The White Lotus Recap: Biblical Proportions

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Is it only my perception, or does everything seem reminiscent of the Old Testament narratives? In this ancient tale, a serpent tricked Adam and Eve into consuming from the Tree of Knowledge, leading to their expulsion from Eden by God. However, seldom is the fate of the serpent discussed afterwards. Yet, in the biblical account, God imposed a curse upon it: “On your belly you shall crawl, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” This curse has endured for various types of tropical snakes, including vipers and Naja cobras, from Genesis to 2025, when they are said to find a savior who will be modeled after their own slithering form.

It’s only appropriate that the person who rescues a group of snakes from a roadside attraction is named Rick. Is there any other name in English that carries such an air of slickness? Rick is the type of boyfriend who drains your bank account. Rick doesn’t have a fixed residence; can he just jot down yours? Rick will definitely make moves on your sister, especially if she’s unattached. (And if he weren’t, he would tell you his name is “Richard.”) “When are we going to have fun again?” Chelsea pleads following an unexpected trip into town for marijuana. Rick needs that marijuana right now because after another therapy session with Dr. Amrita spent lamenting about his deceased father, he’s on the verge of feeling human emotions, which he must suppress.

Rick smokes a large joint and then purchases two tickets for a cobra show, where visitors can interact with the small venomous pets. It’s important to note that this scene, presented as an Airbnb experience, is quite distressing. The snakes are confined in tight tanks, probably never having the chance to stretch out during their entire adult lives. The workers endure sweltering conditions daily, hoping and perhaps not hoping that no guest gets bitten. It seems Rick’s cannabis had an extra ingredient because instead of suppressing his emotions, it amplifies his empathy. However, he doesn’t show concern for Chelsea, whom he has already advised to find a wealthier boyfriend to exploit. Instead, Rick’s surge of compassion is directed towards the reptiles – the creatures that crawl on their bellies, eat dust, and are often associated with destruction, making life less idyllic for others.

Leaving the slippery stage performance behind, he swiftly returned to the serpentarium, his heart pounding. As he gazed at the pitiful, weakened cobra confined in its cage, regret filled him. I suspect the cobra’s father was a noble being, perhaps lost at the hands of Jim Hollinger before the cobra was even born, leading to its current solitary journey across the globe with a woman much younger than himself. Upon opening the cage doors, Rick encourages his fellow reptiles to break free. When Chelsea eventually locates him, he’s got a snake (or something similar) hovering above him, effortlessly maneuvering it like a seasoned snake charmer.

Want excitement? I’ll give you excitement.

Just moments after entering the tent, Chelsea gets bitten by a venomous viper whose poison can be fatal if not treated promptly, causing her to be rushed to the zoo’s old Datsun for emergency care. It’s important to note that fading American Ricks, adorned with Birks and Wayfarers and bearing hangdog expressions, may traverse the world displaying their sorrow, but they seldom end up injured. (I’m positive the Rick you know or are is a good one! All the best!)

It seems reasonable to conclude that throughout the three seasons of The White Lotus, Mike White’s ocean has been a powerful, biblical force – tumultuous, ominous, destructive. This week’s episode begins with water covering Victoria Ratliff’s feet as her children sit nearby on a beach bathed in a bluish, predawn light. In the background stands the Ratliffs’ own large plantation-style house, a stark contrast to the elegant architecture of the White Lotus Thailand. The house is white – with white paint, shutters, sheers, and inhabitants – reminiscent of a tranquil scene before a tsunami. As Lochlan narrates in voice-over, he describes the sea’s swift retreat as an ominous sign. Although it appears to be a dream (or perhaps a nightmare), I was surprised to discover that Victoria, not her husband, was the one experiencing this dream. What insights has she gained about Tim’s struggles amidst her personal haze of benzos and jet lag?

At breakfast, the family gathers to discuss Mom’s dreams and for a moment, I worry we might be subjected to excessive dream analysis, potentially leading to boredom. However, I generally favor the idea that dreams are a means of mental tidying up – disposing of the insignificant. This perspective also serves as an excuse to avoid listening to others recount their dreams, except for those involving inappropriate sexual content. As Piper proposes that the dream could be a warning, Saxon disagrees vehemently (being his standard reaction to anything Piper says). Despite the FBI already searching Dad’s office, I concur with Mom’s straightforward instruction: No more distressing videos before bedtime.

So far, Lochlan Ratliff hasn’t received much scrutiny. It was peculiar when he seemed to ogle his brother’s bare rear, but let’s be honest, we all have curiosity about other people’s bodies, right? However, I’ve started to suspect that Lochlan might be hiding some serious issues beneath the surface. This could explain why Piper wants to spend a year in seclusion with Buddhist monks, as I’ve encountered her family and understand their dynamic. Also, I’ve studied plays like Hamlet and Oedipus, which suggest that some troubled young men like Saxon might harbor an unhealthy desire to fill their fathers’ shoes.

Although Lochy’s continuous viewing of apocalyptic videos is more troubling to me than his brother’s extensive collection of regular porn, there seems to be a person, supposedly on a beach nearby, waiting for the 2004 tsunami to occur (which I believe is a fabricated location as Koh Samui isn’t part of the Indian Ocean). I acknowledge that Lochlan has a significant choice ahead about the type of stereotypical frat boy he wants to become in four years, but his public display of real-life disaster footage and apparent lack of empathy for human suffering has put him on my watchlist for potential dangerous individuals. It’s urgent that Pam secretly searches this individual’s iPad as soon as possible.

Essentially, Lochlan’s TV habits aren’t the issue; instead, the Ratliffs are fretting over his poor posture and excessive creatine consumption, which they perceive as unmanly. Eventually, Dad agrees to let Pam take control of the devices due to anxious calls from “the office.” These calls will now be redirected to voicemail. Dad, despite Saxon’s objections (“Pam, get lost!”), tells his mini-me that it’s rare for them to spend time together like this. Perhaps he means it will be rare when his assets are frozen and he’s visiting the kids every other Saturday at Club Fed.

Dad choosing to disconnect the family in order to conceal something personal is a cowardly yet relatable act. However, it’s the way he coerces his son during this process that is truly appalling. His oldest child, yearning to win Tim’s approval and emulate him, desires to surpass him, harm him, consume his heart, and claim his golf clubs. Saxon, on the other hand, clings to his iPhone because he wants to keep hustling, hoping to land a client that will finally earn his father’s acknowledgment. We observe Tim’s reaction to Saxon’s longing in real-time. “I’m truly impressed by you,” Tim tells his seemingly unimpressive son. This is a man who seals deals, who gets the signatures. It’s all too easy to see how he convinced himself that the world would never hold him accountable for anything.

Once devices are left behind, the Ratliffs discover an abundance of leisure time to explore fresh interests. Struggling with sleeplessness due to his financial distress, Dad resorts to repeatedly using his wife’s Ativan. It seems that some individuals can’t live without their phones! Saxon intends to spend the usual eight hours he listens to The Joe Rogan Experience helping his younger brother find romantic success. Interestingly enough, Jaclyn also aims for this goal with Laurie, encouraging her to join Valentin as their health coach. I find repetition in stories intriguing since it’s said there are merely seven basic plots. Moreover, the hints of sexual undertones between the brothers give a sense that misfortune awaits them.

As a movie buff, I must confess that the growing love triangle among Jaclyn, Laurie, and Valentin is quite intriguing. It seems like Jaclyn is showing interest in Valentin’s romantic life under the guise of concern for her friend, but why the flirtatious approach? She was all sweetness and light when talking to her Russian masseur, a sentiment I imagine he’s heard from countless other affluent, liberal Western guests since the Ukraine War.

Laurie isn’t off base when she describes her reiki session with Valentin as intense. But let’s not forget that Valentin is well-versed in Eastern spirituality, having previously worked in shipping in Vladivostok. Now, he welcomes White Lotus guests wearing some sort of ceremonial loincloth. One can’t help but wonder if he’ll bring a satisfying conclusion to this story for everyone involved.

Over dinner, I share with my gal pals, who for some reason always seem to stick in my mind as such, about the unique sensation of being untouched by a man like Val, especially after such a prolonged absence of male touch. The discussion unfolds like a tragic slow-motion car crash, veering towards the political spectrum of Trump. It seems like Mike White crafted the dialogue with Trump in mind as its end point. If I had any decency, I’d retire to bed now and spare my friends the late-night chatter about me. Although Kate might seem upset when she catches wind of it later on, no woman who lounges so comfortably in a “let’s chat” position could have been surprised by this turn of events.

Let’s grab some comfy armchairs and chat! What are your thoughts about Gaitok, who had this adorable notion that his failed attempt at reducing gun crime as a hotel security guard could lead to a role as Khun Sritala’s personal bodyguard? It’s so innocent it’s almost endearing. Give me your two cents. In the final scene of the episode, Gaitok learns he has an appointment with Fabian at 7 a.m., which is surprising since Fabian initially wanted to dismiss him due to the burglary. You wouldn’t fire someone on a Friday afternoon and then call them back for work at the start of a 12-hour shift, would you? So, what do you think is happening here? It can’t be a promotion to the big leagues, right?

Unlike Gaitok and Mook’s storyline, the relationship between Belinda and Pornchai seems detached from the general resort life as they rarely interact with guests. This disconnection leaves me questioning Belinda’s presence in Thailand, even though I wish well for her. The idea of a three-month work exchange that includes being cradled by a masseuse in a plunge pool feels either (a) somewhat suspicious or (b) entirely implausible. One might wonder if there was a tragic event in Belinda’s hotel room, rendering it unsuitable for guests. Who manages the spa in Maui? Could it be that Belinda was on the verge of suing her employer and this “exchange” is an attempt to settle things quietly?

She’s enjoying a slightly playful dinner with the previously mentioned attractive masseuse in a fancy restaurant setting, likely another advantage for her. However, as she encounters Greg, also known as Gary, who used to date Tanya McQuoid, her old friend, the familiarity she’s been feeling since she first saw him becomes clear! That’s it! She can’t help but approach his table immediately, where he’s dining with four people who aren’t very familiar with him. Rick is leaving for Bangkok tomorrow to meet an old acquaintance named Frank – a fitting name indeed. Chelsea is excited about Gary’s boat ownership. And Chloe, Gary’s girlfriend, is caught giving significant glances to SaxRat at the same table.

Initially, I thought the encounter between Belinda and Greg would be uncomfortable, but it turned out to be downright threatening instead. Interestingly, Gary claims not to be Greg, not to know Tanya, and not to have had any interaction with Belinda. He exhibits a strong dislike for The White Lotus, despite being present within it. Moreover, he claims ignorance about Maui, asserting that he has never been there or knows anything about the place. His denials are firm and consistent.

What’s Greg’s ultimate plan here, Chloe wonders? Despite spending a year on this island, Greg hasn’t thought up a convincing excuse for their encounter. It seems obvious that Belinda will rush back to her (potentially spooky) hotel room and search him online. A digital detox is a luxury for the wealthy!

Upon arriving in Koh Samui, Gary’s past seems to have followed him, perhaps not for the first time. I suspect he’s well aware that his tales won’t pass muster under scrutiny, given his history. You see, this man is known to have taken the life of at least one wife. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s devised a more sinister means to conceal his actions.

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2025-03-03 07:58