‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Took a Wandering Path to a Satisfying Payoff: TV Review

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❗️Caution: This critique discloses key events from the Season 3 ending of “The White Lotus,” currently available on Max.❗️

Initially, “The White Lotus” seemed more about satirizing social interactions than a murder mystery. When it debuted in 2021 as an HBO drama, the comedy of errors took precedence over the looming danger, with a dead body serving merely as a catalyst. However, as the series evolved from a pandemic diversion into a successful franchise, “The White Lotus” has increasingly emphasized its distinctive traits across various locations and high-profile casts. This includes the fatalities. Right from the start, when a meditation session was interrupted by gunshots in the cold open, no season of “The White Lotus” hinted at its violent climax as forcefully as Season 3, set in Thailand, which concluded last night. This recurring theme may have exacerbated viewers’ frustration with the narrative pace and complexity, making it the most divisive among all seasons so far. Despite some lingering pacing issues and a sprawling plot, the finale was strong enough to make these seem insignificant in hindsight.

The current episode of “The White Lotus,” titled “Amor Fati,” clocks in at 90 minutes, making it the longest instalment so far. This lengthy episode concludes a season that was also extended to eight parts, compared to the previous seasons’ six and seven episodes respectively. This expansion allowed for a clearer observation of how some storylines were more complex than others. I found myself consistently engaged in the ongoing drama between Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Laurie (Carrie Coon) and Kate (Leslie Bibb), as they frequently argued over their individual flaws and shortcomings around the breakfast table. Timothy Ratliff, portrayed by Jason Isaacs, didn’t require as much time to express his anxiety about his upcoming disgrace due to white-collar crime, yet he was given that time nonetheless.

Additional room provided opportunities for prolonged suspense, artfully heightened by a foreboding soundtrack from composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who will depart the following season and will be greatly missed. Timothy resorted to stealing a gun as he contemplated ending his family’s impending suffering, but embattled security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) managed to take it away from him. Masseuse Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) encountered known murderer Greg (Jon Gries), and even dared to blackmail him in a risky move. In the second-to-last episode, White’s camera focused on Rick (Walton Goggins), who was battling depression, as he discarded a gun meant for hotel owner Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn). He holds Hollinger responsible for his unhappy, fatherless childhood.

In the end, what we were led to believe was significant turned out to be a misleading clue. In one of the season’s ominous moments, Chelsea, Rick’s young, New Age-influenced girlfriend (played by Aimee Lou Wood), had warned that “bad things come in threes.” True to her words, Chelsea, Rick, and Jim – who was later revealed as Rick’s father – all met their demise before the episode ended. However, it seems Chelsea’s prediction underestimated the number of misfortunes, as one more life was claimed when a bodyguard, whose position was later taken by Gaitok (who used to be pacifist), was killed by Rick. Characters on “The White Lotus” don’t seem to have very accurate theories about the events that unfold on “The White Lotus.” The struggle between hope and despair that Chelsea had described, symbolized as yin and yang, was evident in their lifeless bodies: hers faced down, his gazing upwards.

The exploration of Eastern spirituality in “The White Lotus” was an unexpected twist for such a lavish show, initially evident through plot devices like seizing the Ratliffs’ phones for a supposed ‘digital detox.’ However, this element served to bring the series’ underlying themes into sharper focus. For instance, when the Buddhist monk, whom Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) visit, suggests that our coping mechanisms are merely temporary solutions that ultimately cause more stress and pain, it resonates with every resort guest’s pursuit of luxury in the show. Although Rick experiences a brief respite from his suffering after confronting Jim in Bangkok and allowing him to live, his turn towards revenge as a shortcut ends up costing him dearly. Instead of putting in the effort to construct a life unburdened by past traumas, Rick looks back at his past with a Job-like gaze and succumbs to his inner demons.

The phrase ‘Amor Fati’ might not appear optimistic at first glance, but in this case, it proves most powerful when least expected. Unlike the others in the trio, Laurie, portrayed by Coon, seems to embody the audience’s perspective – sarcastically dismissing the self-absorbed actions of actress Jaclyn and potential Texan conservative Kate. It appears that the show shares a connection with this hardened skeptic, making it particularly impactful when Laurie expresses her release from jealousy in a monologue reminiscent of Coon’s skill. She exclaimed, “I don’t require religion or God to give my life purpose; I’m simply content to be part of the gathering.” In White’s universe, it is unusual for a victory to feel so straightforward.

In a swift turn of events, Belinda’s cunning plan to extract $5 million from Greg transforms her into someone she previously despised. Previously, unhappy heiress Tanya (played by Jennifer Coolidge) had given Belinda false hope before abandoning her. Now, with her newfound wealth, Belinda tells the charming and muscular Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) that she no longer wishes to open a spa with him. Meanwhile, Gaitok manages to win over his crush Mook (the radiant and underutilized pop star Lalisa Manoban), but at the cost of forsaking the non-violence he once strongly upheld, even to the point of risking his job. The series “The White Lotus” has intricately tangled the exploitative relationship between the upper and lower classes; these employees are now financially better off, but ethically less so.

Lochlan’s close call from a toxic protein shake was an unnecessary, comical twist, turning a blender (in this case, a Vitamix) into a potential danger. This might make luxury appliance brands hesitant when collaborating with Warner Bros. Discovery, following the controversial use of Peloton in “And Just Like That”. Generally speaking, however, “The White Lotus” skillfully combined various characters and themes into a thought-provoking exploration of human contentment. Characters like Rick and Chelsea might not find peace, and the Ratliffs may be sailing towards financial difficulties. For viewers at home, though, there’s little to regret.

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2025-04-07 07:17