The small screen in 2025 is set to shine with a mix of highly anticipated returning hits, from the second seasons of The Last of Us and Wednesday to the final chapters of Stranger Things and Squid Game. However, one of the most eagerly awaited releases—at least for some—remains The White Lotus. Mike White’s satire-filled saga about the super-rich has been a staple since 2021: the first season brought us a newlywed couple, a troubled heiress, a dysfunctional family, and a disillusioned guest to Maui for soul-searching, holiday romances, and murder, while the second season, cementing the show as a global phenomenon, took viewers to Sicily with tech bros, enterprising sex workers, and a lost Gen-Zer.

Now, after more than a two-year hiatus, a third season, set in Thailand with an almost entirely new cast, is finally here. This season marks a first without the fan-favorite Jennifer Coolidge, following the (spoiler alert) tragic death of the eccentric millionaire Tanya McQuoid. With expectations soaring, can it live up to the hype?

The early episodes shared with press suggest that while the season doesn’t quite hit the jaw-dropping highs of its predecessors, it’s still layered, rich, and often stranger and more intriguing than what has come before. It serves as a reminder that in an era when shows can fall from excellence to disappointment in a single season (The Bear, Severance), some continue to deliver time and again.

As always, much of The White Lotus’ success can be attributed to its stellar cast. This time around, filling the chaotic void left by Coolidge, there’s Parker Posey as Victoria Ratliff, a pill-popping, socially-anxious Southern mom traveling with her tightly-wound financier husband, Timothy (played by Jason Isaacs), their swaggering son (Patrick Schwarzenegger), a spiritually inclined daughter (Sarah Catherine Hook), and their introverted youngest son (Sam Nivola).

Alongside them is a wonderfully odd couple: Walton Goggins as a jaded drifter and Aimee Lou Wood as his much-younger, bubbly girlfriend. There are also three childhood friends reuniting for a wild girls’ trip: Michelle Monaghan as a casually glamorous LA actor, Leslie Bibb as a prim Texan society wife, and Carrie Coon as a divorced New York lawyer and single mother.

The show’s ensemble includes Lek Patravadi as a former movie star and the hotel’s charismatic owner, Christian Friedel as a senior manager, Arnas Fedaravičius as a dashing yoga instructor, and Tayme Thapthimthong as a sweet, love-struck security guard. Blackpink’s Lisa shines in her acting debut as a young health mentor, while Natasha Rothwell’s beloved Belinda from the first season returns to Thailand on an exchange program.

Posey’s swirl of vanity and delusion, Coon’s sarcastic snark, Wood’s sunny optimism, and Le Bon’s stylish expat charisma all provide moments of brilliance, though everyone gets their time in the spotlight. Even Isaacs, initially appearing as a humorless businessman, surprises viewers in spectacular fashion.

Unlike previous seasons, which hit the ground running, this one takes its time to warm up as we get to know the new ensemble. But once it picks up pace, it quickly takes off.

As with past seasons, the show begins with a shocking crime, before rewinding the clock to a week earlier, as guests arrive at their lavish Thai retreat. The Ratliffs seem to have the perfect family, but Timothy’s troubles cause everything to unravel. Chelsea, played by Wood, attempts to lighten the mood with Goggins' Rick, only to uncover his true reasons for visiting Thailand. Monaghan’s Jaclyn, Bibb’s Kate, and Coon’s Laurie initially appear harmonious, but tensions and old rivalries soon surface. Meanwhile, Belinda encounters a surprising twist that had me cheering.

The surprises keep coming, including one particularly memorable cameo that blends star power, expert acting, and perfectly absurd writing—something that can often feel forced in prestige TV but, in this case, works brilliantly.

This season revolves around deep, existential themes: while the first season focused on wealth and the second on sex, this installment explores the meaning of life, our fear of death, and what happens once we pass beyond this world.

Despite these weighty themes, the season maintains its lightness, with intricate plotlines seamlessly woven together with the show’s signature pleasures: stunning locations, dreamy cinematography, sharp, biting dialogue, and exquisite costuming. In the midst of this long, dark winter, it’s exactly what I’ve been craving.

The White Lotus season three will air weekly starting February 17.