The Perfect Timing: 'White Lotus' S3 Arrives When Thailand Needs It Most

In case you don't know what's been happening in Thailand recently, here's a screenshot of the search results I obtained online using the keywords "Thailand Human Trafficking":

Thailand has always been a world-class tourist destination. However, for many who previously enjoyed traveling to Thailand, now might not be the best time to visit. Over the past year, there's been a constant stream of negative news about its tourism industry, including cases of human trafficking, insurance fraud through murder, and fraud syndicates imprisoning forced laborers. One of the most sensational incidents involved Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was kidnapped by fraudsters in Myanmar while seeking entertainment work in Thailand, sparking discussions about cross-border telecom fraud in China. Due to these incidents—particularly magnified by Wang's case—Thailand's tourism reputation has been severely damaged, with many considering it unsafe to travel there. Strangely though, people are still willing to take the risk. During the recent Chinese New Year holiday, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand actually increased.

This sounds crazy, but it's also normal. Tourism is essentially about seeking different experiences and excitement beyond ordinary life. Sometimes, unexpected incidents only add to the mysterious allure of a destination for tourists. As a devoted fan of the first two seasons of "White Lotus," I even think this is the perfect timing for Season 3 to premiere.

From the trailer, we can see that while the third season features all new characters, it maintains the series' core and continues to tell stories about a group of people at the fictional luxury resort with the titular name White Lotus. There'll still be death, crime, family secrets, and various displays of the selfish, dark sides of these people, with class issues remaining one of the core themes.

It's completely predictable that this will be a drama-filled TV series. But perhaps because I've seen so many real-life reports of criminal cases that happened in Thailand in recent years, I suddenly realized that "White Lotus" isn't actually more dramatic than reality.

Several among those that I've seen left deep impressions on me: a man lured his wife to Thailand and killed her in a hotel for insurance money; a woman was pushed off a cliff by her husband but was saved after being discovered by tourists; an entire team was tricked by their company leader into a "team building trip" in Thailand, only to be trafficked and imprisoned in a scam industrial park; and an actor thought he had received a job offer but was kidnapped to a trafficking compound that functions as a center for scams. I believe if we keep searching, we could find even more shocking real-life cases. These true stories are actually more dramatic than "White Lotus."

So if it's not the drama or sensationalism, what exactly attracts me to "White Lotus"? When I seriously reflect on my experience watching the first two seasons, I realize I was actually drawn to the atmosphere the show creates. From the very beginning, I was captivated by its aesthetics. The tropical-themed opening credits look like luxury resort wallpaper; the enigmatic vocal chanting combined with light percussion in the background music creates a sense of wonder, much like "Alice in Wonderland," not to mention the frequent appearances of beautiful scenery, food, and people. While watching the show, I was also fantasizing about being on vacation. It's no wonder discussions about "White Lotus" always revolve around its filming locations and the desire to travel to these places (myself included).

Moreover, the first two seasons strike a delicate balance between satirizing reality and providing entertainment. They create a space that feels safe and comfortable yet not boring, just like my mood while watching. I know there'll be deaths, but I'm not worried about any character's death making me fearful or sad. I know there'll be prejudiced and racist jerks, but they're somewhat restrained, and the vulnerable characters aren't bullied to the point where it hurts to watch. Better yet, "White Lotus" presents a humorous, unsour, and unburdened critique of high society and class division. You could say it lacks bite or is too entertainment-focused, but perhaps that's why audiences find it more acceptable. Yes, I won't deny that its critique of capitalism barely scratches the surface. If we really want to see how contemporary capitalism/colonialism suppresses human nature and creates hidden exploitation through the screen, we might need to watch numerous news reports and documentaries. And this process is usually unpleasant and burdensome. "White Lotus," however, abandons such accusatory approaches and instead takes a stand-up comedy-like approach, making jokes without attempting to be profound. This satisfies audience needs while maintaining entertainment value and enjoyment.

Of course, what's more remarkable is that "White Lotus" manages to portray a group of very vivid characters in its limited runtime. This vividness isn't just about each person having multiple facets, making it difficult to define them as good or bad (which isn't actually hard to achieve). It's also about making us viewers believe they could really exist while keeping their actions unpredictable. Everyone carries a kind of strange madness. They all appear normal at first, but the longer you observe them, the more you notice their abnormal sides. This kind of story satisfies my voyeuristic desires as an ordinary person living a repetitive and boring life: peeking into the lives of the wealthy and imagining they're not as happy as they seem, observing the world of the rich I've never been part of, as well as envisioning myself enjoying such affluent life one day.

Season 3 premieres on February 16. Even though I might not be able to vacation in a luxury resort right now, at least I can spend a "luxurious" weekend watching the upcoming season of "White Lotus", at home with my cats. Thank you, HBO.