The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 1, called ‘Ciao’, is now out. Written and directed by Mike White, the new season stars F Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso, Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid (from season 1), Jon Gries as Greg Hunt and Tanya’s husband (from season 1), Adam DiMarco as Albie Di Grasso, Theo James as Cameron Babcock, Meghann Fahy as Daphne Babcock, Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina, Michael Imperioli as Dominic Di Grasso, Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller, Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller, Haley Lu Richardson as Portia, Beatrice Granno as Mia, Simona Tabasco as Lucia, and others.

The first Episode is an hour long. The synopsis reads, “Two couples navigate awkwardness, an Italian American family deals with a conspicuous absence, and Tanya arrives with her new assistant.”

The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 1 Recap Contains Spoilers

The new season is set in Italy, Sicily’s The White Lotus hotel and Valentina is the manager here. The episode begins with Meghann talking to a few strangers at the beach about how she will leave soon and how she had a good time. When Meghann goes for a swim on the beach, she comes across someone’s dead body. One of the hotel staff informs Valentina that the cops have found the bodies of a few hotel guests. Just like in season 1, we are not shown who the dead people are.

The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 1 takes us back to everyone’s arrival at the hotel. Bert Di Grasso, an older man, is accompanied by his son Dominic Di Grasso, a Hollywood producer from LA and grandson Albie Di Grasso. Tanya McQuoid-Hunt arrives with her young assistant Portia. Her husband, Greg Hunt, is already at the hotel.

Cameron Babcock and his wife, Daphne, are joined by their friend Ethan Spiller and his wife, Harper Spiller. Lucia, a local sex worker, is happy to see the wealthy men as it’s an opportunity for her to earn money. Her friend Lucia, an aspiring singer, is excited for her friend.

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Harper-Ethan and Daphne-Cameron have lots of awkward moments. The latter couple is full of themselves, ignorant about the real world and spoiled. Ethan isn’t much of a talker and is nothing like his friend Cameron. Ethan’s wife, Harper, can’t help but judge the Babcock couple. Harper cares a lot about society and world issues. She’s annoyed at the fact that the couple doesn’t vote.

Cameron loses his back at the airport, so Ethan tells his wife to give him his shorts for swimming. When Harper takes Cameron to the room, he gets naked in front of her changes. Even though Harper doesn’t like him, we can sense the upcoming sexual tension between the two.

Coming to Di Grasso family, their roots are like in Italy. The elderly Bert Di Grasso is old but can’t help but flirt with every young woman. His son Dominic is a reserved man who’s not a fan of his father’s womanising side. Bert’s grandson Albie also judges his grandfather for flirting with young girls. Albie wonders how older men can get horny and believes that no young woman should get to see an older man’s penis.

In season 2, Tanya is not in her constant sad mood. She’s here to have a romantic time with her husband, Greg, who often seems annoyed. Greg is upset that Tanya brought assistant Portia on their “romantic holiday”. Tanya tells Portia to stay in another room and not come in front of Greg so that he thinks she’s left the hotel.

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There are obvious tensions between Tanya and Greg. When the two have sex, the scene ends weirdly. Greg also slams Tanya for eating 5 macaroons, and body shames her. But the poor, delusional lady can’t see what’s happening and thinks her husband cares for her.

Portia gels with the youngest man of the Di Grasso family, Albie. She addresses Bert as the ‘cute Di Grasso’. It’s another hint of something might happen between Portia and Albie.

Lucia, a local sex worker, wants to make money. She talks about her wish to sleep with the wealthy Di Grasso men. Lucia insists her friend Mia join her and have a threesome so they can earn lots of money. But Mia disagrees. All the time, we think that Lucia talks about trying to seduce Bert Di Grasso. However, it has been Dominic all along. The first episode end with the two of them getting cosy.

The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Final Thoughts

Well, that was episode 1, Ciao. There are all kinds of guests in the hotel. Some characters are interesting, and some are annoying. Tanya, as usual, is in her element, oblivious to reality. As the episode starts with Daphne, we can say she’s still alive. So who died, and what can be the reason for multiple deaths? We will get our answers in the end. But till then, let’s hope the upcoming episodes have more controversial scenes, dark humour, stupidity and twists.

Watch Episode 1 on Disney+ Hotstar.

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