Just renewed for another round at HBO, Mike White's The White Lotus seems to have outdone itself with its sophomore season. The series, which revolves around a luxurious hotel resort and its myriad wealthy guests, is a subtle and scathing satire on topics such as class, gender, and race relations throughout America. With that being said, besides its immaculately star-studded cast, one thing that the series has become known for is its not-so-likable characters. Whether they’re serial adulterers or unsmiling, Marx-reading college students, White Lotus's unrelenting depiction of the upper classes never cuts any corners or holds back its teeth. This is what makes its few "likable" - or, rather, relatable - characters stand out even more, as lone soldiers in what seems to be a losing battle. Here is our ranking of the 10 most "likable" characters in this unforgettable series.
10
Ethan
Ethan's placement at the bottom of the list might seem somewhat dubious, as he's neither obnoxious nor entirely soulless - it would appear. Instead, the awkward, newly-wealthy tech guy comes across as well-intentioned and thoughtful, if a bit stiff and cold towards Harper at times. We might trust Ethan now, but it's good to remember that season two of White Lotus is all about unraveling toxic masculinity tropes. Actor Will Sharpe alleges that we shouldn't let Ethan, and guys like him, so easily off the hook. There's only one choice for viewers, and that's to see how long the facade will last.
9 Daphne
The task of rounding up ten morally upright characters from The White Lotus is no less than impossible. That being said, Daphne, half of one of season two's young couples, is by no means as detestable as her arrogant finance-bro husband Cameron, played by Theo James. Rather, as opposed to being outright evil, Daphne represents the sort of naïveté that comes with a lifetime of not watching the news and, it would seem, not voting. She may have ulterior motives, but it would be disingenuous to say that Daphne doesn't seem like one of the more fun characters to be around - even if she’s convicted of fraud within the year.
8 Harper
Played by an on-the-nose Aubrey Plaza, Harper couldn't be any more of the antidote to the effervescent Daphne. As soon as she and Ethan arrive to the resort, a certain "mood" is broken when she does something as simple as refuse a glass of rosé. Harper's cool, detached attitude often makes her feel like an outsider observing the havoc of the resort, and while this definitely makes her character come across as sanctimonious at times, she's also easily one of the most relatable characters on the show. She usually feels like the only one capable of reason and decency, even if she's eager to let you know it.
7 Rachel
Married to one of White Lotus's most universally hated men, Rachel definitely had it rough during season one, especially considering she never did quite make it to the Pineapple Suite. Whereas most of the season's other characters were secure in their wealth and careers, Rachel was the only one harboring immense doubts and insecurities about her career as a journalist. Afraid of becoming the odious Shane's "trophy wife," it's definitely very hard not to empathize with Rachel, even if, by the end of the season, the illusion of hope is shattered for her.
6 Armond
Anyone who's watched season one of the series knows that Armond's morals and integrity are somewhat questionable, to say the least. As the resort's tightly-wound, yet incorrigibly reckless hotel manager, Armond gets himself embroiled in quite a number of schemes within the week, from double-booking suites, to ingesting substances on the job, to leaving other unpleasant substances in his enemy's suitcase. However, while Armond is arguably one of the most unethical characters to date, he is also without a doubt one of the most entertaining. From the way that he initially deals with Lani's pregnancy, failing to even remember her name, he immediately sheds a great light into the types of people we'll be dealing with throughout the series - those whose friendly mask only stretches so thin.
5 Albie
Another character pitted against an unfavorable family legacy, Albie has proven to be season two's go-to "nice guy" - for better or for worse. Accompanied by an adulterous father and womanizing grandfather, the Stanford grad puts an astronomical amount of effort into respecting women, notably his vacation crush, Portia. Although viewers don't necessarily have a reason to doubt Albie, part of his act can come across as slightly performative at times. However, he is undeniably charming and kind, if in a schoolboy way, to Portia, and he leaps at the chance to educate his elders. It's only an added bonus if they’re humiliated in the process.
4 Valentina
Even if she displays certain parallels to the unhinged season one manager, Valentina is light years beyond Armond in competence and general likability. Her role in season two's cold open is pretty unforgettable - upon hearing of the dead bodies floating in the sea, she swiftly takes the proper procedure to rid the hotel of any liability. Sure, she might be a bit uptight, to use a friendly term, but it's Valentina's character that largely keeps us grounded in this chaotic show, and we have no choice but to respect her incredible work ethic, tenacity, and charisma.
3 Lucia
A universal fan favorite of season two, Lucia is a sex worker at the White Lotus on a mission to meet an unknown American man. She quickly becomes ensconced in the DiGrasso family drama, and her job makes her a constant target at the White Lotus, by figures like Valentina and those much more dangerous. Yet, Lucia has proven to be one of the most resilient and clever characters on the show, impossible not to root for, as she bucks the exploitation of the world around her.
2 Quinn
The youngest of the Mossbacher clan, Quinn easily displays the most character and good nature of all of them. Given who we're dealing with, from adulterers to Machiavellian girlbosses, the competition isn't exactly fierce, but Quinn still manages to make quite a name for himself by deciding to abandon his family's materialistic habits and stay on the island. Quinn’s newfound connection with nature is no less than touching, and easily one of the most memorable moments from season one emerges when he loses his electronics at sea. It is heartwarming to see Quinn make a real connection with the world and the people around him.
1 Belinda
Despite her character's relatively limited screen time, Natasha Rothwell truly shines as the benevolent Belinda in season one. Unlike perhaps every other adult on the show, Belinda is the only character who repeatedly exudes honesty and kindness, never in the name of achieving something else. It is heartbreaking, but surely no such surprise, to see how Belinda is taken advantage of by figures like Tanya on the show, when the latter dangles and then quickly backs out on a business opportunity with her. But if there's one thing about The White Lotus that leaves us with hope, it's that Belinda's spirit, by far, is the strongest out of all of them.