I try to live a pop culture life with no regrets, but a few Sundays ago, on an almost post-meal getaway after watching “The White Lotus,” I did one thing I wish. I can withdraw.
I read every comment, every fan theory, every perfectly researched theory on how the season will play out in the aftershock discussion thread on Reddit.
I have no intention of spoiling the show for myself. I just want to convene with (or hide among) other enthusiasts, to enjoy a great experience, and it’s increasingly rare to handle an episode of the show in real time, right after it’s aired. , before the rest of the internet made its way .
Instead, I came out of an hour of hallucinations (or three?) of reading making sure I knew exactly how the season was going to go, who was going to outrun whom, who would live and who would meet. death in the water. (The fact that there is an impending underwater death was established in the first episode of the season.)
While I wish I hadn’t stepped into Reddit’s Lotus detectives’ lair, I don’t regret the other slightly obsessive fan research – but, importantly, keeping the plot intact – that I did. presently.
I’m so glad I listened this week “Fresh Air” Interview with Mike White, the show’s creator, in which he discussed how his love for “Virtual Island,” “Love Boat,” and “Laverne & Shirley” informed the season. I’m also glad I looked up White’s favorite books (He enjoys Torrey Peters, who spoke with The Morning earlier this year, loves Halldor Laxness’s “The Independents” and has pre-ordered many of them from the library. I read avidly This interview with Simona Tabascowho played Lucia and listened this episode of “Las Culturistas” with Meghann Fahy, who plays Daphne. I’ve seen Aubrey Plaza responds to fans on social media, and I watched it again Jennifer Coolidge’s captivating Emmy Award acceptance speech.
I’m happy to know more about the people who make the show that I find very fascinating. I just wish I hadn’t let my fandom lead me into the fluorescent-lit land of exploitative plots.
And so my excitement for tomorrow’s finale of “The White Lotus” is mixed with a bit of grief and a bit of relief. I’m sad to pay ciao for the enchanting views of Sicily; with characters I wonder as if I knew them personally; for what has become, for me, appointment television. But I’m looking forward to the mysteries of this season being solved, and maybe even more so, to see the next season without spoilers.
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“The White Lotus” is “positive” Obsessed with movies and the fantasies they create,” wrote Carina Chocano in The Times.
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F. Murray Abraham and Michael Imperioli contracted Covid at the same time while filming in Sicily.
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Talk show costume designer dressed Gen Z figure.
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“If on a clear day the unsuspecting guest walks to the railing to take in the view, the reward can be cardiac arrest.” Since 1979, “Taormina’s over-the-top scenic spots,” the town where “White Lotus” was filmed this season.
CULTURE WEEK
CULTURE HISTORY
🍿 “Avatar: The Way of Water” (Friday): A few weeks later than seemingly everyone else in my life, I finally watched “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Many of the villains in that movie are blue humanoids that live in the water, so I feel pretty ready for a sequel to “Avatar,” which is partly about blue humanoids living in the water. (If you haven’t already, please read this GQ profile is very interesting by James Cameron, director of “Avatar”.)
📺 “Kindred” (Tuesday): In this FX series, based on the classic novel by Octavia Butler, a Black woman finds herself slipping back in time between present day and a pre-war South plantation. The series has been adapted into a television series by playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, “An Octoroon” is one of great American plays of the past few decades. (Looking for more of Butler, a true sci-fi master? Try our list her essential books.)
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Hazelnut Chocolate Cookies
Are you planning to bake some holiday treats for your friends and neighbors? Genevieve Ko’s hazelnut chocolate chip cookies would be a great choice. Her contribution to our epic Cookie week, these elegant confections consist of buttery sweet balls with a chocolate chestnut spread and some roasted chestnuts. If possible, gift these on the day they’re made, when the contrast between the silky filling and the crispy base is most pronounced. But if that’s impractical, fear not: They’re still absolutely amazing, if the texture is a little softer, until two days later. Note that this recipe makes a small batch, so if your cookie donation circle is large, consider doubling the yield. Any extra features won’t go to waste.
A selection of New York Times recipes is available to all readers. Please consider it Register to cook for full access.
REAL ESTATE
Tips to reduce stress: This is the way arrive really enjoy the holidays.
Alert: A range of symptoms, and their sudden onset, are flu symptoms young.
Stand up prominently: See best comedy of the year.
Wardrobe hangers: Find ideal black pants.
TIPS FROM WIRECUTTER
Santa’s Secret Secret
Gift exchanges like the secret Santa and white elephant swap can be fun and festive, but also stressful. Nothing extinguishes holiday fun like thrift shopping for an unfamiliar relative. But tradition doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Wirecutter has an idea when you know the recipient and when it’s free for all. The key is to choose a gift anyone can enjoy—something useful and a little quirky, like a fancy 3-pound bucket of sea salt or a box of pickling tape. If you’re exchanging gifts with a more serious group, give it a try one-size-fits-all tech doodles like touchscreen gloves or wireless chargers. —Hannah Morrill
Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors, NBA: When these teams met in the Finals last year, the Celtics were a defensive force (though not strong enough to stop Stephen Curry). This year the Celtics are even better, but instead of the best defense in the league, they have The best foul in history. Their young star Jayson Tatum is leading the MVP title and the team is on track to set a record for three-pointers. The NBA is only about a quarter of a season away, so the Celtics may not be able to maintain this pace, but for now they are the team to beat. 8:30 Eastern tonight on ABC.
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