A Friendship Quandary

Hi friend,

We’ve missed “must-see” TV. You know, the feeling of millions of people simultaneously having an awaited experience instead of randomly binging a series on their own time. Sunday night's White Lotus season finale was a taste of that, no matter how you felt about the end of each character’s story (no spoilers here!). As a writer said in New York Magazine’s TV Club newsletter, it was “an event.”

The trio of middle-aged ladies on a friends’ trip was one of our favorite parts of the series. But we kept waiting for Laurie (Carrie Coon), Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), or Kate (Leslie Bibb) to connect. Surely, after a few days of resort meals and laying by the pool, one of them would open up? After all, they were supposed to be lifelong friends.

It took an embarrassing night, plus a nudge from Jaclyn, for Laurie to embrace vulnerability with a speech about regret and her search for meaning. Finally, an admission of imperfection. Finally, relief from the fakeness and tension. She was the only one secure enough to bare herself, and you could tell that her companions – unable to reveal their own hidden miseries – were touched and relieved.

From the moment Laurie was introduced, it was clear that her facade wasn’t as flawless as the rest. As Coon said of her character: 

“She certainly wasn't like Kate. She didn't go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for this trip, which you know Kate did. Her clothes feel a little bit off. They're not quite right. They don't fit as well. Her hat's a little dowdy but necessary because she's not going to get sun. It was important to me that her nail color feel a little bit weird. It's this weird violet-y blue, like she was trying something and it just didn't work. Those were the choices we made along with the fact that she's in Thailand and Laurie doesn't know what to do with her hair. It's frizzy.”

Mike White has said that this season of his series was inspired by “Buddhist ideas as the organizing principle, trying to think about identity as a cause of suffering” and that the female friend trio shows how “we have these touchstones in our lives and how those people can create suffering for you just by existing.” Laurie publicly accepts this suffering, and she acknowledges the cause of the suffering. It’s comparison – of looks, of life choices. Her admission allows for catharsis. In the end, all that mattered was human connection.

Maybe this is all too optimistic of a read on Carrie Coon’s monologue. We’re curious: If you watched it, what did you think of that moment? Did it resonate?

Below, a few fun things to watch this week, plus our favorite color for spring, and more.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

Spring’s usually associated with pastels, but this year, we’re in the mood for richer blues. The color is classic, goes with everything, and looks good on most everyone — unlike some of spring’s other big color trends, like light pink or butter yellow. Here, more than 10 ways to wear it.

• This is a men’s item, but it’s too good not to include. Alex Mill David Windbreaker, $225. Size XS to XXL.

• Nice sneakers from a surprising source (reviews say they run small). Dolce Vita Serina Sneakers, $135.

• A pretty, gauzy striped top. We The Free Valley Double Cloth Striped Shirt, $128. Size XS to XL.

• We wear this classic sweatshirt all the time. And you can get sweatpants to match! The Great The Teammate Sweatshirt, $175. Size 0 to 3.

• A versatile shirtdress. Mango Belted Striped Shirtdress, $70 (with code “Extra30”). Size 2 to 10.

• Cute, sporty shorts. Polo Ralph Lauren Recycled Shell Shorts, $128. Size XXS to XL.

• The bold color and volume make this dress more interesting. Cos Belted Midi Shirtdress, $120. Size 2 to 14.

• Perfect for important items you don’t want to lose in the bottom of your tote. Gap Mesh Zip Pouch, $15.

• A relaxed button-up in a beautiful shade. Lmnd The Chiara Shirt, $139. Size XS to XL.

• These are cool sweatpants. Roucha Penn Sweatpants, $200. Size S to XL.

• We absolutely love the quality of this brand. Atelier Delphine Slip-On Blouse, $245. Size XS to L.

Shop the Story

TO READ In Lynn Steger Strong’s new book The Float Test (here on Bookshop, here on Amazon), four siblings, each dealing with mid-life issues, must return to Florida and its stifling summer heat when their mother dies suddenly. There, they encounter complicated family dynamics, secrets – like why did their mom have a gun – and more.

TO TRY Shaken by a few months of excess hair shedding, we turned to this viral serum to help prevent thinning and reduce loss. It features a combo of phytoactives, peptides, and plant stem cells which both strengthen hair and nourish your scalp. The best-selling growth serums are now available in jumbo 3.4oz bottles, too – enough to cover three months. Try it here, and get 10 percent off first-time subscription orders with the code GLORIA10. #partner

TO STREAM In Prime Video’s new action movie G20 (out Thursday), Viola Davis plays a US president who has to evade terrorists, protect fellow world leaders, and generally kick ass at the G20 summit. It looks entertaining enough. On the same day, Netflix will release the delightful CBC comedy series North of North, about a small-town Inuk woman trying to reinvent herself.

TO BOOKMARK We’re saving this guide to framing art (found via Kelsey Keith). It’s full of inspiration and ideas, from frames to colors to mats to how to hang.

R.I.P., millennial culture. • “This is the Holocaust story I said I wouldn’t write.” • How tariffs will affect the fashion industry. • We appreciated these lines from a story about Botox: “I liked my younger face. We had a good life together. That face is dead now. At times, my grief about this loss is as overpowering as anything I’ve felt over a death or a lost relationship.”

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