Mike White does not apologize for the slowness of The White Lotus Season 3: “It’s the atmosphere, guy”

Criticized for its more contemplative rhythm, the new season of the HBO series divides. But its creator fully assumes his choices and defends a narration where the discomfort is slowly distilled.

The third season of The White Lotus has just ended and crinks a few teeth, many fans reproaching these new episodes of the series of “tell nothing”And to hang out in length. Mike White, Showrunner and architect of this dramatic comedy on the rich idle people, has argued his point of view without filter in the official podcast.” ILya had complaints that there is no intrigue. I find it strange because … there has never been really some. Part of me just says: guy, it’s the atmosphere. I build a world. »»

The White Lotus installed a singular tone, between hilarious dialogues, heavy atmosphere and latent threat. And for White, that’s exactly that, the heart of the project of this season 3: ” I make you languish! (“I’m edging you” in VO, the fact of staying constantly on the verge of orgasm to ultimately multiply the power). Take advantage of the wait. If you don’t want to be in suspense, then get out of my bed. So do not expect White to apologize for the particular tempo of this season in Thailand, and moreover the figures seem to prove it right: the final attracted 6.2 million spectators to the United States – a record for the series. And HBO has already given the green light for a season 4.

A cut scene

In the same time Podcast, Mike White also revealed the content of one of the scenes he had to delete from the final. An unexpected sequence, centered on Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), the young woman who wanted to spend a year in a monastery, before changing her mind because of the conditions of accommodation and the food: ” She decides to lose her virginity in the last episode. And she actually has sex with Zion, Belinda’s son (…) just after leaving the monastery, she says to herself: ‘I have to sleep with someone.’ ‘ Finally, for lack of space – the episode already lasted 1:30 – The scene was cut.

“ÇA would have added ten minutes. And it gave a romantic vibe, when in parallel we were trying to kill a family. Narratively, that was too much. »»