The White Lotus is half-way through its third season, and it’s still one of the best shows on Max. This satirical dramedy (with a pinch of whodunnit) about rich people staying at a hotel for a week is still making people laugh, squirm, and wonder who’s going to die at the end of the season. Fans have seen drama and comedy play out in the hotel chain’s luxurious resorts in Hawai’i, Italy, and currently Thailand. The third season has started pretty slowly, but season two also started on a relatively slow burn in comparison to season one and managed to end spectacularly. Moreover, season three has eight episodes, which is more than the first two—and things started to heat up last Sunday. Episode number five will surely build on that momentum.

In terms of the series as a whole, it’s fascinating to watch a few characters’ stories return while mostly fresh ones come into the mix. Every season is technically a complete story, and series creator Mike White does a commendable job of mixing the old with the new. As far as the best episodes go, they contain enough humor, character development, tension, and memorable drama to keep the viewers absolutely fixed to their screens. As there have only been 17 episodes so far with still more to come, this top ten is liable to change over time. Until then, though, here are the HBO staple’s ten greatest entries so far.

10

“Recentering”

Season 1, Episode 4

“Recentering” gives us a peek at Paula (Brittany O’Grady) and Olivia’s (Sydney Sweeney) backstory. Apparently the latter is the jealous type. Also, Mark (Steve Zahn) tells Quinn (Fred Hechinger) that he cheated on his mother and bought her $75,000 worth of bracelets to make it up to her, which maybe wasn’t the smartest move. In the meantime, Shane’s mother (Molly Shannon) has come to visit—so Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) has yet another reason to hate this honeymoon. By now, Shane (Jake Lacy) wants to call Armond’s boss, who is so high up he’s not even on the premises.

Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge in one of The White Lotus‘ greatest performances) gets asked out by someone who’s not in the same BLM that she’s thinking. Dinner leads to some less-than-ideal conversations, including one about cancel culture and the alleged downfall of the white man. This episode isn’t quite as funny as the others, but it does offer an excellent example of why it’s so essential to have a locked door. Armond (Murray Bartlett) has truly gone off the deep end.

9

“That’s Amore”

Season 2, Episode 5

Ethan (Will Sharpe) and Harper (Aubrey Plaza) talk about the used condom she found—a well-executed argument, as Ethan totally comes off as a liar. Later on, we see some clear bitterness between him and Cameron (Theo James). Meanwhile, Albie (Adam DiMarco) finds out that Lucia (Simona Tabasco) is a sex worker, and the conversation they have afterward is quite awkward. The viewer wonders how their relationship will develop. One of the episode’s highlights is when Tanya asks Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) if she thinks she’s oblivious.

Tanya waving to some woman she mistakes for the Queen of Sicily (who doesn’t exist) is hilarious. Dominic (Michael Imperioli) blames his father (F. Murray Abraham) for not only his current situation but his mother’s misery, too—an insightful conversation that helps us understand their dynamic. Daphne (Meghann Fahy) and Harper talking about what might have happened with their husbands and how to deal with it is another informative look into the nuances of an affair-plagued marriage. The ending is excellent: Mia (Beatrice Grannò) gets to play the piano, and Tanya walks in on something she wasn’t supposed to.

8

“Abductions”

Season 2, Episode 6

The penultimate episode of season two begins with Harper telling Ethan that he’s not into her anymore and saying that maybe some level of attraction between them “has died.” It’s a heavy moment for the couple, to be sure. Harper sees Ethan talking to the women who slept with Cameron, which makes things worse. Then Ethan sees Cameron and his wife drinking together, and he’s not feeling too good about it.

Tanya has “a strong hunch” that Jack (Leo Woodall) and his “uncle” (Tom Hollander) aren’t actually related, and refreshingly has some wisdom—actual wisdom—to impart to her assistant. This episode sees Portia slowly realizing that Jack may not be a good fit for her. Meanwhile, the Di Grasso family visit isn’t the homecoming they expected. The angry old woman is an amusing touch, and it’s nice to see Bert find some comfort in Mia’s performance. Along with Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) having a good birthday and Tanya finding an interesting picture, this is a solid penultimate entry to season two.

7

“New Day”

Season 1, Episode 2

In “New Day,” Paula and Olivia humorously forgot that they have a pharmacy’s worth of drugs in their bags. Their ASMR session is very relaxing. By contrast, Armond is anything but relaxed. The guilt for critiquing the pregnant trainee is plaguing him, not to mention how spaced out he is from her giving birth in his office. The man is five years sober, but we can tell that’s about to change.

Meanwhile, Tanya McQuoid is so funny; that dream she had with the mountain range is so out there. She has a knack for making every conversation awkward, no matter whom she’s talking to, and she’s the last person you want to run into while you’re tripping. Now that Mark has a new lease on life, he’s insufferable to the point where he tells the girls about his testicles. Also, Nicole (Connie Britton) and Rachel’s career-talk takes a great turn. The ending about Mark’s father wonderfully caps off the series’ second episode.

6

“In the Sandbox”

Season 2, Episode 4

Season two takes a little while to really start cooking, but (much) better late than never. Lucia wasn’t paid in full, and who knows if she’s going to get the rest. In the meantime, it’s fun to watch Portia tell her boss about this boy she likes and Tanya pausing for a while before finally responding with an unrelated complaint about Greg (Jon Gries). At least Tanya finds some relief in the two men who think she has great style, though they’re clearly up to something. A terrifically funny moment is when she starts telling one of her new friends her life story.

Ethan’s hangover is made worse by the fact that Harper is freaking out because she found a condom wrapper in their couch. Ethan lies about what happened, which is definitely the wrong move. Of course Bert is the one who randomly finds Lucia and Mia in his room, and Mia trying to screw the piano player in a deconsecrated church is hysterical. Giuseppe’s performance that evening is even better. Then there’s the make-out duel in the end, rounding out a very solid episode.

5

“Arrivals”

Season 1, Episode 1

The opening scene to The White Lotus suggests that Shane’s wife may be the one who will die, which is a clever way to disguise the real reasons for why he’s acting like a jerk. Intriguingly, we can also tell that someone who probably isn’t from Hawaii is the one who will meet their end. As we rewind to the beginning of the week, the girls people-watching (and judging) is a good intro to everyone. Every conversation Tanya McQuoid has is hilarious; the woman can’t even keep track of her bags when they’re right behind her.

Shane is a piece of work, insisting they get the “honeymoon suite” when that’s not even the name of the one his mother ordered. Much to her alarm, new-recruit Lani (Jolene Purdy) thinks she’s going to give birth on her first day on the job. The moment her water breaks is one of the season’s greatest moments. Along with Armond explaining to the trainee about how to treat everybody and Mark worrying about his physical dilemma, season one hits the ground running with one of the show’s best entries.

4

“The Lotus-Eaters”

Season 1, Episode 5

“The Lotus-Eaters” begins with Paula telling her beau (Kekoa Scott Kekumano) that she might be able to help him get some money, and the Mossbachers talking about imperialism only makes the girl more convinced that she’s doing the right thing. We can also see that Tanya has clearly had relationship problems in the past, and she’s no longer interested in Belinda’s (Natasha Rothwell) proposal. It’s side-splitting when she tries to give Greg her mother’s ashes, and her story-line ends in a surprisingly wholesome manner. Armond sitting with Belinda is another nice touch.

It’s such a great detail when Shane’s mother says she thought the Pineapple Suite would be larger—showing how people like her are never satisfied. Rachel and her mother-in-law have an eye-opening conversation, as Rachel discovers that she’s a trophy wife. That’s not the only troubled marriage on the premises, though; the fights between Mark and Nicole are intense. Then we get to Kai’s robbery, which is very well done. This episode ends with a victory for Mark, and the opposite for a few others.

3

“Mysterious Monkeys”

Season 1, Episode 3

This masterpiece of comedy begins with Mark being freaked out by his late father’s double life. The family talking about the deceased Mossbacher potentially being a power-bottom is peak White Lotus, and Mark proceeds to go on a fantastic bender. At one point, he talks about leprosy to some ladies at the bar. Meanwhile, Armond is so whacked out that he’s ready to ruin Shane’s honeymoon. There is also a telling conversation about marriage being based off of sex.

Of course, the highlight of “Mysterious Monkeys” has got to be Tanya. What a marvelous touch that she wants the captain of her private boat to know that she’s going to be emotional when she dumps her mother’s ashes into the sea—but still wants cheese on the ride. Thankfully for us, she also warns Belinda about the upcoming evening—which leads to an unforgettable eulogy that leaves Shane and Rachel utterly baffled. Overall, this episode magnificently displays everything that we love about the one and only Tanya McQuoid.

2

“Departures”

Season 1, Episode 6

The season one finale demonstrates how you don’t need 10 episodes to seamlessly tie multiple stories together. Belinda’s arc is completed, as she starts the episode compassionate but ends it jaded and uncaring. This affects Rachel’s decision to leave her husband, whose arguments are so well-written and acted. Meanwhile, it’s amusing how Olivia finally says something positive to her brother only when he expresses his wish to not go home with the family. The conversation between her and Paula is very good, and it’s touching to see their friendship actually not go down in flames.

It’s absolutely priceless watching Armond decide to crash once he knows he’s about to get fired. The use of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and slow motion at the man’s final dinner-service is chef’s-kiss perfection. One of the best characters in the show, Armond’s story ends in such epic fashion that it’s hard to even be that upset about it. Meanwhile, Tanya spreading her mother’s ashes is surprisingly similar to how she dreamed it earlier in the season. No doubt this set high expectations for season two.

1

“Arrivederci”

Season 2, Episode 7

Tension just keeps on building throughout the season two finale. Harper calls Cameron an idiot, something so suspicious that no one else at the table has a reply. This leads to a fight that the entire season has been leading toward, and what happens afterward will leave viewers guessing what occurred (but in a way that’s intriguing, not frustrating). On the side, a “karmic payment” is negotiated for Lucia, and Valentina wakes up so late that she amusingly doesn’t even wear her underwear to work.

Tanya tells Quentin that the man in the photograph she noticed in the episode prior looks like her husband with hair, and the audience can tell that something is very wrong. Portia can, too; she can’t find her phone, even though it was obviously charging the night before. One conversation with her boss leads to a hilariously dark conclusion that suddenly raises the stakes for both her and Tanya. With easily the best twist in the show so far and some very satisfying dramatic arcs coming to a close, “Arrivederci” will be a difficult finale for season three to match.

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