The White Lotus spoilers follow.
Strict hotel manager Valentina may be running a tight ship at The White Lotus Taormina, but she finally lets loose in a tender, sexy scene in season two's sixth episode.
As Mike White’s caustic anthology series is gearing up to tie in all loose ends for a hot, explosive finale, the buttoned-up character portrayed by Sabrina Impacciatore has had her very own sexual awakening. In 'Abductions,' Valentina and aspiring singer Mia (Beatrice Grannò) share one night that can change the closeted resort manager’s life for good.
This season has touched upon sexual and gender politics with a side of murder and Sicilian clichés. Following in the footsteps of season one — though the Hawai’i-set first chapter was more focused on post-colonialism — this instalment sees each protagonist experience how intimacy can be strictly connected to and affected by power.
And speaking of power, Valentina clearly enjoys exerting hers by telling other employees off and using sarcasm as a weapon with her most insufferable guests. But this cold demeanour conceals a deep fragility and a reticence to live her truth and own her sexuality.
A virtual opposite to season one’s libertine manager Armond (Murray Bartlett), Valentina is a fascinating, inscrutable character. All other employees and holidaymakers show their true colours from the get-go, revealing their flaws, miseries and frustrations early on and building upon these with irreversible consequences.
White goes down another route with the head of hospitality, shedding her layers one by one. The audience peeks at Valentina’s private life, confirming that her existence revolves around her job and there isn’t room for much else.
Outside of working hours, she’s uninterested in men and, understandably, hostile to those who invade her personal space. Yet, she’s starved for a real connection. A bittersweet scene that relies on the lonely-cat-lady stereotype sees Valentina showing a softer side to her when feeding some stray kittens as she lunches alone.
Behind her desk, Valentina's granite façade slowly crumbles when dealing with Mia and her best friend, sex worker Lucia (Simona Tabasco). While the relationship with the latter is fully antagonistic, the one with Mia plays on a more intimate level.
The stubborn musician, determined to land a pianist gig at The White Lotus, reads right through Valentina. With endearing candour, Mia tells the manager she’s aware she’s into women but reassures her that it’s "cool" and she’s "a little bit gay" too. She even offers to "have fun" with Valentina to get the job.
Valentina doesn’t say a word. There’s no coming out. Impacciatore acts the hell out of this moment, one subtle lip quiver at a time. She lets Mia play without asking for anything in return, silently confirming that she is indeed very queer.
Viewers have had a strong hunch of her sexuality given her sudden, consuming crush on receptionist Isabella (Eleonora Romandini). Mistaking her kindness and friendship for flirting, Valentina is at a loss when she learns Isabella is engaged to her most aggravating employee, Rocco (Federico Ferrante).
It’s heartbreaking, with Impacciatore’s face commanding the screen, imperceptibly letting viewers know this isn’t Valentina’s first rodeo: she’s been let down before.
Devastated, she cancels her birthday drinks to sit at the bar, alone. Mia swoops in to save the manager’s special day with a beautiful rendition of the 1950s ballad 'You Belong To Me' and her signature matter-of-fact approach. When a tipsy Valentina admits she’s never been with a woman, the musician doesn't question her queerness and offers to help her, leaning in for a kiss.
This scene encapsulates a generational clash about living openly as an LGBTQ+ individual in repressive environments. Marriage equality is far from becoming a reality in Italy and a proposed law on hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people, women and those living with disabilities has faced firm opposition in the Senate in 2021.
"As an Italian actress, I felt so proud that I could use this role to stand for the queer community," Impacciatore recently told Entertainment Weekly.
She also pointed out how queer people don’t have the same rights as their straight peers in the country, partly due to the ever-lingering impact of the Vatican.
Catholic fanaticism and Italy’s new far-right leadership play a part in fostering an anti-LGBTQ+ climate, resulting in some choosing to stay in the closet or living their sexuality behind closed doors for fear of retaliation.
Not spelling this context out, The White Lotus holds a mirror to society through Valentina’s reaction instead. Younger generations live their true selves defiantly, with Mia representing this with her carefree attitude. Meanwhile, others — often, though not exclusively, older queer people — can sometimes reel from past discrimination and trauma and wrestle with internalised queerphobia.
As she listens to Mia's proposition, the manager is immediately elated but quickly switches back to her usual, distant self, remembering that they’re at her workplace and people may see her. Mia, who also works at the hotel now, isn’t bothered.
Arguably, the show features other queer, out-and-proud characters with Quentin (Tom Hollander) and his party-loving, international bunch. Yet, their money, status and passports mean they can exist in a privileged bubble away from Valentina’s reality.
Thanks to Mia, however, Valentina takes a small, significant step to set herself free. The manager simply whispers: "Not here," throwing caution to the wind and agreeing to spend the night with the singer in an empty suite.
Clad in a white, feathery dress, Mia sings a sultry, Italian version of 'Happy Birthday to You' to Valentina, who's sitting on the bed. This is a homage to Marilyn Monroe’s rendition for John F Kennedy in 1962, a culture-defining moment, re-explored and exploited many times since.
It’s interesting to see this play out between two queer women, flipping the idea of a power imbalance on its head. Mia leads the game here, while Valentina willingly gives away her authority, at least for one night.
Unlike some of the other sex scenes this season, there isn’t an ounce of uneasiness between them. Frankly, it’s almost romantic. They look into each other’s eyes and nod to express consent.
Later on, fragments of Valentina’s liberating orgasm are beautifully interspersed with shots of foamy waves crashing on the Sicilian shore. It’s refreshing to see, especially compared to the more exploitative encounter between manager Armond and his employee Dillon (Lukas Gage) in season one.
Valentina and Mia have an understanding, and it’s the singer who gives the uptight manager the pleasure she’s denied herself for so long. Both women are aware of the transactional, fleeting nature of this moment, but turn their secret meeting into an epiphany for Valentina, who's on her way to unlocking her full, unapologetic self.
The White Lotus airs on HBO Max in the US, and on Sky Atlantic, Sky Go and NOW in the UK.
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