Miss Flicks

Meghann Fahy was the MVP of The White Lotus S2

Going into The White Lotus season two, the name Meghann Fahy was unfamiliar to me and I didn’t recognise her face at all – but it’s now a name I won’t forget.

To many, she was best known for playing Sutton Brady in The Bold Type, a show I know I would love if I ever got around to it, but The White Lotus has introduced her to a much bigger audience and established her as one to watch – and I will actively seek out her work from now on.

*SPOILER WARNING*

She plays Daphne, who has convinced herself and others that she is fine with her husband Cameron’s (Theo James) infidelity and has found a way to be happy with the situation. She minimises his behaviour and acts like it doesn’t affect her but her face in unguarded moments proves otherwise. Those small, subtle moments speak volumes and you can learn so much more from what is left unspoken than from what she says.

On the surface, she is bubbly and friendly and seems really content with her life with her wealthy husband and their two children. But there is a power play going on between them and she does what she wants (like getting herself a trainer, wink wink) to get her own back on Cameron for cheating. It’s a constant tug-of-war and it must be exhausting. She just wants to relax on holiday and forget about it but Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Ethan (Will Sharpe) keep bringing it up!

Fahy’s performance is so layered, complex and well-written that Daphne became the most interesting character from episode 3 onwards. Obviously, she had some stiff competition from Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), Jack (Leo Woodall) and the whole “bunch of gays” later on but she still gets one of the best moments in the finale.

In the scene pictured above, there is an incredible moment when her face honestly reacts to more infidelity news but she catches herself, looks away briefly and when she turns back to Ethan she’s smiling and positive. It’s small and subtle and you’ll miss it if you aren’t paying attention – but it tells you everything.

I believe Fahy deserves awards nominations for this work and I was really shocked when Coolidge was the only member of the cast to be nominated at the Golden Globes this week. I hope the Emmys give her the recognition she deserves next year.

The season two closer is one of the best TV finales in recent memory – it was gripping, shocking, unpredictable and hilarious and I could not look away. I didn’t go much on the first season; I didn’t understand the hype at all, but I became increasingly hooked week after week with the Sicily one and it all came together in the spectacular conclusion. Bravo to creator/writer/director Mike White and his amazing cast!