Walton Goggins Breaks Down That ‘White Lotus’ Finale Twist, Says Rick and Chelsea’s Relationship Is the Show’s ‘First Love Story’ (SPOILERS)

by

On Mondays, Walton Goggins graced the set of “CBS Morning” for a chat about the shocking conclusion of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” an episode that has left viewers stunned by its unforeseen turns and secrets unveiled.

The actor, who played the character Rick (a man on a quest to uncover secrets about his father’s enigmatic history at a high-end Thai resort), shared insights on the surprising ending that left viewers stunned and unprepared.

During the interview, Goggins playfully remarked that he now has folks to confide in, as he’d been holding onto the secrets about the finale for such a long time.

Although a multitude of fan theories swirled across various online platforms, such as TikTok, none accurately predicted the ending’s outcome according to Goggins. He mentioned, “We were fortunate enough to hear many versions of the story while out and about. Some came very close, but no one managed to hit the mark.”

or

Numerous fan theories have been buzzing online, particularly on TikTok, but none correctly guessed the ending’s outcome as Goggins revealed. He explained, “We heard many different interpretations of the story while out in public. Some came quite close, but no one actually figured it out.”

or

Online fan theories ran rampant, especially on TikTok, yet none foresaw the ending correctly as Goggins shared. He stated, “Out on the street, we heard a lot of versions of the story. Some came very near to the truth, but no one got it right.

Spoiler Warning

The discussion during the interview began with a caution about potential spoilers, as it delved into the climactic twist: Rick’s pursuit to avenge his father’s death, which led him to kill Jim (portrayed by Scott Glenn), turned out to be an unexpected revelation – Jim was in fact Rick’s own father.

Goggins empathized deeply with Rick’s suffering, as his entire life narrative was shaped around this pivotal incident,” Goggins stated. He pointed out that at the instant of realization, creator Mike White demonstrated his brilliance, as “Rick has barely a few seconds to comprehend it before he finds himself under attack.

In addition, Goggins shared an intriguing moment from when he worked alongside friend Sam Rockwell, who gave a passionate speech in episode five. Interestingly, due to their friendship, they decided to go into the scene with little prior planning.

My good friend Sam and I didn’t plan or discuss it much, but when we found ourselves facing a table, things unfolded naturally and effortlessly. Sam simply took the lead in his usual way, and the event transpired organically.

Going beyond the surprising family secret, Goggins also discussed Rick’s romance with Chelsea (portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood), characterizing it as “the initial love story unfolding in ‘The White Lotel’.

Goggins pointed out that their connection had transformed into a romantic tale as it developed throughout the course of the season, contrasting starkly with how they interacted three years ago when they first crossed paths.

After the final episode, the series remains a hot topic in media discussions. Last week, Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, renowned composer of “The White Lotus,” announced he won’t return for Season 4. In an interview with The New York Times, this three-time Emmy winner explained that his ideas for the show’s theme song differed from creator Mike White’s, a disagreement that began in Season 1 and escalated during the production of Season 3. For the first two seasons, Tapia de Veer’s eerie theme song played a significant role in creating the show’s unsettling mood with its unusual sounds, such as a repeating “ooh-loo-loo-loo” chorus. However, the recurring “ooh-loo-loo-loos” were eliminated for Season 3, causing some confusion among fans.

This year, the composer shared that White intended the music to serve as “background tunes, something reminiscent of what you might hear in Ibiza, at a clubby spot with a relaxed, sensual atmosphere.” Consequently, for Season 3, the theme song evolved into a more conventional lounge melody (without the repetitive “ooh-loos”), a change that has sparked debate among fans of the series.

Read More

2025-04-07 16:18