The White Lotus season 2 finale was full of some surprising twists and turns. Jennifer Coolidge, who plays Tanya in the HBO series, probably had the biggest impact. Coolidge discussed what Tanya's character arc meant for her and how Tanya's character was informed by her personal experience.
HBO's The White Lotus is centered around the White Lotus hotel. The series is dramatic and satirical, and its viewership has steadily grown. In fact, The White Lotus season 2 finale doubled its viewership figures from season 1. Each season is largely self-contained, but Tanya made a comeback in season 2 after an incredibly entertaining showing in season 1. Having met Greg (Jon Gries) last season, the two wed in between seasons 1 and 2. Unfortunately for Tanya, Greg was with her for her money and plotted to have her killed.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Coolidge discussed Tanya's dramatic storyline in The White Lotus season 2. Coolidge revealed that series creator Mike White based the character's naivete on her trusting nature. Coolidge also commiserated on the nature of betrayal, saying that Tanya was ultimately a vulnerable person. "[...] sometimes it just doesn't work out well for vulnerable people in a world with some really bad people. […] it's very hard sometimes to know who the good guys are and the bad guys are in this world. Poor Tanya, she misjudged."
Unfortunately, Tanya ends up dying in The White Lotus season 2. Greg's co-conspirators, led by Quentin (Tom Hollander), are killed by Tanya, but she dies due to miscalculating her escape route. Coolidge explained that more than a few people were certain Tanya was not killed off. "I actually had a couple people say to me today they are so glad that I didn't die," she laughed. "And I had to correct them. [...] There [were] actually more than two people who thought it was like some sort of dream. They thought it was a dream even though I was in a body bag. They somehow thought it was all in Tanya's head or whatever. They didn't get that I was dead dead, forever. Dead in every sense."
The White Lotus is primarily a satire, and Coolidge stated that Tanya's fate was a commentary on how women handle betrayal. "There was a lot of women in this show having to survive a lot of different aspects of being a woman and all of it is intentional," Coolidge said. She added that she and series creator Mike White had plenty of discussions about the themes behind the series.
The White Lotus season 2 had plenty of references to betrayal and infidelity. Meghann Fahy's Daphne is continually in a cycle of vengeance with her husband (Theo James) as he cheats on her whenever he can. Meanwhile, Harper (Aubrey Plaza) must deal with her inability to trust her husband, Ethan (Jon Gries). Tanya's fate is betrayal taken to an extreme conclusion.
The White Lotus seasons 1-2 are streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Entertainment Weekly