guests, we are greeted by a haunting, discordant soundtrack and a coffin being loaded onto a plane. It is the ultimate spoiler: we know someone dies. But in a masterclass of storytelling, the premiere episode, "Arrivals," proves that how we get there is far more interesting than the destination.

Then there is Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), the character who would become the show’s unlikely icon. In Episode 1, she arrives carrying the ashes of her mother. She is a vortex of neediness and grief. Her scenes are funny, but deeply sad. She seeks a spa treatment to assuage her grief, but her inability to connect with the staff (and her immediate attachment to the boat instructor, Greg) hints at a deep, aching loneliness. She is the "ugly American" tourist, but one written with profound empathy.

The relationships between characters reveal underlying tensions and power struggles. The staff's demeanor and interactions with guests versus among themselves introduce questions about service, servitude, and social status.

"The White Lotus" is a drama television series created by Mike White that premiered on HBO in July 2021. The show is an anthology series that takes place at a luxury resort, with each season featuring a new cast and storyline.