Prostitutes, Players, and Palazzos: The Di Grassos in Season 2 of “The White Lotus”
February 6, 2023
Writer: Lily Miro
Editor: Hannah Ostfield
After binging season one of Mike White’s comedy-drama series, “The White Lotus,” I couldn’t help but reflect on the pineapple suite, insufferably “woke” teenage girls, an adolescent’s journey from video gaming to canoeing, and of course, light-hearted murder. Having just watched season two, murder still comes to mind, but it’s mixed with themes of sex, love, lies, and Jennifer Coolidge’s flamboyant portrayal of her character, Tanya. Monogamy is a foreign word in season two; watchers can’t find it anywhere between Daphne and Cameron’s affairs and cheating “high-end gays,” to Dominic’s inability to stay faithful to his wife. While each storyline holds different truths about the stereotypical guests of a five-star destination resort, toxic masculinity represented through the Di Grasso family’s story was particularly fascinating.
The Di Grasso family consists of a naïve son, Albie; a hypersexual father, Dominic; and a perverted grandfather, Bert. Through each of these enticing characters, Mike White expertly portrays the generational gaps in three forms of toxic masculinity. As the oldest Di Grasso, Bert represents the overt misogyny of his generation. While he’s funny, carefree, and extremely easy to love, he also shamelessly flirts with women who are more than 30 years younger than him, making him, by today’s standards, a pervert. Throughout the season, the audience learns more about Bert's complicated relationship with his late wife. While in his view, their relationship was one of love and adoration, his son Dominic brings up the countless affairs that Bert had and the harsh reality that his mother knew about all of them. Bert attempts to disguise his blatant sexism behind a veil of seemingly harmless flirtation and, while this shouldn’t persist, he continues to get away with this behavior because of his old age and charm.
In contrast to his father, Dominic Di Grasso is more covertly misogynistic. He doesn’t make blatant inappropriate advances on women or pursue apparent flirtations. Instead, he hires a local prostitute, Lucia, and lets her stay at The White Lotus for a week. Unlike his father, when Dominic had an affair, his wife and daughter cut him out of their lives. Conversely to his father, his misogynistic behavior received pushback from society. The audience catches Dominic in a state of despair and self-hatred as the guilt takes a significant toll on his mental health and decision-making. While Dominic may have been born at a time that permitted his sexist behavior, he grew into a generation that, increasingly, did not.
Finally, there is sweet, innocent, and seemingly harmless Albie. In today’s generation, Bert and Dominic’s form of misogyny is still heavily apparent. However, with more awareness of what is considered right and wrong, as well as a push towards being more “woke,” the phenomenon known as the “nice guy” was born. Albie is considered the peacemaker of the family, on both his father's and mother's sides. He doesn’t excuse his father’s behavior and even points out that he wishes never to end up like him. However, he goes on vacation with him and promises to convince his mother to forgive Dominic in exchange for money, showcasing his misogyny.
On his date with Portia, a young woman, he explains his attraction to “pretty, wounded birds.” Albie wishes to save women and believes that romantic attraction should be guaranteed in return for his kindness. This is demonstrated through his relationship with Lucia, the local prostitute first hired by his father. Albie believes it is his job to rescue her from bad financial and living situations; and that once he does, she should give herself to him. Albie doesn’t realize Lucia is a prostitute until after sleeping with her, yet he still makes it his mission to get her money. Lucia senses his naivety and scams him by playing into his savior complex. She makes him believe she is in serious danger, and of course, as the nice guy, Albie must get her out of it. He even goes as far as to bribe his dad for the money, promising to speak to his mom on his dad’s behalf. Albie is so desperate to save Lucia in hopes of romance in return, he sells out his loyalty to his own mom. Mike White continues his use of terrific comedic timing up until the very end of the show when Albie finds his way back to a broken Portia at the airport - another wounded bird for him to try and save.
The White Lotus’ portrayal of sexism and toxic masculinity through the Di Grasso’s story is riveting, insightful, and tantalizing. By use of dark humor and a particularly dysfunctional family, Mike White once again makes an unforgettable season. I look forward to seeing the new set of rich, toxic, dysfunctional, and painfully hilarious hotel guests White comes up with next season!
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