The White Lotus has returned, offering up a new crop of morally ugly characters who are about to experience one highly transformative week — if they make it out alive.
It's been over a year since the first season of the biting satire first aired, and it's packing some heavy luggage with its 10 Emmy Awards – including an Outstanding Supporting Actor gong for Australia's Murray Bartlett.
But forget about the idyllic beaches of Hawaii. This time we're heading to an exclusive White Lotus resort in Sicily.
Here's everything you know about the new season.
Wait, I haven't seen season one. Will I understand season two?
Yes.
The White Lotus was initially a child of necessity.
When the coronavirus pandemic shuttered production on a range of shows meant to air in 2021, HBO approached writer and director Mike White, who created the six-part limited series in a COVID-safe bubble in Maui, Hawaii.
The White Lotus wasn't written with multiple seasons in mind, but the series was met with critical acclaim, so HBO ordered a second season.
That's why The White Lotus is now an anthology series, presenting new characters in a new location.
Season two is mostly standalone, but newly minted Emmy Award winner Jennifer Coolidge does return as the wealthy, unstable Tanya.
If you want to catch up, or relive season one, all six episodes are available to stream on Binge.
What's in store for season two?
Season two of The White Lotus is set at an exclusive Sicilian resort and, similar to the first season, follows the exploits of guests and employees over the span of a week.
While the first season of The White Lotus focused on white privilege and class dynamics, reviewers say season two explores "sexual rather than racial politics".
The trailer also promises plenty of drama, jealousy, power struggles and a whodunnit storyline similar to season one, with someone seen leaving the beach in a body bag.
Who are the new characters?
Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya is joined by her partner who she met in season one, Greg (Jon Gries), who is less than pleased to find her assistant — a small-town girl called Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) — invited on their romantic getaway.
Then there's Dominic (Michael Imperioli), a Hollywood producer visiting Sicily with his elderly father Bert (F Murray Abraham) and post-college son Albie (Adam DiMarco) to explore their ancestral roots.
There's Cameron (Theo James), a wildly successful businessman who is travelling with his wife Daphne (Meghann Fahy), his college roommate Ethan (Will Sharpe) – who has recently found professional success – and Ethan's wife Harper (Aubrey Plaza).
There's also Quentin (Tom Hollander), an English expat holidaying with his friends and his nephew Jack (Leo Woodall).
Of course, we can't forget the locals.
There's Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore), the passionate and dedicated manager of The White Lotus resort in Taormina who expects perfection from her staff.
Then there's Mia (Beatrice Grannò), a Sicilian local and talented singer in search of her big break, and Lucia (Simona Tabasco), another local who frequents the resort in search of work among the wealthy clientele.
Will it live up to the first season?
Early reviews are mostly positive.
The Guardian gave the second season of The White Lotus five stars, stating the show's writing continues to be "immaculate" and "unrivalled".
The BBC has given it four stars, saying season two is "less caustic than the last, at least in the five episodes HBO made available for review, and less focused on class, but it offers more secrets and lies".
Rolling Stone said season two was "sharp enough to justify the series' ongoing existence", but "it's hard not to wonder, though, what might have happened if White had used the juice from season one to talk HBO into letting him make something as wholly new as The White Lotus itself felt when it first arrived".
Where can I watch The White Lotus in Australia?
The White Lotus will be available to stream from 12pm AEDT on Binge and Foxtel from October 31.
Ironically, you won't actually be able to binge-watch season two, with new episodes due to drop weekly and not all at once.
While season one was six episodes, season two will be a bit longer with seven episodes.
If you can't get enough of terrible, rich people traipsing around Italy, check out Succession (also on Binge) if you haven't already. Season three sees the Roy family jet off to Tuscany.
If you're keen to explore the back catalogue of The White Lotus creator, writer and director Mike White, check out his 2011 series Enlightened on Binge. It stars Laura Dern (Big Little Lies) as a corporate executive who's forced to re-evaluate her life after a nervous breakdown.
