From the tropical haven of Hawaii, to the exquisitely luxurious streets of Sicily, and now in the jungle paradise of Thailand, HBO has opened the doors of another branch of The White Lotus. Season 3 has officially begun. And if the early episodes are indicative of the season as a whole, then showrunner Mike White is back in his bag doing what he does best, showcasing the worst of the 1%, yet somehow making them empathetic enough to root for.

The new season starts as all the others have, showing us that somebody is about to meet their deadly end on this holiday, before taking us back to one week before the event. As with the previous seasons, we begin on a boat, meeting some of the wealthy Americans who will be vacationing at this season's White Lotus resort, this time made up of stunning villas in the Thai jungle. By the end of the first episode, we have already established our who's who: a family with a corrupt businessman father and potentially incestuous children; three childhood besties who love each other as much as they loathe each other; the age-gap couple who you can't establish how they ended up together; and of course, a new hotel staff to represent the outsiders like us in the audience.

In many ways, The White Lotus has established its well-worn formula, and this season is no different. Four years in, one can't help but wonder how much more Mike White could possibly have to say to highlight his disdain for the rich and famous. However, despite the show's ensemble of familiar archetypes, it is redeemed by the detailed care given in each characterisation and the sheer brilliance of the cast who bring them to the screen. In a host of well-loved character actors who will have you beaming, already there are some stand-out performances. Carrie Coon as Laurie, the corporate lawyer fresh off a divorce and feeling so different from her glamourous gal pals, already has perfected the steady balance of isolation and assimilation. Sam Nivola, the youngest of the troupe, is downright fascinating in his restrained but tangibly evident desire for his siblings, the nature of which we are yet to fully uncover. Aimee Lou Wood is as charming and warm as ever, her Manchester girl Chelsea providing a fresh breath of air while holding her older, mysterious boyfriend (the ever-brilliant Walter Goggins) to account.

On the surface, the show's commentary on wealth and class has seemed to have reached a plateau, but the return of Natasha Rothwell as spa staff Belinda Lindsey, in conjunction with the introduction of new Thai characters, creates a rich observation on intersectional privilege. Despite still being a member of staff at The White Lotus, being American automatically places Belinda in a position of privilege over the local staff. Another returning cast member, whose inclusion was kept a surprise until the episode premiere, also has the potential to reframe this anthology story into a continuing arc around a beloved storyline from the previous seasons.

The White Lotus continues to be an aesthetic delight, its cinematography feeling as indulgent as the hotel guests' lavish lifestyles – the Thai sunrises having us wish we were there. Also visually opulent are the opening titles – while the new theme tune isn't quite the banger of season 2, Cristobal Tapia de Veer is still the perfect composer, with the show's music heightening each scene perfectly.

All in all, Mike White's writing continues to engage and elate, and The White Lotus remains one of the best shows on at the moment. This trip to paradise is well worth your time, even just to see if you can work out who won't make it to the end.

The White Lotus airs in the UK on Mondays on Sky Atlantic/NowTV from the 17th February.