Dropped almost exactly an hour ago, Max has released the first trailer for The White Lotus season 3. Set in Thailand, and starring several of Thailand’s very own, there are already a few assumptions we can make about this season’s plot. Here are our thoughts as we identify filming locations and recurring themes. We can’t seem to get the Carabao song out of our heads now.
Arguably Max’s most anticipated show of 2025, The White Lotus has finally released a trailer for its third season. With a star cast including Blackpink’s Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manobal, excitement continues to run high, as the first trailer features an interesting soundtrack and storyline. The show is set to premiere on Max on 17 February 2025, and is likely to drive tourism and interest to Koh Samui.
The White Lotus season 3 trailer is here, and we have thoughts: What is Lisa wearing? Why are they eating strange things? And how dark is this going to get?
With a caption that reads, “seeking peace can be a trip,’ we know we’re in for a wild ride this time. What begins as a wellness journey turns into a murder mystery, as this popular social satire takes to Koh Samui for its third season.
The 1-minute trailer begins with a shot of Lisa Manobal welcoming guests to the resort, in an image we already saw in the teaser released a few months ago. Then, shockingly and charmingly, a remix of Carabao’s notorious ‘Made in Thailand’ starts playing. It is an interesting song choice, not only as one of Thailand’s most famous songs, but also given that Carabao often touches on social and political issues in their music, much like The White Lotus, too.
Belinda is back
Season 1 fans will be happy to see that Belinda The Spa Manager (Natasha Rothwell) is back. The trailer begins with her explaining that she’s here on an exchange programme, and that she feels like “something good is going to come out of this.” It’s the redemption many fans had been hoping for, though her line feels like eerie foreshadowing. Please, Mike White, don’t do Belinda dirty again.
The Four Seasons Koh Samui looks as stunning as you would expect
Private villas set into the hillside? A gorgeous lap pool? Patrick Schwarzenegger being flirtatious on a sun bed? While we had merely speculated that the Four Seasons Koh Samui would be the main filming location for The White Lotus, we are happy to see our suspicions confirmed. Book this luxury resort while you can — it’s about to be a hot destination.
Some of the gang seem to be in Thailand on a wellness journey, and the food isn’t great
There’s talk of “stress management meditation,” and what looks like it could be smoking cannabis. This is factually accurate, given that it is legal in Thailand, and the country is a popular destination for wellness retreats. However, not everybody is loving it. Walton Goggins’ character is pretty unhappy about the healthy food: “are we at a f*cking fat farm?”
There are classic Koh Samui fire shows, fireworks, and (likely) Songkran celebrations
B-roll shots of the island highlight local fire shows, which are very typical to Koh Samui. There are also fireworks, though it is hard to tell if there is a larger celebration (like Songkran) going on. In a later shot, we see a water fight, reminiscent of the Thai water festival and Buddhist new year celebration.
A touch of spirituality, as Mike White had teased, is present
In an interview long before filming began, Mike White had teased that The White Lotus season 3 would touch on themes of spirituality and eastern religion. We get a sense of this in the trailer, as a monk explains: “Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure, but they get there only to find more pain.”
There’s a lot of dancing, both at Bangkok’s Sing Sing and Cafe Del Mar
You couldn’t fool us, Max. We recognise those dance floors anywhere. There are a lot of dancing shots in the The White Lotus season 3 trailer, and even a shot of the infamous Sing Sing Theatre nightclub in Bangkok. We also see Cafe Del Mar featured, which is actually located in Phuket. As speculated, filming took place in more locations than one.
Lisa wears a Thai costume
With seductive eyes, Lisa is seen in a Thai costume, in what looks like a dance performance. There is a slight pinch of a throwback to her ‘Lalisa’ music video, though the style is different. Through her body language, the viewer gets the feeling that sweet Lisa may not be an innocent character.
Gender themes are strong again, and LGBTQ+ themes may be explored
The White Lotus season 2 touched on themes of gender and relationships, and season 3 is likely to continue with a similar social commentary. While we do not know the specifics yet, some of the dialogue hints at male-female dynamics (“she literally lives off male attention”). There are also intimate shots portraying same-sex relationships.
Somebody steals Parker Posey’s Lorazepam
Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety and insomnia, and it seems like Parker Posey’s character really needs it. Did someone steal it and abuse it? Right before the clip cuts to a vicious snake, she states, “something is off.” Welcome to the White Lotus, Parker.
There is a robbery, but Aimee Lou Wood sees the positive
An armed robber can be seen towards the end of the trailer, disguised in a hoodie and sunglasses. He or she is holding a gun. We hope this event doesn’t take place in the resort, though it looks like Aimee Lou Wood’s character is escorted away from the premises. When somebody says, “I almost died today,” she responds, “well we got the room comped, didn’t we babes? That was cool.” It’s hard to tell whether this dialogue is linked to the robbery, but the Sex Education star ends the trailer on this (dark) humorous note.
There is a subtle nod to season 2, if you look closely
Moody, broody dance floor shots juxtaposed with shocked faces and dream sequences felt familiar, and even slightly nostalgic. However, true fans will spot another Easter egg. There is a moment where somebody jumps (or falls) from a yacht into the sea at nighttime, in what feels like a nod to Tanya in season 2.
Too soon, Mike White, too soon.
Update 27 January 2025: The official trailer is here:
The White Lotus Season 3 will premiere on Max on 17 February 2025.
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Written by
Lisa Gries
Creative Content Director, Bangkok
Lisa is the Creative Content Director for Lifestyle Asia and Prestige Thailand. She leads a data-driven content strategy for both titles, finding the balance between scathing SEO metrics and sucks-you-right-in story-telling. Lisa writes mostly on dining, travel, and pop-culture, and is a sucker for a good savoury cocktail. Passionate about Bangkok’s ever-growing bar scene, she also sits on the committee for various bar and spirit awards in the region.
