**Spoiler warning for anyone who has not watched Seasons 1, 2, or 3 of The White Lotus. This article delves into sexual and taboo topics regarding storylines in all 3 seasons.
Already ripe with full frontal male nudity, The White Lotus has never been shy to throw penises our way. Every season has seen penis after penis. In its third season, HBO's The White Lotus has delved into territory and subplots that many argue crosses the line of provocative storytelling and gratuitous shock value. While the series was previously applauded for its willingness to explore taboo themes, the latest episodes have sparked controversy and extreme discomfort among viewers and critics.
Season 1: Testing the Waters
Season 1 seems to pale in comparison when it comes to shock value. Set in Hawaii , the first season of The White Lotus made a name or itself by being a reverse “who done’ it”. With a stellar cast and great storytelling, It was easy to see why fans were drawn to the freshman season. The White Lotus began with penis in season 1 and this quickly became a common theme throughout the seasons, but by far, the major idecensey explored was that of hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett) shitting in a guests suitcase. Was this simply HBO “testing the waters” to gauge audience reaction? What they can get away with in future installments? This question is only brought up in hindsight once viewers watch seasons 2 and 3.
Penis count=2
Season 2: Pushing the Boundaries
Season 2 of The White Lotus, set against the picturesque backdrop of Italy, was also no stranger to controversial moments. One extremely unsettling subplot involved the characters Jack and his (presumed) uncle Quentin, whose relationship took a disturbing turn when they were caught in an incestual gay act. Viewers were left to decide on their own if this was incest or not, as it was eluded to they may not have been related at all… but never explicitly expressed. Regardless, this scene blurred the lines of familial boundaries and left audiences questioning the necessity of such a storyline. Despite the discomfort, some defended the writing choice as a means to delve deeper into the complexities of power and manipulation within elite social circles.
Penis count=2
Season 3: Crossing the Line
The current season, set Thailand, has somewhat amplified the shock factor. The storyline involving the Ratliff brothers, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), has been particularly contentious. Early episodes hinted at an inappropriate closeness between the siblings, with Schwarzenegger’s character seemly enticing his little brother with full nudity, culminating in episode five with a drug-fueled brother on brother kiss during the “Full Moon Party” on a lavish yacht. This was later trumped in episode six, where flashbacks revealed a sexual encounter between the brothers (and another character) aboard the yacht. This season’s gay incest wasn’t eluded to it was shot out of a proverbial “cannon” at audiences. These scenes have ignited a shitstorm of criticism, with many viewers expressing their disgust and accusing the show of resorting to sensationalism.
Penis count=3 (so far)
Viewer and Institutional Backlash
The explicit depiction of incest has not only cringed audiences but also drawn disgust from institutions associated with the show's characters. Duke University, for instance, has voiced strong objections to the use of its logo in scenes involving the Ratliff brothers (family), particularly with scenes depicting sensitive incest and suicide. Frank Tramble, Duke's vice president of communications, condemned the unsettling scenes and its potential to misrepresent the university's values, stating that the show "simply goes too far." Additional subplots only add kerosine to the fire with Sam Rockwell’s newly introduced character “Frank” exploring similar taboo lifestyles that some have found to be unnecessary to the storyline all together.
Artistic Intent vs. Sensationalism
While creator Mike White and executive producer David Bernad have defended these writing choices as “deliberate explorations of taboo subjects within the context of wealth and privilege”, the execution has left many viewers, questioning the balance between artistic intent and the pursuit of shock value. Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger acknowledged the discomfort surrounding these scenes, admitting that he found it challenging to watch them with his parents due to their provocative nature and went as far to disclose he felt nauseated while filming the scenes. One has to then question “why agree to film the scenes, then?” Are actors being forced into unsettling situations by producers, directors and studio heads? Is there any input actors have in storyline when involving such taboo scenarios as homosexual incest? Whats next, beastiality or incestual child molestation or beastiality WITH incestual child molestation? Producers are left with nowhere to go but down, which would be a good thing for most viewers who will stil tune in to possible future seasons.
The White Lotus has undoubtedly carved a niche for itself by delving into the darker facets of human behavior and dynamics. However, the escalation of controversial content in this latest season raises questions about the boundaries of storytelling and just what audiences are willing to put up with. While challenging societal norms and exploring complex themes can be useful and valuable, there is a fine line between thought-provoking narratives and gratuitous sensationalism strictly to carve a name for itself. In its pursuit of pushing boundaries, The White Lotus has alienated a large swath of its fan-base and undermined itself in attempting to garner acclaim.