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The White Lotus

 Mike White has explained the genesis of the "blondes trio" in his most recent scripts. He was on vacation, and he saw three friends in a cluster. Whenever one friend would leave, the other two would gossip about the absent friend.


This insight triggered a series of defensive reader posts in the NYTimes. "That's not how MY friendships work." "I have NEVER been in Carrie Coon's shoes." (The squirming within these posts helped to suggest that perhaps the writers were not yet fully acquainted with themselves.)

I did relate to Carrie Coon throughout this most recent season. I especially liked when Coon wanted to put Michelle Monaghan on trial for Monaghan's naughtiness; this was anxious, controlling behavior. Coon had the wrong idea that "punishing" Monaghan for a perceived transgression would be a step toward correcting the universe, making everything right. I have been in this position so often. For example, this week, I dreamed of tattling on a fellow hotel guest because his beachside music was too loud. In my head, this situation had become an apocalyptic struggle; I would emerge as a winner, in glory, because I had a righteous idea about proper conduct.

To me, Carrie Coon is the MVP of the season. (She is generally the MVP in everything she does.) Her moment of compassion toward Monaghan is so moving because it represents a minute of personal triumph; for at least a few exhalations, Coon has found a way to be kind to herself. This isn't presented as a "final act"; it's clear that Coon's character will continue to struggle (as we all struggle). But--gosh--Coon took her script and ran it through a juicer, and she found all the liquid available. This was a master class.

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