The White Lotus and the Seven Deadly Sins: A Hidden Theme in Mike White’s Luxury Drama?
HBO’s The White Lotus has captivated audiences with its sharp satire, dark humor, and biting social commentary. But beyond its exploration of wealth, privilege, and human nature, some fans have begun to notice a deeper pattern emerging—one that aligns with the seven deadly sins. Could it be that creator Mike White is using each season to tackle a different sin, subtly weaving these themes into the show?
With Season 1 seemingly centered on greed, Season 2 diving into lust, and Season 3 rumored to explore envy, this theory gains more traction with each installment. Let’s break it down.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Season 1: Greed in Paradise
Set in a luxurious Hawaiian resort, The White Lotus's debut season presents a cast of wealthy, entitled guests who embody the excesses of the upper class. At the heart of the season is greed—not just in terms of money, but also power, status, and self-indulgence.
Shane Patton, a spoiled newlywed, obsesses over getting the "better" suite he believes he deserves, turning his honeymoon into a battle of entitlement.
Nicole Mossbacher, a powerful businesswoman, sees herself as a self-made success but is blind to the privilege that has propelled her.
Armond, the resort’s manager, is caught in a spiral of addiction and resentment, ultimately succumbing to his own desires in a tragic downfall.
From the tensions between the haves and the have-nots to the characters’ constant grasping for more, Season 1 paints a clear picture of avarice, reinforcing the idea that no amount of wealth or privilege can ever truly satisfy.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Season 2: The Temptation of Lust
Moving to Sicily—a land steeped in mythology, passion, and seduction—Season 2 shifts focus to lust. The season explores themes of infidelity, sexual manipulation, and the blurred lines between desire and deception.
Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, finds herself ensnared in a web of seduction orchestrated by Quentin, a mysterious man who exploits her loneliness and longing for romance.
Harper and Ethan Spiller navigate the complexities of desire and suspicion, as Harper questions whether their relationship has lost its spark.
Daphne and Cameron Sullivan, seemingly carefree and sexually liberated, use flirtation and power dynamics as tools to control their partners.
The Di Grasso men—Bert, Dominic, and Albie—each embody different aspects of male desire, from the unapologetic womanizer to the guilt-ridden addict to the self-proclaimed "nice guy" who believes he's owed love.
In a season dripping with temptation and betrayal, lust becomes the driving force behind both pleasure and destruction.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Season 3: Envy? and the Search for More
Mike White has made it pretty clear that The White Lotus Season 3 is diving into spirituality, Eastern religion, and death, but—surprise, surprise—it’s all through the lens of the ultra-wealthy trying (and failing) to find deeper meaning. Instead of just tackling one of the seven deadly sins like previous seasons (Season 1 = greed, Season 2 = lust), this season so far zooms out a bit, taking on a broader critique of how the rich commodify spirituality and twist it into just another status symbol.
The new cast includes the Ratliff family, actress Jaclyn Lemon and her entourage, and a couple named Rick and Chelsea—all of whom reflect the three poisons in Buddhism: greed, hatred, and delusion. Basically, they’re stuck in their own cycles of self-destruction, even as they pretend they’re on some profound journey of enlightenment.
So, is envy still part of the equation? Maybe, but it looks like Season 3 so far is playing with something even bigger—how people obsess over what they lack, whether it’s meaning, peace, or spiritual awakening, and how wealth warps that search into just another status flex. Will the cursed girls trip continue to descend into passive aggressive, backstabbing chaos? Only time will tell.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Future Seasons: What Sins Remain?
If The White Lotus truly follows the deadly sins pattern, we might expect future seasons to explore the remaining deadly sins:
Wrath – A season consumed by rage, revenge, and unchecked emotions.
Sloth – A portrayal of complacency, stagnation, and moral laziness.
Pride – A deep dive into vanity, arrogance, and the illusion of superiority.
Gluttony – A story of excess, indulgence, and overconsumption, whether in food, wealth, or pleasure.
Each sin could play out in a different lavish setting—perhaps a South American jungle resort, an opulent Middle Eastern palace, or a billionaire’s private chalet in the Alps. The possibilities are endless, and if this theory holds, The White Lotus could become an anthology that dissects human nature through its most timeless vices.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Coincidence or Master Plan?
So, is Mike White deliberately crafting each season around a deadly sin, or is this just a clever fan theory? While he hasn’t confirmed it outright, the thematic connections are hard to ignore. The White Lotus has always been about the darker undercurrents beneath luxury and privilege, and what better way to explore those than through the classic moral failings of humanity?
As we continue to watch Season 3, one thing is certain: The White Lotus continues to be more than just a satire on the rich—it’s a layered, psychological exploration of the flaws that drive us all.
What do you think? Is the show following a seven deadly sins roadmap, or are we reading too much into it?
White Lotus Season 3 (Ep 1 & 2) are streaming now on HBO in the US, Sky Atlantic in the UK
