“The White Lotus” returned to HBO Max on Feb. 16 with eight weekly episodes, the final one released on April 6. The comedy-drama series, directed and written by Mike White, follows the fictional hotel resort White Lotus, its workers, and wealthy guests. This season took viewers to Koh Samui, Thailand.

As usual, the first episode gives a glimpse of at least one death, but the identity of the deceased is hidden. Viewers are then introduced to the season’s main characters, who arrive at the resort a week prior and are greeted by the staff.

Viewers are introduced to Rick, his younger British girlfriend Chelsea, and the Ratliff family. The wealthy family from North Carolina includes parents Timothy and Victoria and their kids Saxon, Piper, and Lochlan. Another group of guests are a trio of childhood friends, Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie, who rarely see each other in adulthood because they live across different U.S. states.

The staff of the hotel include security guard Gaitok, who is interested in Mook, the health mentor assigned to Rick and Chelsea. Pam, another health mentor, is assigned to the Ratliffs, and health mentor Valentin is assigned to the trio of friends. Resort co-owner Sritala Hollinger and general manager Fabian are also introduced, while Sritala’s husband Jim is said to be in Bangkok.

Belinda, the wellness manager from Maui in season one, returns this season to embark on a three-month work exchange program and is awaiting a visit from her son, Zion. Another recurring character is Greg, who now goes by “Gary” and has a model girlfriend named Chloe and a house near the resort.

In typical fashion, the guests engage in awkward interactions revealing their dysfunctional dynamics. The audience becomes aware of the financial and legal trouble that Timothy Ratliff suddenly got caught in, the secret animosity between the trio, and the mysterious intentions of Rick.

This season contains heavy motifs about spirituality and religion. Piper came with the intent to learn more about a Buddhist monastery she secretly planned to spend a year in, to the dismay of her Catholic parents. Chelsea’s interest in astrology and spirituality contrasted the impatient and troubled turmoil of her partner.

The season also explores darker themes such as suicide and incest. Viewers were unsettled by the sexual interactions between Saxon and Lochlan and the invasive remarks towards Piper.

A scene of Timothy holding a gun to his head while wearing a Duke University shirt prompted the university to issue a public statement.

Frank Tramble, vice president for communications, marketing and public affairs at Duke, said in an email that the show “not only uses our brand without permission, but in our view uses it on imagery that is troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far.”

Comedic elements of the season occasionally appear in Victoria’s dialogue and expressions, which consist of a heavy southern accent and exaggerated reactions from actress Parker Posey. Other moments include the trio getting drenched by children during the Songkran water festival, Laurie escaping from Aleksei’s apartment, and Rick spontaneously releasing venomous snakes.

The overarching theme of every “White Lotus” season is the obliviousness of the wealthy. While Timothy went to extreme lengths to hide the truth of his financial loss from his family, Piper’s experiences in the monastery were subpar to the expectations she once held and the luxuries she is used to. Laurie’s sexual encounter and fascination with Aleksei ended when he asked her for $10,000. Rick’s obsession with the past blinded him from the joy of his present.

The finale and overall season left some fans frustrated. For one, Mook and Fabian were very minor characters, especially disappointing since Mook is played by Lalisa Manoban of K-pop group Blackpink, and hotel managers from previous seasons tended to have a pompous personality rather than Fabian’s passiveness.

The deaths of the season were mainly caused by purposeful injuries, whereas at least one death in the previous seasons was accidental, adding to the comedic element of the show.

Timothy’s crimes are never revealed to the family despite the buildup throughout the entire season, leaving the audience to anticipate a meltdown from the rest of the Ratliffs only to not receive that moment.

“Everything remotely interesting about the Ratliffs — from their impending poverty to the ramifications of the brothers’ night together — is mostly left to be dealt with off-camera,” White said in The Independent.

The finale left viewers debating the characters’ morality. A common topic was Belinda leaving the resort with Greg’s $5 million hush money for Tanya McQuoid’s death, but leaving behind co-worker turned lover Pornchai. The action foils what Tanya did to Belinda in season one, although it is not entirely the same.

Other fans were annoyed when Laurie rejoined her toxic friends and when Piper accepted her wealthy lifestyle, but returning to comfort is what can be expected of most “White Lotus” guests based on previous seasons.

A fourth season has already been confirmed. White has not revealed the location yet but has stated he hopes to “get a little bit out of the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ vernacular,” hinting at a colder setting.