Forget White Lotus: This 4-Episode Thriller Miniseries Could Be the Perfect Replacement

A vacation with hidden tensions

Heat follows two families gathering for their annual summer vacation at a secluded home in the Victorian countryside. The Australian miniseries was filmed in Melbourne and Plenty Gorge Park.

Steve, played by Danny Dyer, arrives with his wife Sarah, their daughter Mia and his son Tom. Mia worries that her father may be having an affair after noticing his unusual behavior and secret phone calls, while Tom arrives with a suspicious cast on his arm.

Their companions are Steve’s wealthier best friend Brad, his wife Louise and their son Kip. Brad appears to be the person Steve trusts most.

Secrets deepen the danger

The families begin their reunion in what seems like an idyllic setting, but financial troubles, marital problems and buried secrets increase tensions at home. Their vacation becomes harder to enjoy as suspicions and betrayals emerge.

Meanwhile, bushfires spread through the Australian bush, leaving the families increasingly isolated and restricting their ability to leave. The approaching flames make the personal conflicts more dangerous as the characters’ lives are at stake.

A suspenseful alternative

Like The White Lotus, Heat brings vacationing characters together while secrets gradually surface. But instead of luxury resorts, the families face a secluded home and a growing natural disaster that heightens the pressure.

Waiting for The White Lotus

The White Lotus debuted on July 11, 2021. Its creator, Mike White, has built each season around a new cast of characters and the expectation that someone will die by the end.

Season 4 is still in production and is estimated to arrive in the first half of 2027. Until then, Heat offers a similar setup of vacation, secrets and escalating suspense.