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The White Lotus

 It's difficult not to narrate your life on Facebook and to present your milestone events in a self-flattering way. "My husband -- right before he was named head surgeon at Cornell...." "I was humbled to receive a rare honor Saturday night...." "Look what she gave me for my birthday!"


For this reason, it's a treat to see the toxic frenemy trio in Mike White's new season of "The White Lotus." In the standout scene, Michelle Monaghan complains that a friend has derided her mid-life crisis vacation. "And I said," she notes, "this is not my mid-life crisis. This is my Victory Tour."

Clearly, "victory" is a concept that interests Mike White; in this way, the new script reminds me of White's film "Brad's Status." There is speculation online that the Schwarzenegger plot may be about incest. Maybe so, but it could also simply be about "winning." Schwarzenegger craves "more money, more fame, more pussy." His weird fraternal questions--"What kind of porn do you like?" "Is our sister a virgin?"--may grow out of a Trumpian wish to make others uncomfortable. (I was reminded of Lyndon Johnson exposing himself in front of various speechless lords-in-waiting.)

Finally, the script shines a light on orthodontia. White has selected a British actor, Aimee Lou Wood, who hasn't visited an American "invisalign" clinic. At first, it seems like this won't be an item of discussion, but then a tacky U.S. expat turns the subtext into text. "I love your teeth!" says the expat, in a mysterious, condescending manner. And the remark is like an undetonated bomb. I think it may "return" in later episodes.

Looking forward to more from Parker Posey.
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