Streaming outlook: “White Lotus” season three: Friedel spoiled the rich

The principle of “The White Lotus” is quickly explained. Rich trip to a luxury vacation in the title -giving fictional hotel chain on an island, everyone brings a secret or a (supposed) problem – and there is a mysterious death. The first two seasons of the snappy satire over the wealth of welfare have won a total of 15 Emmys.

Now the third season of Mike White’s success series at Sky and the Streaming Service WoW (one of the eight new episodes on Mondays).

After Hawaii and Sicily, the action is now taking place in Thailand – the film was turned on the island of Koh Samui. And this time again the principle of anthology series (every season has a self -contained story).

This time the German actor Christian Friedel (“The Zone of Interest”, “Babylon Berlin”, “The White Band-A German Children’s History”) belongs to the international “White Lotus” cast.

Friedel embodies the hotel director Fabian, who always wants to please the dazzling resort owner. He did not know the series beforehand, then looked at it and was immediately enthusiastic, said the 45-year-old, who lives in Dresden, the German Press Agency.

Blackzenegger of the son’s nude scene is not impressed

In addition to Friedel, Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”), “Sex Education” star Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins (“Django Unchained”), Blackpink singer Lalisa Manobal and Schwarzenegger-Sohn Patrick. The latter plays the sex -obsessed saxon – and lets the covers fall in one scene.

His father, Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, reacted easily. “I could say I was surprised that he has a nude scene, but what can I say – the apple does not fall far from the trunk.” Schwarzenegger was completely naked in the action film “Terminator” (1984).

In the new season there is a reunion with an old acquaintance from season one. The good-natured spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) shows itself from a private side in the Thai resort. In the first season, she was showered with love by the heavily unstable, heavily unstable Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) and then dropped.

This time fans have to do without McQuoid. The memorable title melody in the intro now sounds different. Otherwise, series creators White remains true to himself: As always, the prologue shows that there is a fatality. Then the time is drawn back by a week.

Spirituality and cell phone -free zones

In the resort itself, a lot revolves around spirituality and deceleration – not always to the delight of the guests. Above all, the stressed businessman Timothy Ratliff (Isaacs), who goes on vacation with his wife and three children, is bothered by cell phone -free zones by the pool and eating. This poses some potential for conflict.

His lustful son Saxon (Schwarzenegger), on the other hand, tries to pump up his muscles with protein shakes and impress women. A long-time girlfriend trio wants to celebrate his reunion.

And Frohnatur Chelsea (Wood) pushes its much older and irritable partner Rick (Goggins) into a kind of therapy session. He seems to hide something. Again and again pictures of breathtaking nature, fantastic beaches and the decadent pools are cut.

Cast has its own “White Lotus” whatsapp group

For him, the shoot was a “strange mix of vacation and work”, said Friedel. As a ritual, the cast always celebrated the sunset together. In one evening they would have sung karaoke together. “We are like a” White Lotus “family,” he said.

There is also a “White Lotus “Whatsapp group in which the actors update themselves. “I think I would also like to go on vacation with some.”

From this Monday there will be a new episode every week. It is clear that a fourth “White Lotus” season is shot. Cast and place are still unclear.