A social satire set at an exclusive tropical resort, this series follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of one week. Checking into the luxurious White Lotus are a group of vacationers who run roughshod over the resort manager and head of spa services. As darker dynamics emerge with each passing day, this biting six-episode series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself. The stellar cast features Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney and Steve Zahn.
For thoughts on The White Lotus: The Complete First Season, please check out our piece here.
Video Quality
The White Lotus comes to DVD with six episodes over 2 discs, which offers a terrific amount of room to avoid compression issues. It pains us a bit that this beautifully shot series has not been given a Blu-Ray release, but we can only hope things change one of these days. Due to the limitations of the format, these episodes are not going to look as gorgeous as they do in high definition, but the presentation shows its strength within the DVD format. Colors are rendered with nuance, and there is a bit of texture in the fancy clothing and the opulent production design. Much of the show takes place in sun-drenched exteriors, but night time scenes look slightly less impressive with black levels struggling ever so slightly. Skin tones look natural, and close ups provide a favorable experience. Even without an HD option for physical media, this is still a visually rich show with fine details easily visible in many environments. While a DVD presentation would not be our first choice for this series, we want the security of knowing we will never lose access to this show.
Audio Quality
This DVD comes with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that handles the sound design of the show as well as could be expected. The sharp dialogue is the priority of this series, and it is rendered clearly with a prominence in the center channel. The unforgettable score and music cues are presented perfectly well here. Amongst all of the loaded and uncomfortable exchanges, environmental effects and ambient chatter never overpower the dialogue. The rear speakers create a three dimensional space as the sound of the various environments transport you to this “paradise” of sorts. The mix has a fine sense of directionality so that nothing ever feels like it is emanating from the wrong place. This track gets the job done despite not being a lossless track. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Invitation To The Set: A quick three-minute piece in which the cast and crew discuss the themes of the show, the tone of the writing, elements of the characters, the layers of the narrative and more.
- Cast Snap Judgements: Another three-minute piece in which the cast share their snap word-associations when it comes to one another.
Final Thoughts
The White Lotus is one of the most deliciously entertaining social satires that we have experienced in some time. The mind of Mike White is a special place in which hilarity and emotional honesty intersect in a magical way. The ensemble of this series is one of the strongest you could ask for, and no one person makes another look like a weak link. For such a sprawling cast, it feels even more impressive that every storyline gets a chance to really resonate and contribute to the overall arc of the experience. At six episodes, this journey is one that never overstays its welcome. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has delivered a DVD with a pretty strong A/V presentation for the format and a few brief special features. If you want to own this amazing show, this is the only way to own this one on physical media. Recommended
The White Lotus: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
