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‘The White Lotus’ Season 3, Episode 3 recap: Work and politics at the dinner table

BBG News

“The much-anticipated third season of Mike White’s darkly humorous anthology series, ‘The White Lotus,’ is now airing on HBO. With travel plans on hold, we’re thrilled to join the excitement by delving into this new chapter set at a luxurious resort. Join us as we share our theories, observations, and favorite scenes in real-time, leading up to the season finale. Catch up with our recaps for episodes 1 and 2.” (Read our recaps: Episode 1 and Episode 2.)

Episode 3 begins by depicting the Ratliff family (excluding their father Tim, played by Jason Isaacs) on the shore, under ominous gray-blue skies that cast a somber tone over the surroundings. The three siblings are huddled together, with Lochlan (Sam Nivola) remarking, “This is what it looks like before a tidal wave.” Meanwhile, matriarch Victoria (Parker Posey) gazes out at the sea, while their North Carolina home, bathed in a fiery interior glow, looms behind her, hinting at a dream. As Victoria awakens, she listens to Tim having another tense call about the scandal he’s embroiled in, but which she remains ignorant of. Over breakfast, Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) proposes: “It might be some kind of warning… dreams can offer a glimpse into something.” Dun, dun, DUNNN. As more calls pour in — and Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who works for his father, gets close to discovering something’s wrong — Tim proposes that the family should put away their devices for the duration of the trip, with Pam gathering them all into a large bag. What could possibly go awry?

In another part of the story, Rick (Walton Goggins) approaches hotel owner Sritala Hollinger (Lek Patravadi) during breakfast, pretending to be a film producer and hinting at a secret project. He asks her if she’d be willing to meet with a director he’s collaborating with in Bangkok. She agrees. Earlier, Rick feels a craving for marijuana and exits the hotel, accompanied by Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). They find themselves at a snake show where tourists are fascinated by the reptiles while snacking on potato chips. Influenced by drugs and feeling a bond with the misjudged creatures, Rick decides to release some of the snakes. A cobra bites Chelsea, prompting her to be rushed to a hospital. Upon her return from the hospital, Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), their resort companion who had invited them for dinner, astutely comments: “Chelsea, in just two days, you’ve had two close calls with death. Perhaps it would be wise not to join the boat trip tomorrow.

Television

This week, our threesome of women exudes ‘Real Housewives’ energy, the Ratliff clan unwinds, Gaitok extends an invitation to Mook, and we delve deeper into the story of Gary, also known as Greg.

During dinner, it’s revealed that Kate (Leslie Bibb) has been attending church regularly since moving to Austin. This surprises her liberal friends who presume it might be difficult for her to connect with those holding opposing political views. “Are you a Republican?” Laurie (Carrie Coon) inquires, causing Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) to express shock. “Noooo!” Kate responds. “I’m not a Republican. I’m independent. But Dave is.” When Laurie seeks confirmation that Kate didn’t support Donald Trump, her friend remains tight-lipped and avoids answering directly. Later in the evening, Laurie and Jaclyn discuss this revelation, a conversation Kate accidentally overhears.

However, the most dramatic revelations revolved around Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge). Initially, Chloe hints to Chelsea that Greg/Gary (Jon Gries) has an ex-spouse he rarely discusses because she was a troubled individual who took her own life. This could be a tale he’s shared with Chloe, or it might be a different ex-wife…

Later, during dinner, it dawns on Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) that Greg/Gary is the same man Tanya dated; she confronts him about this in front of Chloe, Chelsea, and Rick. He denies her claim. Yet, Belinda can’t shake off this suspicion. She finds a moment to forget her doubts long enough to walk with Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) towards her room.

Ultimately, the other staff members at the resort are pursuing their own advancements. Despite possibly finding himself friend-zoned, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) continues to harbor feelings for Mook (Lisa Manobal); however, he’s also actively seeking professional growth by expressing his desire to become Sritala’s bodyguard if she required additional security during her journey to Bangkok.

Now, let’s hear from Meredith Blake, Greg Braxton, and Yvonne Villarreal – esteemed Platinum Members of the “The White Lotus” VIP guest program – as they provide their insights.

Who do we think is the corpse this week? Does the snake imagery from recent episodes offer a clue?

What really grabs my attention in this episode is the recurring water symbolism and what it might mean. We see Victoria chasing a dream that remains elusive, the heavy rain she encounters upon waking, and Lochlan displaying an iPad video of a man on a beach during the 2004 tsunami, who stayed put as the waves approached and eventually engulfed him. Lochlan remarks, “He didn’t even try to escape, he just stood there.” Tim seems to comprehend this sense of submission. Perhaps Tim will surrender himself to the overwhelming circumstances, much like that man on the beach.

Braxton: For now, I’ll set aside my previous guess and argue that Victoria’s dream about a tsunami could be hinting at her being the spectral entity who floats.

Intriguingly, I find myself drawn to both interpretations. Victoria’s intuition that Tim might be hiding something, coupled with her decision not to probe further for information she doesn’t wish to uncover, seems to put her at risk of being adversely affected by Tim’s questionable choices.

Television

The darkly humorous collection by Mike White on HBO resumes for another round, this time taking place in Thailand and featuring a fresh ensemble of actors, with a primary theme revolving around spirituality.

Do we believe what Rick says in these meditation sessions? Or is it an act?

Braxton: Rick expresses that he desires vengeance following his father’s murder, and I suspect he could play a significant role in the final chaos, potentially even engaging in gunfire.

Walton Goggins’ performances in these meditation scenes are incredibly intense, making me consider setting free all the captive snakes just for him. His character displays a lost boy’s face, whose self-esteem, perhaps due to his father issues, seems fragile — “I don’t need to detach; I am already nothing…” This fellow is gunning for an Emmy. However, my distrustful nature makes me suspicious about these moments. Could they be part of a larger manipulation plan? I’m not sure if that raises enough concern for me. I find his cranky demeanor and general annoyance endearing instead.

The episode gives us our first Tanya mentions. What did you think?

Blake: I found it intriguing, and a bit hard to believe, that Belinda hadn’t heard about Tanya’s death, whether through news sources or the gossip at White Lotus. After all, if a wealthy heiress like Tanya died under suspicious circumstances on a yacht where multiple people were killed, wouldn’t it be newsworthy and likely spark countless podcast discussions? And I’m certain that the staff at White Lotus would be talking about the high-profile guest who drowned. My query is how Greg/Gary has avoided detection – and why he would be foolish enough to return to another White Lotus. However, as they say… criminals often revisit the scene of their crimes.

Braxton: It won’t be long until we discover the depth of Greg/Gary’s wickedness. Planning the murder of a wealthy spouse is serious, but there’s nothing that links him to Tanya’s demise. If he’s genuinely worried about Belinda revealing him as a suspect, he might think she needs to disappear too. We’ll uncover the extent of his dark intentions soon.

Villarreal: It’s possible, Meredith, that Belinda’s unawareness about Tanya’s death could suggest that this new season might overlap with the events from Season 2. Perhaps Greg/Gary is hiding during the chaos in Sicily, waiting for a final decision, and the man Chloe mentions could be someone different or he could be aware of Tanya’s impending demise. Or maybe this season unfolds after those events, and Greg/Gary is acting mysteriously and seeking revenge quietly because his lover, Quentin (Tom Hollander), who was one of the murderous gay men with a past connection to Greg/Gary as hinted by the old photo Tanya found, has passed away. This theory-building exercise is giving me quite a headache!

Television

In the HBO miniseries titled “Coolidge,” the actor famously known for roles in ‘American Pie’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ is portrayed as a tragic figure embedded within a humorous series of social etiquette faux pas.

What did you make of the Trump conversation between the Real Housewives of Koh Samui?

Blake: I must confess, the mention of Trump took me aback since “The White Lotus” typically handles contemporary issues subtly. It left me puzzled about which election they were referring to. However, it didn’t shock me that Kate identifies as an independent or seems conservative in her leanings. A woman’s forced smile often reveals a lot about her. What intrigues me is that Kate’s political views become fodder for Jaclyn and Laurie’s gossip, making Kate feel isolated. I wonder when it will be Jaclyn who feels left out?

It was surprising to hear Trump’s name mentioned, and something that might not sound quite right in a few years. However, if you’re going to bring up Trump, it would be more direct to ask about one’s support for his MAGA (Make America Great Again) ideology rather than asking Kate her political party affiliation. In this case, Jaclyn and Laurie could have asked her if she identified as a MAGA supporter instead of asking if she was a Republican.

Villarreal: I found myself mirroring a wide range of Tanya McQuoid’s facial expressions as I watched this scene unfold.

Which of these individuals – Chloe, Greg/Gary, or Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius) – have raised your suspicions the most so far? Could it be that they’re collaborating?

Blake: It’s common knowledge that Greg/Gary is a villain, but now I’m doubting just how much Chloe understands about Tanya. Is she possibly pulling a long con on Chelsea? The way she moved next to her at the bar in the premiere was almost like someone targeting a mark. And since Chloe isn’t dumb and is smart enough to ask questions about GG’s financial sources, I suspect she knows more than she’s revealing. It seems reasonable to assume that she’s keeping something from us.

Villarreal: I’m pondering who might be acting deceitfully, as the snake symbolism suggests. It seems to me that Mook may not be as innocent and kind as we perceive her to be. Is she colluding with Valentin? Could Valentin be teaming up with Chloe to sabotage Greg or Gary? Or is it possible that Mook is working with Greg or Gary to trick Chelsea and Rick? Additionally, I have a feeling that Piper has some hidden agenda. At this point, I only trust the monkeys in this situation.

Are Rick and Chelsea the best couple of the franchise?

Blake: Indeed, they are. It’s amazing how much I’ve come to feel invested in this pair, despite their apparent differences – not just the age gap, but also their contrasting personalities. Chelsea is bright and kind-hearted, while Rick appears to be the epitome of a grump. Yet, he undeniably cares for her, albeit in an unusual, seemingly underdeveloped emotional manner. What’s intriguing is that his act of freeing the stoned snake demonstrates that he can empathize with other beings (albeit in a misguided way), which sets him apart from many characters on this show, particularly Saxon.

Me: Gosh, Meredith, it feels like we’re watching two different shows! The thing that’s bugging me this season is the pairing of Rick and Chelsea. I just can’t fathom why they make a good match. Their connection seems vague at best, and she keeps referring to him as her “soulmate,” yet he appears indifferent towards her emotions. Even when she was bitten by a snake with potentially fatal consequences, his response was more about the snakes than her well-being. To me, they’re reminiscent of Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Ethan (Will Sharpe) from Season 2. Despite their issues, there was still a connection between them. Their marriage was simply going through a difficult phase. However, Rick and Chelsea seem to be nothing but rough patches.

Villarreal: Could it be that Chelsea is drawn to Rick, given his high arch (as shown in photo 8)? It’s hard to tell. I find them adorable together, but I must admit, they might profit from some “Couple’s Therapy.” After all, a little help could make their relationship even stronger.

Who is Frank, the person whom Rick called in the final moments of the episode?

Blake: I think it’s likely that Frank is a suspicious figure from the underworld, someone Rick might have encountered during his various activities.

After the unexpected appearance of Ke Huy Quan’s voice as one of Ted’s professional contacts (Kenny) during the turmoil, here’s hoping for a delightful surprise involving Frank.

Which group table would you want to sit at for dinner?

As for me, I’d undeniably choose to spend time with Chelsea, as she’s always up for a great time. Yet, I might invite Laurie to join us as well. After all, when it comes to finding common ground, there’s no one quite like another hardworking mom who needs a break.

Braxton: It might change. But for me so far, it’s a “table for one.”

Villarreal: Meredith, could you reserve a spot for me at that table? I’d like to join. However, I think it would be great if we could invite Rick once he has some marijuana.

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2025-03-03 06:32

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