New Day (The White Lotus)
"New Day" is the second episode of the first season of the American black comedy drama anthology television series The White Lotus. The episode was written and directed by series creator Mike White. It originally aired on HBO on July 18, 2021. The series follows the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain. The season is set on Maui, and follows two couples, the Pattons and the Mossbachers, along with a woman named Tanya, as they each have different conflicts during their stay. In the episode, tensions arise between Shane and Rachel, while Mark is informed of his medical results. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.459 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the character development, stories, directing and score. Plot Bored with their stay, Olivia (Sydney Sweeney) and Paula (Brittany O'Grady) smoke marijuana that Paula brought over. Before trying ketamine, they are interrupted by Nicole (Connie Britton), who happily announces that the test results for Mark (Steve Zahn) came back negative. This causes Mark to change his attitude to a more uplifting tone. Armond (Murray