There’s a sense of mystery that lingers throughout the first episode of the six-part HBO series, which is for the most part an introduction to the various colourful characters.Set at ‘The White Lotus’ resort in Maui, Hawaii, the show, which is now available to watch on demand on Foxtel, follows a group of VIP guests from various families as they settle in for a week-long holiday on the island.After some pretty groovy opening theme music, the first ep opens with a downcast man – later identified as Shane Patton (Jake Lacy) – sitting at an airport by himself as a concealed dead body is wheeled onto the plane waiting on the tarmac.RELATED: How to watch The White Lotus in AustraliaShane is questioned by a fellow happy couple about his stay in Hawaii, before they ask him where his wife is.“No offence, leave me the f**k alone,” Shane spits.Is Shane’s wife dead? How did she die? Is it too obvious that Shane killed her for him to be the real killer?These are questions that will no doubt keep us guessing throughout.We then flashback to a week prior when the blissful VIPs all arrive on the island, and are greeted by resort manager, Armond, played by Aussie actor Murray Bartlett who thankfully got to keep his native accent.Armond gives his new trainee, Lani (Jolene Purdy), the lowdown as the VIPs approach.“You don’t wanna be too specific as a presence or identity. You wanna be more generic,” Armond advises. “The goal is to create for the guests an overall impression of vagueness. Where they get everything they want but they don’t even know what they want, or what day it is, or where they are, or who we are, or what the f**k is going on.”It’s clear there’s an intentional juxtaposition between those holidaying and the working class. As for how this will be explored throughout the rest of the show, we’ll have to wait and see.Watch The White Lotus on Foxtel. New customers get a 10-day free trial. Sign up at foxtel.com.auAmong the line-up of wealthy guests we have Jennifer Coolidge as you’ve never seen her in the role of unstable woman, Tanya McQuoid, who is grieving the loss of her mother.Coolidge is a breath of fresh air in the more intense role, usually starring in more broad comedies.Towards the end of the episode, Coolidge’s character features in an emotional scene with spa therapist Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) as she breaks down about her trauma. It’s honestly captivating.RELATED: Jennifer Coolidge thought she would be dead before The White LotusElsewhere, we meet the Mossbacher family: Mum and successful businesswoman Nicole (Connie Britton), dad Mark (Steve Zahn), daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney), son Quinn (Fred Hechinger) and Olivia’s best pal, Paula (Brittany O’Grady).We don’t learn a whole lot about them in the first episode, apart from Mark awaiting a test result for testicular cancer. Olivia and Paula seem like your standard social media obsessed teens, who force Quinn to sleep in the kitchen.Lastly we have Shane – the son of wealthy parents – and his bride Rachel (Alexandra Daddario), who is a battling journalist.As we stand next to the bed and prepare to watch them have sex, Shane suddenly realises he’s in the wrong room.“This is a standard suite, we’re supposed to be in the honeymoon suite,” he tells Rachel, before marching her to Armond at the front desk and throwing a tantrum about how he was supposed to have a plunge pool.Armond tells Shane the plunge pool is in the “pineapple room”, and that his room has sweeping ocean views and is far superior.Shane threatens to call his mum as his horrified wife looks on, but Armond assures Shane he has the best room in the hotel.As an annoyed Shane walks away, Armond’s beaming hospitality face immediately fades.He tells Lani, “Think I might have f**ked up and double booked the pineapple suite. You have to treat these people like sensitive children. They will say it’s about the money, it’s not, it’s not even about the room. They just wanna be the only child. The special chosen baby child of the hotel. And we are their mean mummies, denying them their pineapple room.”It ends up being Lani’s first and last day on the job, as she goes into labour in Armond’s office after hiding her pregnancy.“Who’s Lani?” Armond says when he’s informed about her water breaking.“You can’t have a baby on the first day of the job!” he later tells her mid-push.We’re not entirely sure where The White Lotus is taking us yet, but we’re intrigued enough to find out.New episodes of The White Lotus air on Foxtel Mondays at 11am, express from the US, or watch on demand
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