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About That Surprise Cameo in the The White Lotus Season 3 Premiere

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It’s surprising that the character who created the most impact in the premiere of Season 3 of HBO’s The White Lotus only appeared for a brief moment, around three-quarters through the episode, without uttering a single word. However, Jon Gries truly deserves the millions of surprised reactions his sudden reappearance as Greg Hunt, Tanya McQuoid’s (Jennifer Coolidge) deceitful widower, undoubtedly elicited on Sunday. Yet, perhaps we shouldn’t be too taken aback by his return; after all, he has a lot of unresolved matters left to handle.

Despite making an appearance in every season of the series thus far, Greg (character name) continues to puzzle viewers. He entered the scene late during Season 1 and departed early in Season 2, with his acquaintance, suspected lover, and apparent accomplice Quentin (Tom Hollander) taking charge of leading Tanya to her watery demise. With Quentin and their murderous group of gay associates now deceased, courtesy of Tanya’s actions, Greg appears poised to claim the $500 million inheritance. Given his consistent presence on the show, I contend that he is one of its key characters, if not the most significant. The resolution of his narrative – a man often labeled as the supervillain in the world of Lotus – will likely be pivotal for unraveling creator Mike White’s broader themes such as wealth, love, death, and more.

Greg’s grand entrance in The White Lotus Season 3 premiere

48 minutes into the premiere of the Thailand-set season, we first see Greg. Sitting beside Aimee Lou Wood’s character Chelsea at the bar is a stunning young lady. They click instantly; it turns out that this new friend of Chelsea, Chloe (portrayed by Charlotte Le Bon), used to frequently travel to England for work. Her profession? Well, you might say she “muddles.” Interestingly, both women share two similarities: they each have gruff, irritable older partners.

Chloe and her partner don’t stay at the resort; instead, they own a house in the vicinity where they’ve resided for a year. They often dine at its picturesque outdoor eatery. “He’s behind me,” Chloe says to Chelsea. “The bald man. The one with the orange shirt.” The camera tracks Chelsea’s line of sight, and there he is: Greg Hunt, sitting by himself at a table laden with food, scowling into a glass of amber liquid – a nondescript face amidst a sea of disgruntled, bald, middle-aged white men, all radiating an undeniable aura of seedy character. “The locals refer to them as LBHs,” Chloe clarifies, “Losers from back home.

And that’s it—that’s all we see of Greg in the Season 3 premiere.

What we know about Greg from the first two seasons

Midway through season one of The White Lotus, which is set in Hawaii, Greg arrived and seemed to have a chance encounter with Tanya. When she noticed him trying to enter her room, thinking it was his own, they began talking. He mentioned he was on a fishing trip with friends and worked for the Bureau of Land Management; however, Tanya misunderstood and thought it meant Black Lives Matter. Despite her doubts, he pursued her, distracting her from her intention to help Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) establish a wellness center. Tanya expressed her fear of being hurt in a moment of surprising foresight. Additionally, Greg was frequently coughing, which hinted at his later confession that he had a serious illness.

It was unexpected to discover him in Sicily during Season 2, still alive and now wedded to Tanya, who he claims is responsible for finding the physicians who restored his health. Upon arrival independently from his wife, he was displeased to find Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) accompanying them on their journey. Following a date involving pasta and Vespas inspired by Tanya’s desire to emulate mid-century Italian screen icon Monica Vitti, Greg departed once more—claiming this time he needed to address some matters at BLM’s Denver headquarters. He assured her he would be back in two days, but she never saw him again except as a younger man in a photo at Quentin’s villa. It appears with high probability that Greg is the heterosexual “cowboy” who shattered Quentin’s heart years ago. Furthermore, hints pointed towards Greg having another lover on standby. In a covert phone conversation at the resort, he declared his love for an unidentified person on the line. Later, a psychic called to read Tanya’s tarot cards delivered gloomy news: “The cards indicate your husband is in love with someone else.

Reconsidering their relationship from a suspicious perspective, several doubts arise. If it’s true that Greg was in collusion with Quentin to murder Tanya for her wealth, then their initial encounter might have been orchestrated rather than accidental. Was Greg ever associated with an organization known as BLM? Or did he fabricate this detail to mislead Tanya? Did his supposed terminal illness exist only to trick Tanya into providing financial support? Perhaps Quentin lied when he asserted that Greg was straight, and it was actually Greg who received the romantic phone calls. Alternatively, could Greg have been manipulating Quentin as well? There’s also the fan theory suggesting that Greg may have hidden on the boat during Tanya’s alleged killing of Quentin and his associates, only to be struck fatally while fleeing. The upcoming season introduces a new character named Chloe, which brings forth fresh questions about her arrival and the extent of her knowledge regarding Greg’s past.

What Mike White has said about Greg—and why his comeback shouldn’t be so surprising

Fans who closely follow discussions about “The White Lotus” may not be surprised to see the character Greg reappear. Since his absence in the final episodes of Season 2 at the end of December 2022, some “Lotus” experts have speculated about his return. In fact, White hinted at more of Greg in a behind-the-scenes piece accompanying that season’s finale: “Since all those guys die on the boat, it seems like there needs to be someone who follows up with Greg. But you might have to wait and see what happens.” As for Coolidge’s opinion, she expressed hope that Jon’s story isn’t over with Greg: “I hope there’s some justice for evil Greg… I think he should end up in a meat-grinding machine.

Two years after an interview prior to TIME’s Season 3 preview, White expanded on Greg’s comeback. While brainstorming for the season that also brought back Rothwell as Belinda, he shared with me during a January video call his enthusiasm: “This is the perfect opportunity to keep the Tanya storyline going.” He explained that it was logical for Greg to be among the LBH expats escaping their tainted pasts in Thailand. White added, “This is where you’d expect him to end up, and this is the kind of circumstance he’d find himself in.” Noting a touch of melancholy in Greg’s present state, living off Tanya’s wealth, he asked, “Did all the actions truly pay off?” Initially, there’s no hint of joy visible. The solitude is tangible. As White mentioned: “These characters usually have a woman – often younger – in their lives. However, it feels like there aren’t many others around.

What does Greg’s return mean for The White Lotus?

According to White’s comments during the Season 2 finale special, the storyline of Tanya McQuoid, the wealthy, humorous, and tragic opera diva portrayed by Lotus, will not be fully resolved until we understand what happens with Greg. His presence in Thailand offers a chance for this resolution. Some fans have theorized that Portia might be the one to uncover Greg’s betrayal. It is unknown if Richardson will make a reappearance later in the season. Additionally, questions remain about whether Belinda was informed of Tanya’s death and if she recognizes the man whose pursuit of her partner may have inadvertently dashed her business aspirations.

The way White decides to conclude Greg’s narrative is pivotal – not only for the long-term plot of the show, but because the outcome will strongly reflect on the underlying themes. Is it possible that ill-gotten wealth can bring happiness, not just for Greg but also for Walton Goggins’ and Jason Isaacs’ characters? Can a man like Greg, who is a proxy murderer with a likely troubled past, break free from the identity trap as described by Sarah Catherine Hook in Piper’s recording (heard in the premiere)? Despite Tanya’s role in causing immense pain to people like Belinda and Portia, can her death be seen as anything other than a (darkly amusing) tragedy? She wasn’t self-made, and it would have been challenging to watch her struggle through two seasons at various resorts without concluding that wealth had destroyed her life. Instead of a prize gained through violence, wealth might have become Greg’s curse. Can you think of any wealthy Lotus character who appears truly content?

In the context of its thematic emphasis on spirituality, morality, and mortality, “Lotus” challenges viewers to ponder if there exists a concept of divine justice within its moral universe. The series presents us with numerous instances of injustice, such as Shane (Jake Lacy) escaping punishment for murdering Armond (Murray Bartlett) in Season 1, and Albie (Adam DiMarco) striking a deal to mend his parents’ relationship by accepting money from Dom (Michael Imperioli) to pay off prostitutes Lucia (Simona Tabasco) and Mia (Beatrice Grannò), who were posing as their pimp. On the contrary, it seems fitting when these characters choose to squander Dom’s money, which he refers to as his “karmic payment” to women. It appears that Mia and Lucia share some similarities with Greg; they too have exploited sex and deception for financial gain. As we approach the question of the ethical boundaries of unofficial, self-administered wealth distribution, it seems we are about to discover where “The White Lotus” draws its moral line.

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2025-02-17 07:06

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