Mike White has shared his thoughts on The White Lotus after the Season 3 finale aired on HBO.
The brains behind the popular series responded to feedback that the third season moved too slowly, according to some fans.
“People were feeling the pace and the atmosphere… it really got to them,” White remarked on the White Lotus Official Season 3 Podcast. “They were bothered by what they perceived as a lack of plot. That’s the curious part to me. It was never about that… I’m like dude, that’s the vibe.”
He added, “I’m crafting a world here. If you’re not down to roll with me, then don’t. I’m teasing you! You should enjoy the tease. If you’re not into it, then don’t stick around. You know? Don’t try to control it. Just leave. Don’t come over. Don’t get undressed. Just go. Clearly, something is going to unfold.”
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RELATED: ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Mike White Explains Season 3 Finale’s Revealing Moments
While some viewers criticized the show’s slow burn, the season wrapped up with a dramatic finale that featured multiple deaths and surprising developments. The last episode of the third season was extended to 87 minutes to fulfill audience expectations.
RELATED: ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Finale Sets New Record for Series Viewership, Increasing 30% Over Previous Episode
Despite the longer final episode, White mentioned he had to drop a scene where Piper (played by Sarah Catherine Hook) was supposed to lose her virginity to Zion (played by Nicholas Duvernay), the son of Belinda (played by Natasha Rothwell).
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“In the script, Piper decides it’s time to lose her virginity in the last episode, and she does it with Zion,” White explained. “There’s a whole scene where she’s convinced by Saxon’s views and decides, ‘I’m doing this.’ After her experience at the monastery, she’s like, ‘I need to have sex.’”
RELATED: ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Cast, Including Aimee Lou Wood and Jason Isaacs, Reacts to the Chaotic Finale
However, White pointed out the constraints of the episode’s length, saying, “It would have added another 10 minutes. And it had a sort of romantic comedy feel while there was a plot to kill the family with pong pong fruits. It felt like too much was going on story-wise.”
RELATED: Mike White Hints at Future Setting for Season 4 of ‘The White Lotus’
You can watch the full podcast in the video below.
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