Looking for TV shows like the White Lotus? We’ve got you!
Ok, so the weather forecast for most of the country for the next little while really doesn’t look so flash – maybe you were thinking, ‘nevermind, i’ll just curl up on the couch with my favourite TV show…. OH WAIT, THE WHITE LOTUS FINISHED ALREADY.
If you, like me, have been suffering from serious withdrawals and are missing Tanya and the crew, I’ve trawled the streaming services to find some shows (and movies!) to help fill that sad Tanya shaped hole in your heart.
The Night Manager
I have lost count of the number of times I’ve rewatched this British mini-series. It’s that good. It follows Johnathan Pine (played by Tom Hiddleston), a former British soldier who is now the night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo. There, Jonathan is recruited by the manager of a Foreign Office task force, Angela Burr (the incredible Olivia Colman) to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).
It is a darn good watch, which is why it was nominated for 36 awards and won 11 when it came out in 2016.
Oh, and it has a White Lotus link! One of Richard’s right-hand men is Corky, played by Tom Hollander (yes, goddam Quentin from White Lotus)
Watch it now on: Prime Video
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Are we done yet with this category of show that is essentially just a deep dive into the messy lives of extraordinarily rich, mostly unlikable white folk? By the number of shows coming out at the mo, it seems we very much are not. Fleishman Is in Trouble is exactly that – but although it has some seriously unlikable characters in it, it’s one hell of a watch and very addictive.
It centers around a newly divorced couple, Toby and Rachel, played by Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes. Narrated by his friend Libby (the wonderful Lizzy Caplan), the show follows Toby who is now unleashed as a single man in his 40s in New York City. But as he starts living it up, his ex-wife disappears, leaving him with the kids. As he looks for answers, we begin to discover that all isn’t as it seemed in their marriage.
The show takes you on one hell of a ride, and, more than a month after watching, I still find myself thinking about it – particularly the disturbing last episode.
Watch it now on: Disney+
Succession
If you’re looking for another show that’s smart, addictive and is essentially just all about a group of insanely rich people doing insane things, you needn’t look any further than Succession. Instead of a vacation setting though, most of this show takes place in the boardroom, focusing on one family, The Roy’s. The family’s patriarch, Logan Roy, is at the helm of family-owned media and entertainment conglomerate, Waystar RoyCo. But, with Logan’s health in question, his four children begin fighting for control of the company.
It is an insanely good watch, with one heck of a cast, including Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Brian Cox. But it’s honestly worth watching just for the characters Tom Wambsgans (the son-in-law of Logan) and Greg Hirsch (Logan’s nephew).
Watch it on: Neon
Big Little Lies
If you somehow missed the phenomenon that was Big Little Lies, now is the time to get on the bandwagon. The show starts off in a very similar way: someone is dead in suspicious circumstances, but who is dead and who is responsible?
This is yet another show about insane rich people doing insane rich things (and harbouring a lot of secrets!), but it is seriously brilliant, with wonderfully written characters and a stellar cast to play them. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern and Shaileen Woodley round out the main cast – and are then joined by Meryl Streep for season two.
Oh, and if you’re looking for a White Lotus link? In season two, Laura Dern plays Dominic De Grasso’s wife (he was the dad, in the middle of the three generations of De Grasso men). We never actually got to see Laura, but she was that pissed off woman, taking Dominic’s sad calls. As a side note, I’m totally picking for Laura to be in Season 3 of The White Lotus.
Watch it now on: Neon
The Flight Attendant
Again, this series starts off with yet another suspicious death and we spend the series trying to work out what the heck happened. The Flight Attendant is both dark, and hilarious at times and stars the lovely Kaley Cuoco. As the title would suggest, Kaley plays a completely reckless flight attendant, Cassie, who is battling a serious alcoholism problem. Whilst away working, she wakes up in the wrong bed, in the wrong hotel, next to a dead man and has no memory of what happened.
Over the course of the series she tries to put together what happened (and put back together the pieces of her life). It’s quirky, and ridiculously unrealistic at times, but an excellent little piece of escapism!
Watch it now on: Neon
The Morning Show
For another beautifully shot show, with an insanely good cast – make sure you add The Morning Show to your list. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carrell and Billy Crudup, it’s a seriously good watch.
It’s another sort of take on the rich people behaving badly theme, but focuses on the characters and culture behind a network broadcast morning news program. The #metoo movement is explored from a number of different, devastating perspectives, after allegations of sexual misconduct are aimed at the male co-anchor of the show – who is then forced off the show. There are two series of this show, with a third in the works, and holy heck I cannot wait.
Watch it now on: Apple TV
Your Honour
On the anniversary of his mother’s murder, teenager Adam is driving when he accidentally hits another teenage boy – who dies in his arms. In a panic, Adam flees the scene.
But wait, it gets worse. His father (Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston) is a prominent and respected New Orleans judge, who encourages him to turn himself in – until he realizes the boy was the son of a mob kingpin and quickly does a 180.
It’s dark, suspenseful and well worth a watch. And, if you already watched season one – the second series is out now!
Watch it now on: Neon
The Bold Type
Ok, look, The Bold Type has a very different vibe to The White Lotus, but it does have one very important thing in common: Meghann Fahy.
Meghann was incredible as Daphne – the incredibly chipper wife of awful old Cam, who showed more and more layers of depth to her character as the season went on.
Well, if you’re looking for more Meghann, there’s approximately 8 billion episodes of The Bold Type over on Netflix. Meghann plays Sutton – one of three young women who the comedy-drama follows who are chasing dreams, ambition and love in New York City. The three all work at fictional global women’s mag, Scarlet and the whole thing is actually inspired by the life and career of former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, Joanna Coles (who is executive producer of the series).
It’s light and fun – there are no mystery murders – but it does have wonderful Meghann!
Watch it now on: Netflix
Dead to Me
If you’re looking for a black comedy to fill the White Lotus shaped hole in your heart, Dead to Me could be just the ticket! Starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, it follows a recently widowed real estate agent, who is trying to come to terms with the death of her husband, in a hit-and-run incident. She meets Judy in a grief support group, who says she is grieving her fiancé who died in a heart attack. But in reality, Judy has a lot of secrets in her closet.
It’s a rollercoaster ride, with some truly dark humour and major twists and turns – but it’s a very fun ride. It’s also worth noting that two of the exec producers on the show – Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are also exec producers of Succession (one of the greatest shows of all time).
Watch it now on: Netflix
Nine Perfect Strangers
In a similar vein to White Lotus, a bunch of random strangers end up together on a holiday of sorts where all kinds of weird chaos ensues. The destination is a 10-day retreat at Tranquillium house – a health and wellness resort in the fictional town of Cabrillo, California. Things go from weird to weirder, as the guests (who all have very different reasons for wanting to be ‘healed’) discover this is no ordinary retreat.
It stars Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy and is based off the book written by Liane Moriarty – who also wrote Big Little Lies. I’m yet to read a bad book of hers – and while this one wasn’t my favourite, it’s still a great watch.
Watch it now on: Prime Video
Prefer a movie? Here are three to stream now!
The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
This one is a sequel to Knives Out (starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer), but you needn’t have watched it to understand what’s going on in this stand-alone film. Daniel Craig is the only returning character, reprising his role as master detective, Benoit Blanc. He takes on a new case revolving around tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his closest friends.
Like White Lotus, there’s a mystery to be solved, in a luxurious European setting, full of crazy rich people. This time around Benoit travels to a ritzy private island in Greece, with an impressive ensemble cast of quirky characters (and a stellar cast including Edward Norton, Janelle Monae and Kathryn Hahn).
It’s kitsch, quirky but a very fun watch.
Watch it now on: Netflix
The Menu
Ok, look, I haven’t watched this yet because I am a ginormous wuss (I can’t watch anything that describes itself as a horror), but everyone who has seen this, tells me it gave them White Lotus vibes and is actually a pretty good (but scary) watch.
It’s a black comedy horror (no thank you), that sees a group of strangers all travel by boat to Hawthorn – a private island where you’ll find an exclusive restaurant owned and operated by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). But, a few courses into the degustation meal, the guests begin to realise that they were all brought to the island for quite different, dark reasons.
What makes me have to agree it’s probably good, is Adam McKay and Will Ferrell produced it (yes, from Succession and Dead to Me – even though I actually can’t stand anything Will Ferrell is in, I am a fan of what he produces)
Watch it now on: Disney+
Shotgun Wedding
Disclaimer: I haven’t watched this either, but it comes out today (Jan 27) on Prime Video. And look, I’ll be honest with you: it looks terrible. But maybe it’s one of those films that is so bad, it’s somehow good?
It’s from the same people who made Pitch Perfect, and I’ve heard it talked about a long time ago because originally it was supposed to star Armie Hammer, until he was cancelled. Now it stars Josh Duhamel and J-Lo. So… that kind of sets the tone, no?
So why am I suggested something that looks pretty terrible? WELL. It also stars Jennifer Coolidge, pretty much playing another incarnation of Tanya, sooooo, surely it’s worth a watch just for that?
Watch it now on: Prime Video
