‘White Lotus’ Creator Mike White Defends Season 3 After Viewers Call It Too Slow: ‘I’m Edging You! If You Don’t Want to Be Edged… Get the F— Out of My Bed’

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Mike White, the mastermind behind “The White Lotus,” has addressed concerns raised by viewers of Season 3 regarding the show’s tempo. Some spectators have voiced their dissatisfaction, claiming that the current season moves too gradually and is uninteresting over its extended eight-episode span – a length unprecedented for the series thus far. The finale itself was exceptionally prolonged, running for an impressive 87 minutes.

White expressed on the official “White Lotus” podcast that his critics are clearly affected by the series’ rhythm and atmosphere. He found it peculiar when they criticized the lack of a conventional plot. In essence, he likened the experience to foreplay: if someone doesn’t want to participate in the build-up, then they should leave. He’s creating a world, and if you don’t appreciate the anticipation, then move along. Essentially, don’t expect a climax if you’re not willing to indulge in the teasing. If you can’t handle the anticipation, then depart. In simpler terms, don’t dictate the pace; get out of the bed if you dislike it. Don’t visit unless you’re prepared for what’s to come.

Initially, several TV reviewers, such as Alison Herman from EbMaster’s, observed that “The White Lotus” began its current season somewhat sluggishly compared to past seasons. Nevertheless, the slow tempo that some spectators found in Season 3 didn’t diminish their enthusiasm for tuning in weekly. The finale garnered an impressive 6.2 million viewers, shattering the previous “White Lotus” viewership record by a substantial 30%.

After wrapping up Season 3, fans of “White Lotus” are left pondering where the series might head next. The creator has hinted, “For the fourth season, I’d like to step away from the familiarity of the crashing rocks landscape a bit, but there’s always space for more mysteries unfolding at the White Lotus resorts.

In another part of the podcast discussion, White shared one particularly “disappointing” aspect of the final episode that didn’t make it through – a scene depicting Piper losing her virginity to none other than Belinda’s son, Zion.

White commented on Piper, stating, “She chooses to experience sexual intimacy for the first time in the final episode’s storyline.” He further explained, “There’s a scene where she admits, ‘Saxon is correct about this one thing. I need to get this out of the way.’ After leaving the monastery, her desire for sex is evident, but adding a sexual encounter would have extended the episode by 10 minutes. It also introduced a romantic-comedy feel amidst the intense plot of trying to kill the family with the pong pong fruits. Ultimately, it seemed like I was trying to cram too much storyline into a single episode.

Listen to White’s full interview on “The White Lotus” official podcast here.

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2025-04-07 23:46