The White Lotus- The Most Popular Current TV Series

The White Lotus
Genre	Dark comedy drama Satire
Created by	Mike White
Written by	Mike White
Directed by	Mike White
Starring	see cast list
Music by	Cristobal Tapia de Veer Kim Neundorf
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	18
Production
Executive producers	Nick Hall David Bernad Mike White Mark Kamine
Producers	John M. Valerio Heather Persons Todd Brown
Production locations	Hawaii Sicily Thailand
Cinematography	Ben Kutchins Xavier Grobet
Editors	Heather Persons John M. Valerio Scott Turner
Running time	54–77 minutes
Production companies	HBO Entertainment Pallogram The District Rip Cord Productions
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	July 11, 2021 – present

I have watched this TV Series and enjoyed it very much. It has received numerous awards.  Season 3 is on Episode 6 now and two more episodes is coming.  Season 4 has been renewed and now in the planning stage. So, in case you have not heard of this award-winning TV mini-series, here's a summary from Wikipedia. The most talk subject in the series - https://time.com/7269550/the-white-lotus-incest-lochlan-saxon/

The White Lotus, through its fearless exploration of human relationships, continues to push the envelope of television drama. It invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of desire, memory, and identity, all while keeping them on the edge of their seats. As the series unfolds, one can only anticipate the further revelations and twists that will keep audiences captivated and eager for more.

In exploring these themes, it becomes apparent that The White Lotus is not just a show about the opulent lives of its characters; it is a mirror reflecting the complexities and contradictions of human nature. Each episode peels back the layers of its characters, revealing the flawed, vulnerable, and ultimately relatable facets of their personalities. The narrative compels viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world around them, challenging preconceived notions and societal taboos.

The White Lotus is an American dark comedy drama anthology television series created by Mike White for HBO that premiered on July 11, 2021. The series follows the exploits of the guests and staff during a week spent at a luxury global resort hotel chain. The first season was filmed and set in Hawaii, the second in Sicily and the third in Thailand.

The White Lotus was greenlit in October 2020 as a miniseries but was adapted to an anthology series by HBO in August 2021: its second season aired from October 30 to December 11, 2022, and its third season from February 16 until April 6, 2025, being delayed due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. The series has been renewed for a fourth season.

The series has been acclaimed by critics for its writing, acting, humor, and production values and has received several accolades: it has won fifteen Primetime Emmy Awards – including for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series – and two Golden Globes, including for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film. Jennifer Coolidge won several awards for her performance in the first two seasons, including two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe, while White won two Emmys for his writing and directing.

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by The White Lotus

The first season received 11 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in the limited or anthology series categories. It was also nominated for nine Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across eight categories, winning five. The series won the most Emmys across both ceremonies, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Murray Bartlett for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Jennifer Coolidgefor Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Mike White for both Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing. Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, and Steve Zahn also received acting nominations.

The second season received 12 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards across five categories and 11 nominations at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across 10 categories, moving from limited/anthology series to drama series. It won four awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. For the Primetime Emmys, Coolidge won for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Other nominations included Outstanding Drama Series; F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, and Will Sharpe for Outstanding Supporting Actor; Meghann Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, and Simona Tabasco for Outstanding Supporting Actress; and White for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for the episode "Arrivederci".

The series was included in the American Film Institute Awards top ten Programs of the Year list for 2021 and 2022. Other nominations include three Critics' Choice Television Awards (winning all), five Golden Globe Awards (winning two), and a People's Choice Award.

Meanwhile,  here are the real luxuries in life! 

Lastly, Did you know that.....

During the 1700s, the Visayas became a hotspot for human trafficking. Spanish colonizers and Moro raiders captured Visayan natives and sold them in Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), where they were forced into slavery.

These enslaved Filipinos were absorbed into Indonesian society, and some may have unknowingly started new bloodlines. Today, there could be Indonesians with Visayan ancestry without even realizing it!

The Visayas (/vəˈsaɪəz/ və-SY-əz), or the Visayan Islands(Visayan: Kabisay-an, Cebuano pronunciation: [kabiˈsajʔan]; Filipino: Kabisayaan [kɐbɪsɐˈjaʔan]), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are also considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea. Its inhabitants are predominantly the Visayan peoples.

The major islands of the Visayas are Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The region may also include the provinces of Palawan, Romblon, and Masbate, whose populations identify as Visayan and whose languages are more closely related to other Visayan languages than to the major languages of Luzon.

Most Recent Trip to Filoli-Part 1 ( the Mansion)

Dodie and Ruth treated me to lunch and tour of the Filoli Gardens💚 last Thursday.  Macrine ( RIP) and I love Gardens.  Two of the most beautiful gardens that both of us have visited during our younger married years were the 💚💚Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC and the Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia

Macrine with her sister have visited the Filoli Gardens several decades ago,  but not me. So the last Thursday adventure was my first time, Thanks a million Dodie and Ruth. We went early in the morning and the Parking Lot was not full. By 1:00PM, the Parking Lot was full, it was time  for us to return home.  It was a fun Day. We brought my wheel chair but forget the Foot Rest, so I walked with my cane about half of the tour time. We took a lot of pictures so I am posting this in two sections- Part 1 and 2. 

Part 1 will be mostly inside the historic Mansion and Part 2 will be the Gardens. Here are some photos inside the House, featuring antiques, crystals, silver and paintings and other antique collections.

The Filoli Historic House and Gardens is located 30 miles of South Francisco. Filoli is nestled on a slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounded by more than 23,000 acres of the protected Peninsula watershed.  To the two families who live here, Filoli represented a desire to create a magnificent and enduring country estate. The first owner, William Bourn dubbed it Filoli ( pronounced Fie-low-lee), a made-up word drawn from the first two letters of his personal motto:

" FIght for a just cause;  LOve  your fellow man; LIve a good life."       

An antique Ivory Mahjong Set

  

💚💚https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-three-most-beautiful-gardens-that.html

The booklet I purchased in the Gift Shoppe describing the highlights, history and activities sponsored by https://filoli.org/ 

Part 2 will be Photographs of the Gardens in my next Posting.

💚Here's the website for Filoli Gardens: https://filoli.org/

Lastly, yesterday was Happy National Respect Your Cat Day

Happy National Respect Your Cat Day! Celebrated every year on March 28th, this day reminds us to honor our feline friends for the joy and companionship they bring to our lives. Cats have held a special place in human history, from ancient Egyptian times to modern-day lap naps. Show your kitty some extra love today—they deserve it!

My Tribute to Batman & Robin

Watch for The Continuation of this Posting:

March 30-Part 2 (Gardens)

March 31-Part 3 ( The Cashless Gift Shop) 

The Brutalist- The Movie and Architectural Style

As an immigrant pursuing the American Dream and a Lover of Modern Architecture  I enjoyed This movie yesterday at our THD Cinema!! The film earned ten nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Actor for Brody. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, it won three awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

A resident asked me why the movie was titled, the Brutalist. The answer is described below💚.  

 

"The Brutalist," a film exploring the immigrant experience and the American Dream through the lens of architecture, is a bold and ambitious, but potentially long, cinematic experience that has garnered both praise and criticism for its raw, unflinching style and complex themes. 

Here's a more detailed look at the film and its reception:

• The Premise:

  "The Brutalist" follows László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, as he arrives in America and embarks on a decade-spanning architectural project, grappling with the complexities of the American Dream and the compromises required to achieve success. 
• Style and Tone:

  The film is known for its stark, unadorned style, mirroring the brutalist architectural style it explores.It's a long film, clocking in at over three hours, and is described as a "monumental" and "intimate" epic. 
• Critical Reception:

  • Positive: Critics have praised the film's powerful performances, particularly Adrien Brody's, and its exploration of complex themes. Some have called it a "towering tribute to the immigrant experience" and a "masterclass in acting". 
  • Negative: Others find the film's length and raw style to be off-putting, with some critics suggesting that it loses its way in the second half. Some viewers have found the film to be "confounding" and "unsettling". 
• Is it worth it?

  The answer depends on your personal preferences. If you're drawn to ambitious, visually striking films with complex characters and themes, "The Brutalist" could be a rewarding experience. However, if you prefer a more traditional, polished cinematic experience, you might find the film's length and raw style to be a challenge. 
• Key Themes:

  • The immigrant experience and the pursuit of the American Dream. 
  • The relationship between art and commerce. 
  • The complexities of legacy, power, and racism. 
  • Trauma and its impact on individuals and their creations. 

  I love the concept of the cross design for the Chapel from the sunlight on the roof of the Building in Doyles Town, PA.  The cross design reminded me of the Prayer Room in our beach house in Amoingon, Boac at Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque.  

  

  
  

  For more Reviews visit: the brutalist reviews

  
  

  💚Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the bare building materials and structural elements over decorative design. The style commonly makes use of exposed, unpainted concrete or brick, angular geometric shapes and a predominantly monochrome colour palette; other materials, such as steel, timber, and glass, are also featured.

  
  

  
  

  Meanwhile, Did you Know That....

  

  The Kingdom of Ibalon in Bicol ( Philippines) is known through the Ibalong Epic, an ancient tale of warrior-heroes Handiong, Baltog, and Bantong battling giant monsters and invaders. Though partly myth, historians believe Ibalon was a thriving pre-colonial settlement skilled in agriculture, trade, and metallurgy!

  

  The epic describes giant beasts, such as the man-eating Tandayag boar and the venomous serpent Oriol, hinting at real historical threats like wild animals and foreign invaders.

  Handiong was a legendary leader who introduced farming, pottery, and boat-making—key to Ibalon’s prosperity.

  Ancient Bicolanos likely had metalworking skills, using iron weapons to defend their lands!

  
  

  Finally, My Photo of the Day: