Eat the rich satire gets a bad wrap sometimes and understandably so – it's a saturated market and there are plenty of other stories to tell. But every once in a while a show like The White Lotus comes along and reminds us why we loved the genre in the first place.
Its luxurious settings, luscious landscapes, obnoxious characters, intricately crafted storylines and cutting dialogue are enough to draw anyone in. And we haven't even mentioned the theme tune yet. Now that the third season has come to an end, you might find you have a White Lotus-shaped hole in your life. For anyone who can't afford a quick trip to the Four Seasons in Koh Samui to recreate the drama ourselves, these alternative shows might help.
Five shows for The White Lotus fans to watch next
1. The Perfect Couple, Netflix
There's always a strong showing from Nicole Kidman in the eat the rich landscape – she's just got that je ne sais quoi. Last summer, she starred in The Perfect Couple which, like The White Lotus, starts with a dead body in the harbour and then takes us back in time to work out who died, how and why. The drama unfolds the day before Greer's (Kidman's) son was due to get married in their family home in Nantucket.
Based on Elin Hilderbrand's best-selling novel, it's another elite Who Dunnit to binge on the sofa. And, bonus points, it also stars Sam Nivola (everyone's favourite member of the controversial White Lotus threesome, Lochlan Ratliff).
2. Bad Sisters, Apple TV+
More murder, more deceit, more comedy and more real estate porn – if you haven't watched seasons one and two of Bad Sisters yet, then you know what to do. Arguably following a similar trajectory to the last season of The White Lotus, the first season of Sharon Horgan's show is an unequivocal black comedy, but the second is more of a drama with comedic moments.
It follows the lives of five Irish sisters who come to blows with some truly insufferable men, two of which happen to be their brother-in-law. It's gripping, funny, clever and the characters are crafted with warmth and gumption. It will also make you want to book a holiday along the coast or Ireland (which is slightly more affordable than Thailand).
3. Big Little Lies, Sky Atlantic & NOW
Okay, there's a murder in this one too, but at this point it's a tried and tested formula. And it stars Nicole Kidman too. Big Little Lies, based on Liane Moriarty's best-selling novel, follows a group of wealthy school moms as they find their lives intertwined by an unexpected scandal.
This show features an exceptional cast, a host of incredible Californian mansions, lots of chilling power dynamics and another great theme tune. There are two seasons to catch up on already – the second of which stars none other than Meryl Streep – with a hotly anticipated third reportedly on the way.
4. Veep, Sky Atlantic & NOW
Shifting back into the world of satire, if you enjoy the comedy of The White Lotus, then you need to watch Veep. It's a political satire created by Armando Iannucci that follows Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the fictional Vice President of the United States ('Veep'), and her team as they attempt to make their mark and leave a legacy but often become mired in day-to-day political games.
The sheer nonsense that takes place in politics feels particularly pertinent at the moment... Consider this realistic escapism with much lower stakes than in real life.
5. Succession, Sky Atlantic & NOW
If zippy dialogue is what you're after, then it doesn't get much better than Succession. It's widely considered one of the best satirical dramas of the past century and rightly so. Give it time to warm up (the finale of season one should do the job) and before you know it you will love these exceptionally hatable characters like we do.
Succession came to an end in 2023, so you can catch up on the whole show at your own pace without worrying about a new one coming out. You will laugh and cry and feel nauseous at their ostentatious displays of wealth and entitlement – it's brilliant.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).