It’s Never Been More Personal for Walton Goggins

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Spoilers follow for The White Lotus season-three finale “Amor Fati.”

In the final episode of “The White Lotus,” Rick Hatchett achieves everything he yearned for: he finds love and makes a commitment to cherish it, confronts the man who murdered his father and emerges stronger. However, his moment of relief is fleeting. The hotel owner, Jim Hollinger, reappears, insulting Rick’s mother, prompting Rick to revert to his vengeful plan and shoot both Jim and his bodyguards. Subsequently, Rick faces a double blow of misfortune: he learns that Jim was actually his father, and Chelsea, his lover, is killed in the gunfight. If fate had been kinder, Rick would have spent eternity bringing doughnuts to Chelsea from the hotel breakfast buffet. In this harsh reality, the climax of “Amor Fati” hinges on Walton Goggins‘s portrayal of pain, rage, and despair as he cradles Chelsea’s lifeless body and is subsequently shot himself. This heart-wrenching sequence serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of harboring anger for too long.

In a time when money’s influence on an individual’s spirit is heavily debated, with some questioning if scarcity can be as potent a motivator as abundance, and grappling with the consequences of helping one’s sibling in a sensitive manner, Rick’s tale stood out for its simplicity. A man creates an adversary to avenge his father, only to discover that adversary is his father, both man and father meet tragic ends without truly knowing each other. However, Goggins, who refuses to confine Rick to merely a work of fiction and watched the finale on his own as part of his goodbye process to the character, argues that within the narrative of Rick and Jim lies a universal lesson about how we navigate the world as damaged individuals. This message resonates strongly with a chapter in Goggins’s life around 20 years ago, following the suicide of his first wife. He conveyed this theme through his personal philosophy: Achieving peace requires learning to love oneself and granting oneself forgiveness.

Ask me how Mike explained Rick’s character development to me. I summarized it in a text message: “You couldn’t be seeing a more personal story for me. If you want to know if I understand the task at hand and my readiness to delve into this narrative, the answer is affirmative. However, we will delve deep, and I really mean that; you need to comprehend what that implies. It will align with your ‘White Lotus’ narrative, I assure you, but it will also transcend those boundaries. It must venture into territories I believe it hasn’t explored before, and I need to know I have your backing for this.” And they agreed, “Of course.

Could you explain what made it seem so familiar or relatable about it? I went to Thailand 18 years ago, following a traumatic event in my life, seeking tranquility and resolution that wasn’t unlike what Rick was searching for. Although the situations were vastly different, I found myself in the same place as Rick – lost and unsure. I couldn’t provide anything for my partner at the time. I empathized deeply with Rick’s state of mind. When I read his story, I thought, “The universe has led me to this for a purpose – because I understand him, and I care for him, and I care for people like him. I don’t believe he is alone in the world.

I took that idea about self-love and applied it to Rick’s character. To be honest, most of us initially lack the means to love ourselves or even consider what it truly means. Unfortunately, some people never manage to break through in this way and learn to love themselves. I reached a pivotal point in my life, triggered by a series of personal events that left me with no other choice but to change and move forward. It was as if I had to say to myself, “Forgive yourself. Forgive the circumstances. Forgive those who were doing their best, and just accept it. You don’t need to be anything more than who you are, and you’re enough. If you can love yourself, then you can love others.” These lessons I had learned 15 years earlier, but they came at a high cost. When reading the scripts, I felt like this character would come to this realization too late.

Were you discussing with Mike the possibility that Rick might have ever questioned if Jim was his dad? The reason I ask is because there have been many theories circulating among White Lotus viewers for some time now. However, as it turns out, these theories were accurate. But remember, we are watching an eight-hour story unfold here. We all know this format of storytelling. That’s not the case with Rick Hatchett. Rick doesn’t possess that kind of foresight. His story revolves around the narrative he was given. It isn’t a work of fiction. It’s a portrayal of a real person dealing with something he had no control over. From an actor’s point of view, it never crossed my mind that this character could be my father. How could someone abandon their child? As a father myself, I find such a thought unimaginable.

My initial thought, as it turned out, is a common occurrence for many of us. I had written my piece, ready to express my sentiment: “Even in our darkest moments, there’s always beauty to be found, if we choose to see it.” This was my personal journey, mirrored by Rick’s. We are not unique in experiencing this. The world is filled with people who have faced hardships. It could be losing a job, losing a loved one, or enduring abuse or abandonment – we all carry scars from our past. Often, what unites us more than our differences is these shared traumas.

The stranger sitting next to you on the subway, the passenger beside you on the plane, the acquaintance standing with you at a bus stop, or even the parent picking up their child at school – you might not know their stories. But if we can empathize with their struggles, acknowledge that they too may have experienced pain similar to ours, then our collective understanding could lead us to a more compassionate world.

This realization was instrumental in my journey towards self-love and forgiveness – first for myself, then for those around me. I believe this is the message Mike was trying to convey.

It seems he accepted the possibility that Jim could be his father. However, there wasn’t much time for him to contemplate it. As soon as he absorbs the information, he finds himself in a dangerous situation and immediately responds with his natural instincts, which includes using firearms – a skill he’s well-practiced in due to his line of work.

Could you elaborate on how you handled the shootout scene filming? 
Some elements were omitted, aspects that were part of this narrative since its conception. Mike chose deliberately to keep certain facts and feelings hidden. It was tough to watch things I believed would be included get trimmed out. However, he was spot on in not revealing Rick’s vulnerability all at once but instead scattering it in tiny parts.

This entire scene in the film was deeply personal for me, a feeling echoed by many actors who’ve experienced similar situations. It was scheduled, but those days were never eagerly anticipated. For much of it, I found myself isolated. Most of it was purely internal, except for the initial scene where I plead for aid and then sat alone on the bench. I asked that no other actors be present during filming. Mike, being a sensitive and compassionate individual, seemed to be affected by my sadness. As the days wore on, I believe everyone felt a shared sense of melancholy, as it was indeed a very somber scene. The shooting lasted about 12 hours each day for 36-40 hours straight, filled with sustained anxiety. The first day was spent asking for help, acknowledging my need, trying to comfort myself; the second day was about Rick’s inability to endure his pain, making a decision without even realizing it; the third day was the shootout and then the realization of the consequences of my actions, losing what I had yearned for throughout.

We had an extended discussion about this journey, and I stated that Rick would walk alongside her till the end of his days, traversing the entire Earth with Chelsea in his arms. The irony and tragedy were that what he had been searching for all his life was right before him. He had passed the initial test. Despite people’s criticisms about the resolution, this was a victory, something one desires in life – to forgive and grow above adversity. However, Rick couldn’t turn off the story, as it continued to haunt him. Three days later, after everything was over, Mike said, “It’s finished. Let it go. We can be carefree.” To which I replied, “I still have the confrontation in Bangkok ahead, but we’ll be light for a while.” [Laughs.]

Each of these characters originates from Mike’s emotional core, given my relationship with him, I can attest to his profound affection for them all. On the final day of shooting, I found myself alongside Sam on the river, approaching a dock that had once been my lodging 18 years prior. We filmed in front of this very room, and after completing night shoots at the adjacent hotel, Mike came into my room and shared, “I can’t be there for the rest of tonight, I can’t see you off. I have to go.” I’ve collaborated with directors who have expressed similar sentiments; it’s too emotionally taxing. I responded, “I love you, buddy. It’s okay. I got this, and thank you. I know we’ll meet again in the future.” When partings are difficult, one often refrains from saying goodbye. I believe that moment was Mike bidding farewell to Rick. As the credits rolled, I bid adieu to Rick myself. Ever since then, I’ve struggled to let go of him for over a year and a half. That was probably Mike starting his own process of letting go.

We’ve discussed the dual death scene between Aimee and her character extensively. Given their deep love and spiritual connection, it seems fitting for them as soulmates. Chelsea envisions their story continuing beyond this life, transcending into the afterlife, future lives, and so on. This isn’t an ending, but a pause in their journey.

The way Rick treats Chelsea doesn’t define their relationship entirely. For Rick, his personal growth involves finding enlightenment, living it, embodying it, and then recognizing its fragility for everyone. To achieve this, one must dedicate themselves to understanding themselves, so they react less to situations and more like a peaceful ripple in a pond, not escalating into a tsunami. However, Rick wasn’t at that stage yet.

In the crucial moment, he realizes that all he needed was self-love – the ability to love himself first, so he could love others and accept their love. It’s a simple yet profound realization.

Given all that, can you tell me about the final expression on his face? 
How did you read it?

The smile Rick gave off reminded me of the one from the previous scene where he was sitting in the chaos of a party yet appeared peaceful. Now, his smile seems tinged with regret and understanding of the part he played in this mess. However, the actual description in the script shows Rick looking up at the sun smiling, which is not what you saw. It’s just words on paper; we didn’t discuss it. Mike allowed me to interpret it as I wish, but it’s too personal to explain. What you said resonates with me: he seems free, but there’s still more for him to deal with.

In 2023, you made a surprising guest appearance on “Justified: City Primeval.” The excitement was palpable when news broke that you and Timothy Olyphant were working together in Thailand in March 2024. Last April, there were whispers about the possibility of another season of Justified, and I must admit I’m curious if there’s been any progress on that front. However, it seems unlikely. While I appreciate the opportunity to bring Boyd’s character to life once more, I can’t foresee a repeat anytime soon. If it were to happen, it would likely be in the future, but by then, we might be too old to reprise our roles.

Did you happen to go to any of the karaoke events while we were working? If so, I participated in the initial one and performed “Alison.” That’s my part.

Is that typically the song you choose for karaoke? While I’m a big fan of Elvis Costello, I can belt out tunes across a wide range. That includes even his Baby Billy tracks. I’m pretty versatile when it comes to singing.

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2025-04-07 22:00