Why Egypt is the perfect location for season 4 of The White Lotus
When The White Lotus first debuted in 2021, no one could have predicted the cultural juggernaut it would become. From its biting satire and social commentary to its hauntingly beautiful settings, the HBO series has carved a unique space in the world of prestige television.
Each season, set in a different luxury resort, unravels stories of wealth, privilege and human frailty against the backdrop of paradise. Season one took us to Hawaii. Season two seduced us with the romance of Sicily. Season three, which premiered earlier this year and wrapped up this week, took place in Thailand. But as conversations swirl around the possibility of a fourth season, one question emerges: where next?
The answer is clear: Egypt.
From the golden sands of the Sahara to the blue waters of the Nile River, Egypt offers a breathtaking canvas for the next chapter of The White Lotus – a place where ancient myth collides with modern indulgence, where spiritual awakenings and existential crises feel right at home.
A Setting Like No Other
Egypt is a land of stark contrasts. In Cairo, luxury hotels rise alongside crumbling colonial-era buildings, and modern art galleries coexist with ancient mosques and churches. A short flight away, the serenity of Aswan, the opulence of Nile River cruises, or the otherworldly beauty of the White Desert offer an escape from the chaos – ideal for a fictional White Lotus resort.
Imagine guests sipping cocktails on a private boat as it drifts past the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, or lounging poolside at a Four Seasons resort in Cairo with breathtaking views of the Nile River and the Pyramids. The backdrop is exotic, layered and cinematic – fertile ground for creator Mike White to explore themes of culture clash, privilege tourism and post-colonial identity.
Egypt is also no stranger to murder mysteries. The country has long captured the imagination of storytellers, serving as the atmospheric backdrop for some of the most iconic whodunits in history. Agatha Christie famously set Death on the Nile amidst Egypt’s ancient ruins and luxury riverboats – stories that have since been adapted into lavish films dripping with suspense and opulence. Closer to home, the Egyptian series Secret of the Nile offers a homegrown take on the genre, blending intrigue, romance and class tension within the walls of a 1950s Aswan hotel.
Whether told through Western or Arab lenses, Egypt’s layered history and charged settings have proven irresistible for tales of secrets, scandals and murder.
Tourism and the Trouble With It
One of the recurring themes in The White Lotus is the impact of tourism on local communities – an issue Egypt knows all too well. Egypt’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which has fluctuated dramatically due to political instability, the pandemic and global economic trends. While tourists bask in curated luxury, locals often contend with the reality of economic disparity.
In this way, Egypt offers not just a gorgeous backdrop, but a rich narrative opportunity. What does it mean to “find yourself” in a country whose own narrative are sometimes shaped, romanticized and commodified for the consumption of outsiders? What tensions simmer beneath the curated experiences sold to affluent Westerners? And what happens when ancient spiritual symbols become Instagrammable photo ops?