The White Lotus Season 3 Part 6

You’re early.

Don't know if it's been posted yet, but the show's composer released the uncut version of the opening theme on YouTube yesterday. Says in the description that the title sequence can only be 1 minute 45 seconds long. And guess what, those delightful woowoo sounds are back in the second half! All is forgiven, Cristobal.

He also posted the Full Moon Party version of the opening theme today and it's pretty great.

I’m in the minority and much prefer the opening theme to this season. It’s beautiful and multi-layered with some sinister undertones. Perfect for this season.

People were just conditioned to associate the woowoos with the show, hence the huge outrage when it premiered. But it's grown on many, myself included. Added bonus is that the woowoos now land that much harder when they're featured in the episodes, they really get you going.

I agree r4, it's gorgeous music and I like it even more than the earlier score. Which I loved.

And with that I just went looking to see if the second or this season have gotten a vinyl release yet, like the first season did, and discovered that my vinyl of the first season's score is no selling for 300+ dollars! So that's neat.

This whole show is premised on misdirection and making a crisis from something out of nothing. The best part of Season 2 was NOT knowing if Meghann and Ethan fucked. I don't understand the arguments that the show is "slow" or that "nothing happens." Something is happening, and someone will die, but the joy in watching is to imagine the possibilities beforehand.

To speculate: I do not trust Fabian. He knows more than we do and is protecting someone, possibly even setting up poor Gaitok. I DO NOT TRUST MOOK. As per Belinda, comparing my real-life hotel experience if I went to my manager telling them that a possible criminal was on-property we'd be having sit-down documented meeting with our head of Security.

For that matter, White Lotus hotels seem to be run like shit. Ineffective or outright dangerous managers/owners abound.

This season is, as said in press beforehand, about spirituality. These characters are having a crisis of their soul. Rick having a seemingly bullshit Buddhist anger management session, realizing he can possibly break the wheel of his suffering. The Sam Rockwell monologue reinforced this. Piper going to join some random sect to find herself, seemingly doing zero research, so her mother Victoria is more right than we realize even in a benzo haze. Victoria is trying to save her husband's without even realizing it--or does she? It goes on; I'm riveted.

Tim singing Lutheran hymns from his Episcopal altar boy days.

As per further Fabian distrust, he wants to "sing" for Srilata, just like how Gaitok wants to bodyguard. The owners of this White Lotus are into some shady stuff, it's obvious.

Wtf is it with DL and this show?

Nobody thinks it’s any good at all, obviously, r10

[quote] You’re early.

And you're a control freak.

Not a bad impression of Parker by Patrick.

I love this show. And wow at the number of threads!

It's pretty clear to me that DLers love the series but are simply disappointed in this season compared to the other two. All the criticism comes from a place of love.

Sam Nivola is such a cutie. I hope they don’t make his character a weirdo.

I just saw on Instagram that tourism to Thailand is already rising fast because of what is called “The WHITE LOTUS Effect.”

Funny that a season too many are ragging on has gotten the highest ratings of all episodes to date. And that will only increase after the attention Sam Rockwell’s monologue got online.

And speaking of the ‘woo woos,’ The end of the now-classic Rockwell/Goddins scene ended with a long ahot and one long Wooooo.

I'm loving Season 3. Screw y'all.

I like season 3 as well.

As for the last thread: there was obviously more than one lesbian last season because I distinctly remember a lesbian couple. They even had sex. They gave her a coming out storyline, something Mike White would never do for a guy, because he's suffering from internalized homophobia.

I'm a simple man – I don't hear those delightful woo woos in my White Lotus theme song, I grab my pitchfork!

Joking aside, this is also my favourite season after the first one. I've been rewatching the second one recently through YouTube reactions and I had forgotten just how tedious those two groups of guests were. The three-man family going on and on about prostitutes and cheating, and then the seemingly endless scenes of Will Sharpe asking Audrey Plaza if she fucked Theo James. My god, enough! Stunning cinematography, though.

r20 There wasn't a lesbian couple, one of the prostitutes offered sex to the lesbian director in exchange for getting the pianist's gig for a night or two. She then told the director after they'd hooked up that she'd set her up with some of the lesbians she knows.

[quote] Wtf is it with DL and this show?

I don't know, is it that far out of line with the rest of the media and social media's reactions to it? Some of it is surely manufactured, like all the brand marketing deals, but there seems to be an authentic response and level of interest in the show across the culture, not specific to DL.

Do you think Lochlan will get a love interest? Will he hook up with Zion or Sam Rockwell's character? I hope he at least comes out as gay before the season is over.

R10 I think that the main draw the first two seasons was Jennifer Coolidge. Also, it skewers white, privileged women—catnip for DL.

No love interest for Lochlan, just his bro. Rockwell is in Bangkok, I don’t think he’ll go back to The White Lotus with Rick, so he won’t meet Lochlan at all.

Season 3 is a’ight.

Speculation from a Youtube video I watched. I think it's interesting: I think Lochlan sleeps with Saxon. Saxon is unhinged about it in days following. Two things... the poisonous fruit that can kill you and that blender. Both pointed out in dialouge. Saxon makes a poisonous smoothie for Lachlan and he is the body in the water. During the intro with cast names Lochlan's name Sam Nivola drawing is under the water.

[quote]Wtf is it with DL and this show?

No offence, but do you happen to live under a rock? This season is doing incredible numbers, showing tremendous season-on-season growth. This show is the talk of the town and it IS the moment – the closest to a water cooler conversation we're going to get these days. Obviously it'll fade away quickly after the season ends, nothing leaves a lasting impression anymore, what with all this endless content to watch.

R28: This would be an incredibly dark turn of events. I had noticed that the title card for Sam Nivola showed a man apparently floundering in the water, and hoped it didn’t foretell his death.

Interesting take, R28. They’ve hinted at Loch being a perv by asking his sister if she’s had sex. They’ve foreshadowed drowning with his tsunami interest. It’s a very weird, fucked up family. I would just hate that yet again the gay person is the deviant.

That’s not water. It’s a nacreous layer of permacum.

That would be way too obvious. The people behind the show know viewers obsess over the credits for clues.

[quote]During the intro with cast names Lochlan's name Sam Nivola drawing is under the water.

I think that was a red herring. There's a crocodile (aligator?) in that shot as well, just as there are crocs on his shirt in the most recent two episodes. I think that motif shows HE is the predator, preying on and taking advantage of his older brother.

I've also found it odd how, until the last two episodes, Saxon was always talking AT his brother and never really having a conversation WITH him. A really odd dynamic for brothers, where one is so shy he hardly ever says anything in response. He was a lot more talkative with Piper. Reminds me of how people taunt crocodiles, who in turn won't make a sound until it's too late and they bite your fucking arm off.

Early on in the season Lochlan has a session in a sensory deprivation tank- hence the picture of him submerged in water. I don’t think the credit illustration is going to foreshadow something so literal as him floating dead in water. It’s never that straightforward. Being underwater is symbolically linked to subconscious thoughts and urges which Lochlan certainly seems to have a few of

Definitely. I think a safe bet is Saxon getting off watching Lochy fuck one of the women. Maybe they do more than cross streams, but a full fuck seems unlikely since it would be weird in front of the others and then probably too big a choice for them to make one-on-one.

Have the opening credits in the previous seasons accurately predicted characters’ fates?

No, r37!

Netflix had WL s1. Why don't they have s2 or s3?

Netflix would never have a current season of a show that is playing on their (Max) own platform. I would hazard people would probably watch S2 in the anticipation of S3, even though the storylines are not congruent.

Because Netflix is not MAX. That’s why.

Reddit saying Sam Nivola gives Patrick S a handy

I never thought this show was that great anyway. The 1st season was diverting enough but after that it’s been a case diminishing returns.

I thought this season started with more potential than the last but the last two episodes have been so boring. Poor Jason Isaacs, just stuck with playing the same inert thing episode after episode. Posey is trying to make a meal out of a vending machine snack. Sam Rockwell’s speech was just presposterous, another of Mike White’s attempts to be edgy, like right out of the Jeremy O. Harris (home) school of writing.

I really don’t care what happens next. I’m watching for Natasha Rothwell.

R42 That would be disappointing. A bj would be better.

When they decide to go the incest route they might as well go all out, that means at least a bj. A handy is such a letdown.

Agreed.

[QUOTE] Sam Rockwell’s speech was just presposterous, another of Mike White’s attempts to be edgy, like right out of the Jeremy O. Harris (home) school of writing.

You’re pretty much on an island with this opinion. Rockwell’s monologue has been almost universally praised and he’s practically guaranteed an Emmy for it

We’ll just collect the rest of your opinions for the dustbin.

[quote] As for the last thread: there was obviously more than one lesbian last season because I distinctly remember a lesbian couple. They even had sex. They gave her a coming out storyline, something Mike White would never do for a guy, because he's suffering from internalized homophobia.

He absolutely does not suffer from internalized homophobia. WTF? He showed one man rimming another in the first season, and another man fucking another in the second season.

Loch turning out to be a creepy perv would suit me just fine. that would be a welcome twist to what I feel is a boring character. I don't even think he's that attractive except in a "he's young and nubile" way. I also can't stand Saxon and don't think he's even worth a hate fuck because his looks are a frat-based dime a dozen type. As for Jason Issacs, gimme some o'that, please. And as for Sam Rockwell, if I dress like a ladyboy will he rail the shit out of me, please?

They swapped shorts:

R16 What do you mean by making him a weirdo? They made him a weirdo in the first episode, when he was checking out his own naked brother in the bathroom. And then again in the second episode when he was staring at his naked ass.

[quote] There's a crocodile (aligator?) in that shot as well

Again with this bullshit? Okay, point to exact timestamp on this video where your alleged crocodile shows up.

R20 You need to pay more attention then. There were no lesbian couples last season. Valentina, the hotel manager was gay (or maybe even bi). One of the prostitutes slept with her cause she wanted to get the singing gig at the resort. She even told Valentina that she has some real lesbian friends and will introduce her to them.

r47, I agree with r43 re Rockwell's absurd monologue, so he/she's not alone. I'm aware of all the praise but truly don't get it. All shock value, no reality and little humor.

R31 Too late.

There is a retarded poster insisting that there were teems of lesbians in the last season of the show.

[quote]teems of lesbians

Oh my!

I'll be the 3rd to agree that the monologue was kind of ridiculous, but Rockwell's playing of it made it seem better than it was. He didn't play it for laughs. He'll be halfway to EGOT after this.

[quote]Wtf is it with DL and this show?

Exactly.

Wtf is it with "Wtf is it with DL and this show?" DLers and this show?

Parker Posey's White Lotus accent sounds incredibly similar to her Southern accent in "Waiting for Guffman."

That’s crazy about the shorts

Sam Rockwell's character will be revisited. I don't think his monolog is a one off. His background might even play into upcoming events. Rick thinks the hotel owner is probably the wife of his father and needs Frank to help "with a little role play". Maybe the hotel owner's husband isn't Rick's father, but actually Sritala is Rick's father, and somehow Franks experience will be of use.

r63, the hotel owner's husband will be Rick's father, much like Darth Vader was Luke's father. Rockwell's character will remind him that killing him will not relieve his suffering.

It was well delivered, at least Rockwell kept a straight face, but the idea that that guy dressed as a ladyboy and was “railed” up the ass for days at a time over a period of years was just silly. The writing just wasn’t that powerful.

Bradley Cooper wants that Emmy for The Righteous Gemstones

I took Rockwell's monologue as an homage to Christopher Walken's monologue in "Pulp Fiction" about shoving the watch up his ass.

Maybe nobody dies at all

Maybe they're all already dead and The White Lotus is Purgatory.

[quote] I think that was a red herring. There's a crocodile (aligator?) in that shot as well, just as there are crocs on his shirt in the most recent two episodes. I think that motif shows HE is the predator, preying on and taking advantage of his older brother.

Maybe Mike White has been watching The Strange Thing About The Johnsons.

Thanks for so clearly signaling your lack of taste, R43. When you say you are only watching for Natasha Rothwell — a dull actor playing the most tedious character in the series this season — you tell us all we need to know.

I agree that although he delivered it well Sam Rockwell was not the right one for that monologue. The very thought of someone looking like Rockwell done up like a ladyboy and getting railed by multitudes is laughable. Someone like Darren Criss would have been way more plausible.

But would you believe that Darren Criss would be a nefarious guy that can supply weapons at a moment's notice?

Of course not. This is stupid.

Criss has the sex appeal of a Korean eunuch..

I want to hear Shawn Mendes deliver that monologue.

Men who want to be fucked like Asian girls rarely look like Asian girls.

Frank should have shown up as a woman, played by an androgynous Elizabeth Hurley. As she relates her transformation, she performs a Sharon Stonesque pantyless crotch show, flashing Rick a clear view of her intact testes. Goggins' response would be priceless.

I'm interested in what kind of energy Zion will bring to the proceedings. We haven't really had a late arrival like that in this show before, have we? On a similar note, those excursions away from the main resort – which started last year in Sicily – are getting more and more elaborate as well, which I love.

Okay, I was wrong, Molly Shannon came in late as well – in the fourth episode, so more than halfway into the season.

^^ Something along these lines.

R73, Darren Criss would’ve been more interesting and believable. Anyone can provide weapons. Trans people do serve successfully in the military, despite what Orange Cheeto says. Angela Bassett kicks ass in Strange Days.

The whole “butch guy transforms himself into lady boy and back again” shapeshifter with controlled delivery thing was just more contrived nonsense from Mike White. It almost sounded like he used a character generator. It certainly didn’t sound lived in as a piece of writing or performance. That character would be a mess. Why was he telling Goggins this anyway - he wasn’t, it was a speech for the audience. The “teachable moment” presentation of it was ludicrous to anyone with ears and any life experience.

I’m not surprised that everyone at The Ringer has lapped it up.

Rockwell's monologue was a succinct summary of autogynephilia.

To the degree that they can be separated from the writing and the storyline, are there any performances so far this season that you are seriously impressed by? Just asking.

Apparently he appears in three more episodes so we’ll have to see how this develops.

R93, I’d say a little too succinct.

I’m waiting for the three ladies to perform the third act of Vanities, which is obviously coming.

[quote] Reddit saying Sam Nivola gives Patrick S a handy

Reddit is also behind the gun-toting monkeys theory as well.

Victoria, Gold Diggers and The White Lotus

There's not a guy posting here that would turn down the chance to fuck Rockwell, even if it meant pretending he was an Asian girl. The poster pretending he actually became an Asian girl or was somehow passable is embarrassingly literal.

I love him

Frank starts out explaining why he’s sober. This leads to his discussing his sexploits. Agree, though, that Franks speech isn’t terribly organic / realistic. But it’s fun!

Hot daddy isaacs is fluent in Spanish

r90 Seriously. I don't care who or what he's dressed up as – if Sam Rockwell is presenting hole to me, you can bet your ass I'm fucking it every which way.

[quote]Agree, though, that Franks speech isn’t terribly organic / realistic.

These monologues we see on TV rarely are, r92. No one talks like that in real life, but we accept it on our screens because it's an established literary device.

R93 he’s my favorite part of WL3. Hot daddy

r79, do remember that S1 was made during Covid, so no excursions were possible.

There was a boat excursion in S1 when Tanya dumped her mother’s ashes and Coolidge earned her Emmy.

That's true, but I imagine that was easy to isolate cast and crew from other people.

BULLETIN!

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sam Rockwell is only eligible in the Best Supporting Actor in a Series consideration for an Emmy re THE WHITE LOTUS.

Though there is a Best Guest Apprearance in a Series Emmy category, it requires that an actor must appear in LESS THAN 50% of season episodes for that series. Rockwell made his first appearance in ep #5, but he will also be in episodes 6, 7 and 8 — four episodes out of eight, therefore in 50% of episodes.

So he’ll likely be competing with Walton Goggins who has a strong chance of a nomonation for LOTUS.

R84 Goggins and the girlfriend are the best of the bunch

Both Goggins and Rockwell would lose to John Turturro for Severance.

Tried getting into Severance on three separate occasions, but could never get past Adam Scott's face. His potato-like features just rub me the wrong way and that's all there is to it. He was the worst part of Parks & Rec, too.

R100, they are.

R99, It could be messy. No matter what combination you put things you'll have Goggins and (very likely) Isaacs or Goggins and Rockwell.

I think Rick and snaggletooth will be okay, I think Rick will have some kind of come to Jesus moment

R82 what do trans people have to do with this? Rockwell's character isn't trans.

R102 I wondered if they had done something to his face for the role. Very creepy.

R101: There’s a gentleness and poignance to what John Turturro is doing in SEVERANCE that is new to his work, and lovely to see. And he and Christopher Walken are the nicest surprise in that series with their elder gay love story..

But I don’t see either winning over Rockwell or possibly Goggins for WHITE LOTUS. The acting heat in SEVERANCE will be with Adam Scott and Brett Lower.

I haven’t seen Severance but John Turturro is always wonderful imo

R107, what Turturro does in the ORTBO episode of Severance will give him an Emmy. I have absolutely do doubt of that. It will be part of a well-deserved Severance sweep. TWL S3 will be lucky to get the nominations it gets.

I cannot wait until a new episode airs to afford us some fresh and invigorating chat.

These WL threads become unbearable two days after each new episode.

I can’t say your wrong.

R111. You're wrong.

I’d rather the Emmy go to James Marsden in Paradise.

R110 You should be sure to stay away from YouTube. The number of tedious prognosticators there after each episode, trying to make their name as WL aficionados is seemingly endless.

[quote] Bradley Cooper wants that Emmy for The Righteous Gemstones

Bradley Cooper also wants an Academy Award.

But we can't always get what we want.

[quote] There's a crocodile (aligator?) in that shot as well

[quote] Again with this bullshit?

Don't forget the Polar Bars and Dinosours!

But joking aside, there really was a crocodile in the lagoon with Zion.

Look closely.

I think the crocodile is going to eat Zion.

I think that object in the water at the lower left is the dead body Zion comes upon.

He's gonna cum on a dead body? That's too much for even this show.

[quote] Maybe nobody dies at all

Sorry, but Parker Posey spilled the beans on the Today Show.

Someone definitely dies this season.

r116 Tell us where exactly you see a crocodile in that photo

r119

uh... don't we already know that?

Not to derail this into a Severance thread but John Turturro really is the best part of the show, and if you like what he's doing there and haven't seen it yet watch the movie Gloria Bell with Julianne Moore - he's lovely and low-key in that too. Oh and he's working on a similar register in Almodovar's The Room Next Door as well. He seems to've reached a point in his career where he can do anything; just a master character actor. I never used to feel the way about him I do now. I'm so excited when he pops up in anything now.

[quote] uh... don't we already know that?

Well, obviously R68 didn't know it.

I'm so pissed, I thought today was Sunday...all day long I've been looking forward to the episode.

Aside from the writing in this scene, the blocking is perfect. Intimate light, with a look behind the shoulder before giving a much more close conversation.

Much missed in the Sam Rockwell half-ladyboy monologue is that he has had a gun secured for Rick. We have two Checkov's guns now....

please don't use it babe. I feel like Chelsea, begging.

The three ladies (see know evil, speak no evil, see no evil) are about to devour each other like monkeys. Maybe DL shitposters thread 1 about how the apes are the killers are more right than they realize.

Can anybody end any suffering, wheather they caused it or not? Stay tuned.

* speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil

Three Wise Monkeys

Who in the cast is the most endowed?

…Zion

… Sritala.

Sam Rockwell should try them all out and tell us

The second gun is not a Chekov gun. We know Rick has gone to Bangkok to kill someone. It’s natural that he would need a gun.

Every single inanimate object in this show has chekovian potential. So far we have chekovs gun chekovs blender chekovs phone chekovs lorazepam chekovs pong pong fruit chekovs tsunami chekovs alligator-print cabana shirt.

There isn’t a single prop, event or line of dialogue in this show that doesn’t double as an ominous premonition of doom.

As a person with extreme anxiety it’s very relatable

r125 are you sure those 3 ladies are the monkeys? There is a literal interpretation right in the beginning of the show...

If Kate Jaclyn and Laurie are supposed to be the three monkeys they suck at their job because from the first night they’ve done nothing but observe each others flaws, speak shit on each other and happily listen to all the bad things the others have to say

The Greg/Tanya storyline should once and for all wrap up this season. The only sensible death here is Greg's. He needs to get his comeuppance. Chloe or those Russians probably will shoot him.

Pam is hear no evil.

Pam is a sanctimonious cunt

I'm rewatching this season and the previous seasons through YouTube reactions in between episodes. And I noticed in this season's opening scene, the meditation instructor says "let us calm our chattering monkey minds" and it cuts to a monkey on a branch being perfectly still and at peace, looking straight at us – as if trying to point out the irony of us attempting to get in touch with our true nature by framing things in nature as obstacles to that.

I thought that was really cute and it's in the small moments like those where you get the sense of just how many things Mike White is commenting on.

My wish list for the next season:

Julianne Moore

Regina King

Djimon Hounsou

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Stephen Graham

Connor Swindells (Sex Education, shirtless/naked every episode)

TY Swindell is on my wishlist

Leslie Bibb has always bugged me, but I have to admit that she’s really good in this.

Leslie Bibb also usually gets on my nerves but she is good in this and also she was good as the bitchy, shallow wife in Talledega Nights

It seems pretty clear Rick will ask Frank to play the producer to get access to Sritala and her husband. But what's he going to do with the gun, he's not stupid enough to think he'd get away with killing him. What's he going to extort from the guy he thinks has ruined his life, an apology?

"Aimee Lou Wood Reacts To Comments About Her Teeth | The Jonathan Ross Show"

I really like this actress.

Overbite Barbie

Bugs Barbie

Shelley Duvall's secret love child

I find her unconventionally cute/pretty

I love Chelsea. One of the best characters (and performances) of this season.

R147 I was thinking the same thing.

Also, that beautiful french actress playing Chloe looks across between Kristin Davis and Winona Ryder, but far more beautiful than both.

I fell in love with Chelsea with her …”..ooookay” response to Rick saying “I’m not going bald!” Best line reading I’ve seen in a long time.

R150 don’t be rude. She’s not French.

She’s pushing 40, too.

Please refresh me regarding the end of Series 2 re: Greg:

1) Greg may have set up Tonya to be killed, but he himself didn't kill her. He wasn't even there.

2) Tonya wasn't killed. She escaped right after shooting dead a few of the gays. She died accidentally.

3) Although it's been strongly hinted at, we still don't know for certain that Greg set her up, or that she was supposed to be killed. It might have all been her own paranoia. Therefore.....

4) Greg could actually be innocent. Of murder, at least.

Am I correct?

I can't see how Tonya could be alive when she fell from a large boat and hit her head HARD on the small boat. The sound made me cringe.

If Greg had absolutely nothing to do with the gays’ plot to off Tanya, why would he now be so concerned about Belinda recognizing him and also why would he be evading questioning from the authorities back in Sicily?

Occam’s Razor says he was behind it all. Tanya and Portia mapped out the whole crime together on their last phone call. They each had a piece of information the other didn’t and when they were put together, the whole plot became clear.

Exactly

[quote] Greg could actually be innocent. Of murder, at least.

Yes. He married Tanya out of love and his friends tried to kill her while he was away and he inherited all her money. Sad tale. Poor Greg.

A lot is riding on tonight's episode!

r154, Greg is almost certainly guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.

Pretty wild to think the actresses playing Chelsea and Piper are the same age.

They look the same age to me. What are they 23? 24?

Sarah Catherine Hook (Piper) will be 30 this month. She was born in April, 1995.

Aimee Lee Wood (Chelsea) is 31. She was born in February of 1994.

R155, re-read R154

R156 Mike White has the habit of throwing in red herrings, plot twists, etc. Obviously, I don't know the answer. The obvious would be, yes, Greg is worried about Belinda and might try to kill her.

But also possible, Greg is guilty of being complicit, not murder and will try to find some way of keeping her silent or coming up with a story rather than arranging her death, some other huge misunderstanding revealing a Tonya/Greg plot point never previously revealed.

And, I might be wrong about this, but no person could be found guilty of first degree murder in a court of law because, technically, Tonya escaped being murder and died accidentally from the jump, hitting her head, and drowning. That might be man-slaughter or second degree. Of course there would be attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit a murder. But those are still lesser charges.

I just keep thinking Mike White is gonna throw something completely unexpected in the last 15 minutes of the final episode that's gonna twist 10 blocks. A twist somewhat implausible, but acceptable enough that we, the audience, will buy it. And that Greg actually loved her or just plain isn't guilty.....or maybe this guy's name really is Gary and he's Greg identical twin.

^^Tonya escaped being "murdered"...

R164 here.

Also, Quentin, the Tom Hollander character from last season, hasn't been mentioned. As far as I recall. we only know his side of the story to the Quentin/Greg connection. There could be this whole other angle we don't know about. And Tanya was the one who actually killed anybody; and how many bodies did she shoot? We know it was in self-defense, or at least - she THOUGHT it was self-defense, but we don't what the authorities figured out.

I was totally shocked by the finale of season 1, even more so of season 2. The conclusions we're drawing seem too obvious and exactly what Mike White would want us to conclude.

If Greg was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, he'd be sent away to jail for a long time, and his inheritance might be voided.

r165, 3 bodies shot, one went overboard. no mention of the Italian old man captain.

I just want Sritala to appear again, especially since she wasn't in last week's episode. She has become my favorite character.

R168 I can't imagine feeling that way.

[quote] And, I might be wrong about this, but no person could be found guilty of first degree murder in a court of law because, technically, Tonya escaped being murder and died accidentally from the jump, hitting her head, and drowning.

You are wrong. Anyone who commits a serious felony (such as kidnapping) that results in a death is guilty of murder.

Look up “felony murder.”

Italy has a felony murder statute.

But would they know Tanya had been kidnapped? She wasn't taken anywhere unusual, and she went on to the yacht of her own free will. WQe know she wanted to get off, but is there any proof she did?

I hope Pornchai is a good guy. He and the lady taking away the phones and the healer type woman are the best people there.

oh my what a fakeout

No incest scene.

It is moving this episode, loving it

does Saxon have a sore ass?

Well kinda spoke too soon. Nothing too much though just a handy j

Carrie Coons' facial expression when Kate told her Valentin had slept over with Jaclyn was like a miniature master class in acting.

“One minute he was helping me get a lizard out of my room . . .”

Belinda, it happens.

One night in Bangcock and the world's your oyster

[quote] Pam is hear no evil.

There is no character on this show named Pam.

See how Lachlan was smiling at Saxon while he was jerking him and fucking Chloe? What a little multitasking minx!

Lochy looking gorgeous

I thought Saxon was jerking himself off

He was ^^

Okay he wasn’t lol

Where’s all those haters saying the writing this season sucks?

Don't do it Rick! You'll lose Chloe and she's a good one.

R181, yes there is. The lady who took the Ratliffe cell phones.

I was not ready for this episode to end.

Nor I, it went by too fast.

For the naysayers who said it is too slow....

Great episode. Everything is coming to a boil, and I have no idea who is going to die.

The drama between the three friends stressed me the hell out this episode.

Now that Gaitok has the gun back and that other guy acted like Gaitok doesn't have the killer instinct maybe he shoots somebody?

So fucking hot. Mike White GETS it.

I demand a personal apology from every tedious prisspot who’s been sniffing about the diminished quality of this season

Parker Posey is great playing a shallow woman.

Don't kill off Belinda, she's a nice woman.

I was fascinated that Jaclyn was reading Barbara Streisand's autobiogaphy.

That must have been quite a weight in her luggage!

So if I remember correctly last season on the yacht, Tonya saw a picture of the older gay man and her husband together - like a couple and that was when she started freaking out and wanted off the boat because she knew they were trying to kill her. Then as she was trying to get off the boat she fell and hit her head and drowned.

And Chelsea was reading the works of Rumi (it makes sense for her character)

I'm becoming bored with the three bathing beauties.

Good episode. Sam Nicola said at the end that Lochlan was doing what he thought Saxon wanted. Patrick S. Very good.

Sam Nivola is just lovely to look at. He should only be wearing a bathing suit (or less!) in all of his scenes.

But I hope they don’t have him making a play for Piper in the next episode. The preview didn’t look promising…

The aftershow segment featuring the three actors playing the Ratlifff kids revealed to us that they’re all just as vapid as their characters. Although Sam Nivola at least knows how to pronounce “ethos.” Nice job, Emily and Allessandro

R195 that’s what I think. He’s the shooter. Maybe kills Valentin’s friends if they try another robbery. Hope he doesn’t accidentally kill Mook or someone caught in the crossfire.

Looking forward to seeing Scott Glen, one of the most underrated actors in my opinion.

So are we meant to think Saxon didn’t come when he fucked Chloe? And did Chloe come at either time she was being fucked by each brother? This episode gets an Incomplete.

I hope Gaitok isn’t being set up to kill someone at Gary/Greg’s dinner party.

I don’t think he’s invited

Maybe after the dinner party Greg fucks Saxon. And makes Chloe watch. I’d be down for that.

Maybe Lochlan and/or Tim will pull a Quinn and escape with the natives, instead of Piper.

"He looks like a Hare Krishna!" That made me laugh out loud.

It dawned on me as he was thinking about killing his wife that Timothy Ratliff is based on Alex Murdaugh. I think Saxon and Victoria are goners, but he won't kill himself.

R203, the three women are really well-cast but the scenes of them being jealous and undermining each other were tiresome. There must be dozens of movies from the ‘thirties and ‘forties that cover the same ground.

Chelsea and Rick deserved a good storyline. Goggins is great but he can’t sell this revenge plot.

It’s not porn r209 we don’t need to see every orgasm to understand what’s happening

Oh, R217, it must be nice to be one of life’s simpler creatures.

Yes, tonight was finally a well-written episode with some decent pacing, but it should have been the 4th or even 3rd episode. We did not need 6 episodes to get to this point in the story-telling. This season suffers for being so drawn out.

I just started watching this show just this season. Just because of Goggins I’m really enjoying it. What season should I watch next season one or two?

I disagree, R219. I've loved the pace of the season, and the way it is digging in.

[quote]Sam Nicola said at the end that Lochlan was doing what he thought Saxon wanted.

Lochlan sacrificed by fucking the chick to please Saxon even though he really wanted to go down on his brother. He was happy to at least be able to pull on his brother's boner. I can understand Lochlan being confused by Saxon acting weird the next day.

I'm still swooning over Parker Posey's bamboo handle white Gucci bag. They were a very popular reissue, bring them back again. Your brand is suffering.

I liked the Monk’s take on death. Rejoining the ocean and going home. That’s nice.

I also think the different storylines are much more compelling this season. Last year I was only interested in Tonya and the Aubrey plaza foursome. The multi generational Italian men’s vacation and the ambitious puts a storylines were very boring.

I’m very interested in every single storyline this year, it seems like any of them could go in a number of messy directions and I’m dying to see where everyone’s cards will fall by the end of the series

I assume Lochlan really did black out, because it seemed as if he suddenly remembered what happened during the meditation

Season one was much better than this.

[quote] What season should I watch next season one or two?

Watch them both, but watch them in order. They form a continuous story.

I didn't hear Sam or Patrick mention whether Sam was handling Patrick's actual penis while filming the scene or a prop.

I’m so suspicious of everything now, but I couldn’t tell if Pornchai was being sincere in wanting to open a spa with Belinda. I think and hope he was, and he’s really a decent guy. He’s adorable.

R229 don’t ask Jason Isaacs. He gets annoyed when asked about fake dicks.

I think dad will be okay. He's made it through the wilderness.

I trusted Pormchai but my boyfriend thought Belinda was being set up for failure again (and she seemed to have that fear too) — like when Tanya pulled out. He doesn’t seem like that kind of guy but he’s also moving kind of fast?

Some people do move really fast. I have known people who hooked up once after just meeting and then moved in together right away,

I find Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda irritating. For a wellness counselor she is filled with exhausting amounts of anxiety and tension, and this was true even before she spotted Greg.

I’d love it if she agreed to meet with Greg and he offered to back her spa in return for her silence and she agreed and took the money and opened her spa. I’m so sick of posters here and on Vulture who talk about how Belinda is the only character they like, the only one they’re worried for, and it would be great if she turned out to be a greedy human rather than the saint lots of viewers take her for.

[quote] And did Chloe come at either time she was being fucked by each brother?

I thought only Lochlan fucked Chloe, and that Saxon came from being jerked off by Lochlan.

Saxton was acting like a blacked out college girl at a frat party who wakes up the next morning and slowly remembers having sex to which they did not necessarily consent. It seemed very believable to me.

Chloe said she fucked both brothers, but maybe she was being loose with what fucked means. Or she did full on fuck Saxon but we didn’t see it.

Chloe was in Saxton’s arms (presumably being fucked by him) in a Lochlan’s later recollection at the monastery. Saxton and Lochlan high-fived each other too as if they had both had her (or Lochlan was about to).

[quote]Chloe said she fucked both brothers

I felt like she was too embarrassed to say that she specifically fucked the younger one.

They never showed Saxon fucking Chloe.

Are we sure that was Lochlan jerking off Saxon? That arm looked a little womanly.

They showed Saxon and Chloe kissing, with Lochlan nearby listening. Then Lochlan and Saxon high fived. Then Lochlan got his turn.

Presumably, but not shown, Chloe and Saxon hooked up in some way.

R242 Lochlan has skinny arms.

Was it just Lochlan jerking Saxon, or was Saxon jerking himself in the earlier memories?

r223, my mother bought a black one at the HK airport years ago, and I was hoping to get it from her. She gave it away because it ahd not pockets.

Belinda was more interesting the first season, but only after she was so easily misled by Tonya and I felt so bad for her. This season she's been too virtuous--the only thing that's made her likably flawed is how upset she gets over snakes and lizards.

Jesus- "it didn't have pockets"

[quote] [R223], my mother bought a black one at the HK airport years ago, and I was hoping to get it from her.

I hope you are a woman.

r248, yes

[quote]Was it just Lochlan jerking Saxon, or was Saxon jerking himself in the earlier memories?

I think that in Saxon’s hazy memory, he jerked himself off. But Chloe and Chelsea said that Lochlan jerked Saxon off, and that was what Lochlan remembered at the monastery.

Mook is actually a villian and Gaitok accidentally shoots her? Throwing out that theory.

I went to The White Lotus Thailand and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

Why would Saxon be jerking off if he already had a turn with Chloe? The sex was Lochlan and Chloe, and then Lochlan reached over to jerk off Saxson.

R252 that should be the next flavor of Coffee Mate’s White Lotus coffee creamer.

R253 he has a short refractory period?

Jason Isaacs is so hot

[quote] Where’s all those haters saying the writing this season sucks?

[raises hand]

You think a long-predicted bit of incest makes for good writing?

Has the plot advanced an inch all season? What do we know now that we haven’t known for weeks?

Chole is my favorite character. Don't fuck that up, HBO.

I loved the first two seasons, which also happened to feature Jennifer Coolidge. When she died at the end of Season 2, I sensed a foreboding. My fear was that she would turn out to be the salvation of the first two seasons. Now that we're near the end of Season 3, I think I think I was right. Season 3 has been a snoozefest. So much time wasted on Jason Isaac's cellphone calls. And there was nothing compelling about the three girlfriends and their cattiness toward each other. I can only hope Mike White gets his mojo back in Season 4.

Chelsea’s face when Chloe said Saxon got a handjob from his brother was great. There should be a side by side pic of ricks shocked face and hers. That’d be cute.

If Maria Shriver looked stricken when she watched tonight's episode, how could anyone tell?

I think this season is fantastic. The slow pace initially makes sense, they are on vacation and the pacing is building. It s brilliant and I was not even bored the first few episodes. Some people should just go watch Fast and furious or real housewives ffs.

R257 go back and read the plot descriptions from season 2 and explain what more had happeneed by this point that season. A bad tarot reading? False suspicion of infidelity? Godfather references?

Maybe you’ve been on lots of family vacations where two siblings get sexual, a third announces they’re devoting themselves to Buddhism in Thailand, while back home the feds were building a case against the father that would destroy the family financially.

Maybe you’ve been on lots of vacations with a emotionally avoidant boyfriend who is plotting the murder of the man who killed HIS father, and in the process been the victim of an armed robbery and a deadly snakebite

Maybe you’re the gorgeous model girlfriend of a dangerous con man who keeps yourself amused by initiating rapey incestuous drug orgies with barely legal young men on your boyfriends 200 foot yacht

Maybe you frequently run into the killer of an old acquaintance when you travel for business

Is that why this season feels bereft of happenings for you?

This might be an easy prediction: Lochlan stays with the monastery, Piper goes home.

R262, agreed. S1 felt like marshmallow fluff in comparison.

Could be r264. One thing I’m betting on is he won’t be going to college at either Duke or UNC. Gap year at the monastery maybe?

I still say it's possible Greg/Gary isn't the murderous bad guy we have been led to believe. (note: I wrote "possible").

On the other hand, the shots we hear could be the Thai Massage therapist (I can't remember his name) shooting Greg in defense of Belinda.

Prediction: Fabian actually possesses an exquisite tenor that hypnotizes all the wild animals at the resort-, lizards, alligators, monkeys snakes. They become Fabian’s slaves and he their all powerful master, and, drunk for the first time on power he has never experienced, he unleashes the animals on the guests in a blood orgy of pulverized flesh. The only survivor is victoria who managed to capture three monkeys in a blender and mole a smoothie out of them.

IMHO Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger are perfectly cast.

Sam portrays a wonderful combination of boyish innocence, and a mysterious mischievousness that is pretty rare for someone his age. It's very compelling, especially given that he hardly speaks. It's all in his expressions and body language. That's talent.

As for Patrick, he is playing it exactly right. He reminds me of a Golden Retriever. Handsome and clueless.

[quote] Where’s all those haters saying the writing this season sucks?

A few of the plot holes for me in this episode were:

Victoria demanding to interrogate the monk who is supposedly going to brainwash her daughter, and yet when she gets to the monastery, she just disappears and ends up not meeting him. She made SUCH a big deal of meeting the monk, so making her disappear was obviously just a plot device to give Tim some time alone with the monk.

Another one was Gaitok just breaking into the Ratliff's bungalow. AS IF. Would they really have left the front gate open, so anyone could just walk in? And how convenient that he picks just the right drawer (out of 20 or 30) that the gun was hiding in. Then finding it just before his boss showed up in the office looking for the gun. Yeah, right.

Then Saxon taking his parents to dinner with Greg and Chloe, given that he was so embarrassed by the two women watching him make out with and being jerked off by his brother. AND that Chloe told Greg that she had sex with Saxon. AND that he might want to have a threesome.

Dinner with Greg and Chloe is the absolute last place that Saxon would want to be.

Finally, Sritala falling for the "big Hollywood Director" story. The whole scene was so badly written, having her show up to meet Rick, then believing his story about the Director, and then inviting himself and his friend to her home. That scene was so terrible, it actually made me cringe.

This episode definitely had a lot more action than the first five, and I finally feel like the plot is moving forward.

But yeah, the writing is still far from perfect.

I think it’s pretty obvious that GregGary is going to try and bribe Belinda with the money Tanya didn’t give her to open her own business with Pornchai and she will realize the alternative is that he will probably end up trying to off her if he can’t control her.

I have no idea what he wants with the brothers unless he is a cuck and gets off on the idea of watching them bang his girlfriend as Chloe suspected.

R270. you are absolutely right about Sritala and her Hollywood movie pitch. They have google in Thailand and she would not be that naive, not even by a long shot. There is no way that she would invite them to her house.

r267, you can't remember a name like Pornchai?

I don’t think she’d Google anything, but I think she’d have her security people on it doing background checks.

Victoria ghosting an uncomfortable confrontation is very on brand.

Saxon is going to Greg’s house party because Chloe is blackmailing him into going. It absolutely IS the last place he wants to be but Chloe is threatening to spill the beans about his bro job

I thought the scheme Victoria cooked up for Piper to stay the night in the monastery's living conditions was brilliant and well-played.

R276 I was the opposite. I thought it didn't make much sense. Piper wouldn't be expecting White Lotus-style luxury.

The relief from Piper when Lochlan agreed to stay with her for the night was interesting. Given this is the place she wants to live for a year, why was she so apprehensive about doing so? I'd love it if Victoria was proven right.

We can add staff not knocking before they unlock and open doors to the list of why TWL is a terrible hotel.

Schwarzenegger looks much better with the messy hair.

Zion seems quite young to pick up on a Scarface quote.

R275, Victoria, without her pills, seems to be getting a bit sharper. While Tim was talking to the monk, she went around the retreat and investigated it. Her proposal that Piper stay there one night first is rational.

[QUOTE] We can add staff not knocking before they unlock and open doors to the list of why TWL is a terrible hotel.

Gaitok already knew the family wasn’t there. Why would he knock at the door? He was also trying to surreptitiously recover a stolen gun. Your comment makes no sense.

[QUOTE] Zion seems quite young to pick up on a Scarface quote.

Most people watch Scarface when they are in college. It actually makes MORE sense that he would immediately get it at his age.

Are you one of the useless complainers on this thread? Your nitpicks aren’t even smart.

Walt Goggins and Nicholas Duvernay.

I assumed Zion watched the movie with his mother and it was an inside joke of a quote.

And I am guessing the not knocking comment was about Zion’s bell hop, not Gaitok.

How odd that the first drawer had the gun. Wouldn’t it be odd if that first cabinet held more than one.

For R181, who can’t be bothered to learn staff names,

Pam is hear no evil (cellphone jail) Fabian is see no evil (we don’t look too closely into rich people’s business) Valentin is speak no evil. (Let’s discuss tickets while my friends pull a heist)

I noticed that Sam Rockwell was added to the opening credits this week.

^^ he's in the rest of episodes

“Look at this beautiful Thailand surprise… got to meet up with Raylan Givens for lunch today,” Goggins wrote, captioning this image of himself and Justified costar Timothy Olyphant who also happens to be in Thailand filming FX’s Alien series.

Iris Apatow also visited the cast, for some strange reason.

People can disagree about the pacing of the show. I don’t understand why it’s so important to some people that everyone has nothing but praise for the show. You think it’s great. Terrific. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Chill.

r280 I wasn't talking about Gaitok, dumb fuck. I was talking about the staff member who let Zion into Belinda's villa without knocking.

And please don't try and pretend you have any idea about what goes on at colleges now, other than you getting repeated warnings for loitering.

r286 Visiting her boyfriend isn't really that strange a reason, is it?

[quote] Gaitok already knew the family wasn’t there. Why would he knock at the door?

And the staff member who opened the door on Belinda naked in bed?

It’s not really my problem that your post gave no indication or details of what you were talking about, forcing other posters to fill in the blanks, R288.

You seem…angry and triggered. Take a breath, sweetie. It’s not that serious.

I think Sritala knows the Hollywood thing is bullshit. She is smarter than she appears. So Victoria is one of those rare people who has no withdrawals after an addiction? I have heard of people like that.

I don’t think we’re supposed to care about the orgasms, r209.

R227 - "Season one was much better than this."

Thank you for inept response, loaded with detail, reasoning, and nuance. 😳 🥴

Of course you are correct that other seasons also moved at a slow pace. That’s part of the show’s charm. But the plot and relationships advanced a lot despite the slow pace. This year is just treading water in comparison . There’s very little we learn about the characters or their situations that is new in each episode.

And their behaviors are often contrived. The idea that Tim, facing an existential crisis at home, would just turn off his phone and pretend to his family that nothing was happening while he contemplates suicide for days is unreal. He’d at the very least would have flown back immediately to try to deal with the crisis. The “I’m going (eventually) to kill the man who killed my father (for reasons unknown)” plot is a cliché. Three gossipy old friends trading gossip is no plot at all.

r291 Other posters knew exactly what I was talking about, so the problem is with you. As for getting triggered, you're the one who got all pissy over my post and made yourself look foolish.

Yeh Sritala asking "oh which films did he like" and Rick's lame answer clued her in, I think.

Yet she still allowed them into her home, so maybe not.

r295 Except he knows he'd be flying back to get arrested. People making poor choices in times of stress isn't as unrealistic as you seem to think it is.

I think Mike White is insightful about humanity and is a good writer but what we have seen so far should have been condensed into 4 episodes.

The White Lotus White Privilege Family in season 3 is weaker than Maui and Sicily and I put it down to the poor acting. Jason Isaac’s meltdown and Parker Posey’s whining are just not interesting. Their children are one note.

Don’t get me started on the dullness of Mook and Gaitan.

The three friends who hate each other have individually nailed their characters but there’s not enough story or detail to make them crackle.

Obviously, R259 is watching this season with his eyes closed and the volume muted.

Wake up! It's going well!

People who run investment banks are used to dealing with high-stress situations. They thrive on it. They don’t hide under the covers. And yes, maybe he will be arrested when he returns, but he will be out in bail and should be participating in his legal defense, not incommunicado.

I'm thinking he'll be the one who'll stay at the monastery and not the daughter.

Credit where credit is due Patrick Schwarzenegger was excellent this episode

Jesus, what's with Goggins' torso and waist in that pic @R285? He's as flexible as a Gumby.

[quote] Victoria ghosting an uncomfortable confrontation is very on brand.

What uncomfortable confrontation? She wanted to meet the monk to check him out and make sure he wasn’t running a cult. It was her idea to go there.

[quote] People who run investment banks are used to dealing with high-stress situations.

In the old days, they would jump out the window when things went too far south. Pills may be what is now allowing them to deal with the situations better.

[quote]What uncomfortable confrontation? She wanted to meet the monk to check him out and make sure he wasn’t running a cult. It was her idea to go there.

And once she got there, she stepped back and let her husband handle the task, as always—unaware that he's currently going through a dark night of the soul and wouldn't do what she expected him to do. I don't see the issue or "plot hole." It's consistent with her character.

Having a single money-laundering charge is a problem, but it is unlikely to bring immediate ruin. There is a legal defense to mount. Maybe, in the end, if it does lead to ruin, Timothy would kill himself, but he would not just collapse into a neurotic ball and hide.

Then why did she go to the monastery at all? Why not just ask Timothy to do it?

If you where invited to meet a great religious leader who has entranced your daughter would you just say “Nah, I’m good.”?

I wouldn’t,r309 but Victoria isn’t me. Victoria is a very sheltered, pampered, privileged person who is on some level well aware how spiritually bereft and morally bankrupt her existence is.

She’s scared to death of the monk and of Buddhism in general because it represents a philosophical challenge to everything her sense of identity is built upon

She is scared he would see right through her and call her out, so she bails at the last minute

So she leaves her Boy Scout to do the dirty work while she cosplays in the scenery with her little parasol

The new episode sucked. NOTHING happened between the brothers. What the fuck was the outrage about? Lochlan fucked a girl while his brother watched. That's it. Very disappointing. If you tease incest, might go all the way! Lochlan isn't even gay. I'm fucking pissed. I expected a coming out storyline for Lochlan. But apparently he's straight?! Lol! Now I know Mike White is actually suffering from internalized homophobia. FUCK HIM. I won't be watching anymore. He treats all the gay male characters like shit.

Did you not notice the part where Lochlan masturbated Saxon to climax, r311?

It would never occur to Victoria that the monk would “see right through her” whatever that means.

You can supply explanations for her behavior that the show fails to supply if you like. I agree with the poster above who said it was just a lazy plot contrivance to get Timothy there.

WTF does Belinda actually do at WL in her uniform? Last night I realized they've never established what her "wellness" activity is. Have we ever seen her interacting with WL customers on the job?

[quote] I’m so suspicious of everything now, but I couldn’t tell if Pornchai was being sincere in wanting to open a spa with Belinda. I think and hope he was, and he’s really a decent guy. He’s adorable

I assume he is sincere, but it also occurred to me that he is being bankrolled by Greg.

I guess Belinda could get a work visa to stay in Thailand as a highly-skilled worker in short supply because there are not enough masseuses in Thailand.

Are the brothers supposed to be this season’s comic relief?

I miss Armand.

Jesus, r311, Just go and watch some porn instead. Hopefully you also won't be posting anymore either.

Victoria has consistently shown herself to be terrified to the point of pill dependency by anything and everything outside of her cloistered privileged bubble. She’s deeply suspicious of anyone, even other white lotus guests aren’t good enough for her- she’s horribly rude to Kate and practically needs to be taken off the yacht in a stretcher.

There could be nothing further from the “decent” people she associates with at “the club” than the head of a Buddhist monastery.

the idea of having enough in common with such a person that she could have a productive conversation about her own daughters life trajectory is, I assure you, light years beyond Victorias skill set.

That’s why she ghosted

r301 Oh please, there's a difference between normal stress of running a company and the stress of your crimes being found out and going to prison. And the show has made clear he isn't the fighting type. Not to mention his obsession with his standing in the community.

She doesn’t know anything about Buddhism so the idea that she is frightened of meeting a monk is just silly. Was she acting frightened?

You don’t become CEO of an investment firm without being a fighter.

Oh yeah, because CEOs are always so smart and clever and never get where they are because their daddy helped. Don't make me make the obvious comparison.

Turning a gay character straight is unforgivable. It's obvious Lochlan was gonna be gay. But the self hating homosexual Mike White couldn't allow that, of course. He only gives lesbians a coming out storyline. He treats his gay male characters like shit. Fuck him. I am done.

[quote]WTF does Belinda actually do at WL in her uniform? Last night I realized they've never established what her "wellness" activity is. Have we ever seen her interacting with WL customers on the job?

I believe it was established in the first episode that she is at the resort as part of a White Lotus exchange program, where she will learn about the wellness activities in Thailand with the expectation that she would then incorporate some of what she learned into her program at the White Lotus in Hawaii. She wouldn't be doing anything with any of the customers at the Thailand resort; she's immersing herself in their spa programs as if she were a customer herself.

Nivola says an intimacy coordinator was on set for that "White Lotus" sex scene.

"It’s funny the way intimacy coordinators talk. They’re always using anatomically correct vocabulary that feels stale and awkward. I’d be like, 'I don’t know if I can grasp the shaft,' and then Mike would be like, 'Just jerk him off.' And I’d be like, 'OK, that I understand.' I do think intimacy coordinators are a great innovation. Both of my parents are actors, and they’ve told me stories of having to do that kind of stuff without someone who has your best interests at heart, with directors who are maybe less supportive and kind and caring as Mike White. I’m definitely happy they exist"

You guys are clueless. Mike White and Lochlan are both bi. Not everyone who likes dick is gay.

Would it be too much to expect a moment in Victoria's time at the monastery in which she actually displayed some fear or even some hesitation in meeting with the monk? Maybe give Parker a complex emotion to act?

The speculation here is actually far more dramatic and interesting than what happened (or didn't happen) in the episode.

She was frightened of meeting Kate, r321! If someone that similar to her in class and status wasn’t safe, than of course civil discourse with a Buddhist fucking monk would be out of her wheelhouse.

If you knew anything about human behavior you would understand that her distrust and scorn of anyone not exactly like her is based in fear.

You don’t need to be biting your knuckles in wide eyed fear to be acting from a fearful place. In fact I’d argue to most of the terrible things we do to each other are grounded in our secret dreads.

It was HER idea to go meet the monk. Timothy was not even going to go with her at first.

I don’t know what the exchange with Kate was about, but it was not about fear. She had already spent an entire weekend with her. How did that happen if she’s so frightened?

Somebody did just that on Bluesky r260

R327, is Mike White *really* bi? Come on now.

I totally bought that Victoria would expect her husband to do the actual work of talking to the monk - that's "men's business" with that sort of woman - while she thought she was being sneaky and investigating around on the side. I don't think she was necessarily scared - I think she thought she was splitting up their duties and she'd find out the real deal behind the scenes. And who knows, maybe she did on her tour and she'll turn out to be right and her daughter won't like the living conditions?

[quote] I agree with the poster above who said it was just a lazy plot contrivance to get Timothy there.

I'm not sure. Came up with something similar to R333. Mike White does want a scene where the dad has a moment with the monk. I don't think Victoria was afraid. Yes, it was her idea to go. She likes the idea of approving things, taking control of the situation. I just read her wandering off as being a bit callous, not mindful of others. And Victoria getting a tour in the meantime sort of lets her understand the place in her own way and it softens her on the whole possibility. Even though she thinks one night there will deflate her daughter's interest.

Victoria is terrified of the outside world. This subconscious fear manifests in snobbery, drug addiction and avoidant behaviors like skipping out on the meeting with the monk and delegating all diplomatic tasks to her husband

You’d have to have null emotional intelligence to recognize this

Jaclyn and Saxon are also fearful people.

R327 You’re right. Women who like dick are not gay. “Bi” Mike White is not covered by that statement.

Since White doesn't like cold locations, I propose the next location should be in Africa- he'll have plenty of animal metaphors, wealthy vs poor, class divisions, and beautiful savannahs to work off of.

Stop being so condescending. You don’t have to lack emotional intelligence to find the plot contrivances to get Timothy alone with the monk to be creaky and unconvincing.

Yes—we can all imagine the psychology of a complex woman who might share some if Victoria’s behavior who would be afraid to meet a monk, but unfortunately for your argument, none of that has been demonstrated by Victoria.

Or maybe Piper just lied and told Victoria that Tim wanted to talk to the monk alone. After all, she already expressed embarrassment about what her mother might say to him.

r337, doesn't it have to be at a place where there actually is a Four Seasons hotel? There are Four Seasons hotels in Africa, but I don't think there are any near the savannahs.

[quote] the plot contrivances to get Timothy alone with the monk to be creaky and unconvincing.

I didn't see it as a major issue. It's maybe a tiniest bit off but the character is flakey. You could read this scene as her being avoidant. Maybe she's already figuring she can't really stop her daughter and just wants to wander around..not that deep. She gets overwhelmed by things. It's not impossible she'd deflate.

Going back to her being cold to one of the three cougars about a wedding in Austin. Maybe the point is she's not consistent with people. Flakey and self involved. That scene shadows Belinda recognizing "Gary". Is Victoria hiding something?

The way you bitches nitpick these scripts, you're like fucking straight male football fans.

R342, reminds me of TWoP.

It's fun! Looks like we found an interesting show.

I can see them going to the South of France or Mexico next. Or maybe he’ll do the States again and go to Santa Barbara or Sedona.

R311, you might want to watch the episode again more closely since you clearly missed Lachlan giving Saxton a handjob to orgasm (which was shown no less than three times).

Your “outrage meter” needs to be repaired.

R246 I hope she's not so flawed and naive that she would go for a business proposition from a guy she just met and fucked once in a completely different country and culture.

I was raised in South Carolina. South Carolina is very small and cliquish— even for the South.

The Ratliffs are from North Carolina, which has a different culture. But White (by his own admission) is applying South Carolina norms to these characters.

Moneyed South Carolinians are intensely uninterested in most things and almost all people. It would never occur to Victoria to waste her time talking to Kate. Why would she?

Victoria MIGHT have a nagging fear of being mocked by outsiders— particularly with that accent. Even if you are hot shit in Charleston, it stings a bit when you travel and people treat you like a hick. (See Timothy’s reaction when Sritala hustles them along when Victoria starts babbling about Duke v UNC.)

She might have instinctively avoided meeting the link because she feared being mocked. But, there could just as easily be another explanation.

R345, not the States right now please. Many viewers seek an escape from ... this place... right now.

Meeting the monk

Episode six was better than the previous ones, and the show does seem to be gaining momentum. Patrick S. gave a great performance. But it still feels like this season will turn out to be a dud, unless the remaining two episodes will be absolutely amazing and redeem everything that came before. This was the last episode shown to the media, so no one knows outside the show/HBO knows what happens next.

Lochlan staying overnight with Piper at the monastery could lead to something even crazier than Loch giving Saxon a handjob: What if they hook up? The early plot point about both Saxon and Lochlan being interested in her sex life doesn't seem like it will be forgotten.

Looking at the Four Seasons site and since the first three seasons are all on islands... The Bahamas? Seychelles? No idea. If we're going cold... Jackson Hole or Megève France for an Alpine experience?

I really hope they don’t have Lochlan making a pass at Piper. What happens on drugs is one thing, but putting the moves on your sister the night after in a monastery would be completely unbelievable.

Don’t go cold! I want hot shirtless guys on boats or by pools!

The White Lotus Key West. The White Lotus Canberra. The White Lotus Cayman Brac. The White Lotus Lisbon.

Let’s go Australia.

R253 a lot is possible in your 20s. And maybe Lochlan just took the initiative on his own.

Guests being pummeled by 'roos!

I don't think Lochlan will make a pass at Piper. He followed what the brother said/wanted and ended up someplace he didn't want to be. Now he'll try his sister's way. He's almost comically trying to find someone to latch on to because he's still figuring himself out.

Also, I don't think he's straight. Checking out the guy earlier in the season, checking out his brother's body in the first episode, and the fucking a woman while jerking off his brother pointing to the idea that even if he was having sex with Chloe, he needed a man around to do it. He was simply trying to please his brother and be the person he thought he wanted him to be.

[quote]I didn't see it as a major issue. It's maybe a tiniest bit off but the character is flakey.

Exactly, Victoria can talk big game at her own children but she's a flake. I never expected her to meet with the monk. I wasn't shocked when she had Tim do it in her place. It's very southern, "Big Daddy will handle everything!" I did appreciate that she does come across as someone who genuinely loves Piper and wants what she thinks is the best for her even if she's not actually listening to her.

[quote]I can understand Lochlan being confused by Saxon acting weird the next day.

Just to clarify a bit here: the final scene was meant to show that Lochlan *actually* had no memory of what happened on the yacht, at least not until he & Piper started meditating at the Buddhist retreat. We don't know yet how HE will react, considering he seems to have been the quasi-top of sorts.

[quote]It dawned on me as he was thinking about killing his wife that Timothy Ratliff is based on Alex Murdaugh. I think Saxon and Victoria are goners, but he won't kill himself.

There you cunts go again, jumping to conclusions. Sorry, but a murder-suicide is a bridge WAY the fuck too far for this show. No, Timothy isn't going to murder everyone before offing himself. 🙄

[quote]The relief from Piper when Lochlan agreed to stay with her for the night was interesting. Given this is the place she wants to live for a year, why was she so apprehensive about doing so? I'd love it if Victoria was proven right.

Victoria's "apprehension" is entirely rooted in the fact – as she herself states later in the episode – that she would literally rather die than live without creature comforts. As such, it is impossible for her to grasp that the life of a penniless monk can be a deeply fulfilling one: Victoria's way too far gone for help at this point.

That said, Piper *and* Lochlan both being very conveniently nowhere near the hotel – and also not with Saxon, who'll presumably be at Greg/Gary's party – on its penultimate episode is a contrivance, but one with a point.

I'm also wondering if Lochlan's big "reveal" is the one we practically take for granted nowadays, especially on sex-positive shows like this one: what if he's only now realizing he's gay or bi? (Yes, obviously this doesn't explain the incest in & of itself, but I'm not getting what else could prove so enlightening there.) He's a high school senior living in the South, with an alpha-male fratty asshole brother & severely unenlightened parents. Makes sense that he might still be "confused," especially in a family that fucked up.

Dataloungers think there is absolutely no such thing as bisexuality--an obstinate opinion here that always fascinates me.

Australia would be interesting. I wonder if Mike White might be looking at either dropping the Four Seasons or the island requirement. The Four Seasons must be getting plenty out of this already. As the show's getting more popular, we don't want a literal travel ad. I think this season is already less Four Seasons?

R354... if it is a cold place, they could do a force an extra scene or two in saunas?

[quote]Most people watch Scarface when they are in college. It actually makes MORE sense that he would immediately get it at his age.

It's also been a cult classic among American people of color – especially Black & Hispanic – for 40+ years now. I'd be more stunned if he HADN'T seen it.

[quote]If you where invited to meet a great religious leader who has entranced your daughter would you just say “Nah, I’m good.”?

No, but it's a world-famous Buddhist monastery, not some sort of Moonie compound. OTOH that's basically what Victoria did: got up & wandered off while Piper was explaining her situation to the monk. (In reality, the only "cult" the Ratliffs – aside from Piper – might support is MAGA.)

[quote]Turning a gay character straight is unforgivable. It's obvious Lochlan was gonna be gay. But the self hating homosexual Mike White couldn't allow that, of course. He only gives lesbians a coming out storyline. He treats his gay male characters like shit. Fuck him. I am done.

Lemme guess: R324 = R311, bizarrely pissed off about the absurdity it's somehow "homophobic" for "The White Lotus" to not go full GoT on us and show siblings actually fucking? First, they haven't established anything specific to any character's sexuality, plus you're clearly jumping to the conclusion that Lochlan is "straight" solely because he fucked a woman while rolling on molly (never mind that he was jerking his brother off while doing it). Second, he's hoping avoiding coming-out storylines because they're BEYOND tired at this point, and gay male characters have played major roles in every season, starting with Armand.

In any event, this is much ado about nothing. Lochlan's epiphany during his night at the monastery could simply be that he's gay – and yes, considering he's in a rich white Southern family, it's entirely plausible that he'd either be closeted or simply confused. (And interesting that you're not upset about Piper being portrayed as asexual. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you being attracted to dudes. 🙄)

R361 That some DLers have strong opinions doesn't mean ALL DLers agree. I am gay. I have had relations with women. I am not bi. But I absolutely believe that there is a continuum, probably along which people move with time and circumstance. There are bi humans. Locklan is bi now, unquestionably. What will his identity and behavior be in ten years? Uncertain.

[quote]Since White doesn't like cold locations, I propose the next location should be in Africa- he'll have plenty of animal metaphors, wealthy vs poor, class divisions, and beautiful savannahs to work off of.

We have no idea if Mike "doesn't like cold locations," but how is that relevant on a show that is entirely about exotic WARM vacations? If anything I would entirely assume that a creator with the extremely unusual credit of being on "The Amazing Race" *and* "Survivor" would be thinking with a Survivor-style mindset, namely that pervy viewers (like every cunt on this thread) much prefer locales where as few clothes as possible are necessary.

Also, I'll take it as a given you haven't spent much time in Southeast Asia if you think a season set in Africa would somehow be a jarring shift. While Thailand is at least reasonably developed, the Thai people as a whole are impoverished, and there's no avoiding the reality that Koh Samui is maybe 50 miles as the crow flies from Myanmar, which currently has some of the worst human rights abuses on Earth.

And really, most parts of the planet that are visually stunning and feature $2,000-and-up/night luxury resorts are almost a story of class divisions, colonialism, etc. If anything I'm wondering if they'd have the balls to try & do one in Bali or anywhere in Indonesia, given its geopolitical issues (namely being the largest Muslim-majority country on Earth).

They don’t have to film at a Four Seasons.

[quote] Checking out the guy earlier in the season

What guy?

[QUOTE] Other posters knew exactly what I was talking about, so the problem is with you

Oh really? Since I was the first person who responded to your post, you’re obviously making this up. Who are these “other posters”? Are they in the room with us right now?

I knew what he was talking about.

R340 there is a Four Seasons Serengeti right in the heart of Serengeti National Park. Being a safari lover and having been to Africa many times, I hated it because it just felt like a resort from anywhere that was plopped down in the middle of the plains and didn't belong there at all. At the time I visited it was also full of obnoxious Russian, Indian, and Chinese new money travelers who didn't give a shit about really being on safari and would try to talk on their phones during game drives, smoke, litter, etc.. It was just a way for them to check East Africa off their list while essentially being at a generic boilerplate Four Seasons resort.

After that one stay, it was back to small luxury tented camps with only 8 or 10 rooms for me whenver I go on safari.

If White continues with the island theme, maybe the Four Seasons in Mauritius or the Seychelles could be a possibility. There is also a Four Seasons in Marrakech... not an island, of course, but there could be some cool side trips ( a la Noto from Season 2) to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. He could steal from Jennifer Saunders and have plots around human trafficking, easy going sex with underage youths, and dirt cheap plates & rugs.

[quote] on a show that is entirely about exotic WARM vacations

I don’t think that what the show is “entirely about.”

It’s about rich people in an expensive enclave. Gstaad would work fine. So would a Safari resort.

One thing’s for sure: Carrie Coon always brings the crazy and I’m here for it.

I would assume the location of S4 could greatly impact on the casting possibilities. Perhaps many more fabulous name actors would be available to spend 6 months in say, Mexico or the Bahamas, with easy access back home on the weeks off, than deepest darkest Africa or faraway Australia.

And if this season winds up being a critical bust, even with their highest ratings, HBO may try to rein in Mike in terms of budget and location the next time.

Of course, I'm only guessing....

I wish they'd let Carrie Coon bring the crazy here....

R373 Yep, after a couple of her "so you slept with Valentin, you were always going to sleep with him" speeches I thought, hmmm, she's going to get the gun and do the shooting. Great portrayal of a deep burning craziness in this woman...

[quote] a show that is entirely about exotic WARM vacations

I disagree too. Is Sicily exotic? I guess for an average American traveler yes. I don't think warm is of the essence.. islands are maybe but he could switch that up too.

r365, Mike's producer stated that Mike doesn't cold locations.

r377 And yet they were negotiating with Norway for the fourth season. And because Norway didn't provide generous enough incentives, they dropped it as a location and are now looking for alternatives. Also the reason we got Thailand this year and not Japan as originally planned.

In the second scene (Gaitak riding a bike), was the background music an instrumental version of Motle Crue’s “Home Sweet Home”?!

Wasn't S3 rumored to be in Japan for quite some time?

Yes, he mentioned wanting to do Japan in an interview pretty much the next day after the second season wrapped up. I was in the hospital recovering after my cancer surgery a the time, listening to all the WL podcasts I could get my hands on. One of the kind docs lent me his tablet so I could watch the finale.

The Coon out-Cooned herself this episode, my god those facial expressions at the breakfast were everything, took me forever to finish the scene because I kept rewinding. Thought it was very interesting that all three friends were wearing the same kind of reflective lenses in the pool scene, almost like shields in a battle. Saw the reflection of a gaffer at one point, though they did a great job concealing the crew otherwise.

Loved the cut from Saxon puking to the sea foam, very cheeky. As was the very next shot of the dead blowfish, symbolising Saxon's overinflated ego getting a big blow. I also noticed him abusing the bug spray afterwards, as if trying to keep his niggling memories away. The dolly shot through Greg's living room was awesome as well (did you see the croc decoration on his desk?). Made up for the fact that we got some really unseemly green screen shots this episode.

Sritala's broach was that of a monkey defensively covering its belly, I don't think she's been duped by Rick at all. Her villa looks gorgeous, though there's a shanty house right next to it. We got a nice slice of wealthy and poor Thai life this episode, for sure.

R375, Jacklyn has a marriage to undermine. I’m not saying that gunfire couldn’t be the end result, but if Coons’s character wants revenge she might go in that direction.

R383, and a tabloid career.

[quote]I would assume the location of S4 could greatly impact on the casting possibilities. Perhaps many more fabulous name actors would be available to spend 6 months in say, Mexico or the Bahamas, with easy access back home on the weeks off, than deepest darkest Africa or faraway Australia.

Seriously, R373? You think a thespian would turn up their nose for an offer to star on one of the highest-profile TV shows ON EARTH at present, solely because they'd prefer to summer on the Med than the Aegean? (Also, it's HBO, and yes, you can reasonably assume the entire cast flies back & forth in first or business class.)

[quote]And yet they were negotiating with Norway for the fourth season.

Sure, if you believe Reddit rumors, but if you're at all familiar with Norway – and it seems like you're not – you'd get why this idea isn't workable given the duration of a given "White Lotus" shoot. But yes, they've since confirmed that Japan was Mike's first choice for S3, and while the producers are apparently still location-scouting, expect S4 to likely take place somewhere in Europe. OTOH Europe may be off the table depending on what fuckery Trump rolls out in the next few weeks.

Also, they may be stealing a card from Nicole Kidman's playbook: her "Nine Perfect Strangers" anthology – which, like "The White Lotus," was originally set and entirely filmed at a luxury spa, in its case in Australia – filmed its upcoming second season on location in Munich & the Swiss Alps. (Btw its second season is "stealing" a bit of its own: Murray Bartlett leads the cast. I'm sold!)

R250 How could have Chelsea said that? She wasn't even there.

R381, that's interesting. Japan is not really a 'warm' destination although it can get grossly humid in the summer. Lots of potential for cross-cultural miscues. Filming seven months in Japan would cost a small fortune, I'd imagine.

Chelsea didn’t say that, R386. R250 was misremembering or just made that up.

[quote]Where’s all those haters saying the writing this season sucks?

Present

[quote] Prediction: Fabian actually possesses an exquisite tenor that hypnotizes all the wild animals at the resort-, lizards, alligators, monkeys snakes.

The actor playing Fabian actually has his own band and sings, from the 30 seconds I could bear, some kind of indie pop. I'm hoping his big singing scene in WL will be him doing Sritala drag or some such nonsense.

A few minor things happened (Gaitok gets the gun back), but overall this is ANOTHER moving the chess pieces episode.

I don’t mind it. I love the show.

You know how figure skaters take those rather artless laps around the ice between jump combinations? That’s what these setup episodes feel like.

Oh god I just thought of something. What if Lachlan is a trans man and is pregnant with Saxon’s baby?

Why would Saxon invite his parents to a party of a man who's girlfriend he fucked and who possibly wants to have a threesome with him and even worse, where there will be people that know he hooked up with his own brother? And he didn't even know that Lochlan and Piper were staying at the monastery, so he was planning to ask them all. They weren't even invited. Sorry, but that's just not believable. It's straight out of a soap opera. It seems like half of the characters will come to Greg's party and it's where this season's climax will happen.

R386 and r388, my bad. It was Chloe who said that, but Chelsea gave Saxon a look of, “you poor dear, you don’t remember?”

R393 How would the climax happen at Greg's house when we already know, from the first episode, there's a shoot-out at the hotel?

Greg menaces Belinda, but does nothing other than that? And we have 3 guns- Gaitok, Rick, and the jewelry thieves.

r368: r282, r290 and r369. Time to stop digging.

This episode was definitely better. Arnie's kid isn't a bad actor--his look when the tooth girl told him he was soulless was excellent. Parker Posey might as well have been in the monk scene--Jason Isaacs still could've posed the same questions while she zoned out or whatever. The incest vibe I got in the first episode was between Piper and Lochlan, so wouldn't be surprised if something happens there.

The Chelsea-Rick storyline is completely useless to me. I have no idea how/why they got together or what his deal is. I don't care. The 3 chicks would be better if the stakes were higher, but their frenemy vibe is realistic.

Lisa from Black Pink must have something to do with the baddies who robbed the hotel, otherwise what was the point of her character at all?

r360 When I said apprehension I was talking about Piper, not Victoria. Which should've been obvious as I mentioned it immediately after talking about Piper being relieved that Lochlan agreed to stay with her.

Mike should consider going to North Africa next. Egypt or Morocco would be a great locale.

R353 spoiler alter Lachlan is a monster and does just that and somehow goes on a shooting spree. The posture micro aggression was just too much to bear.

I read Pornchai as the ‘Belinda’ of season 3. Belinda is the rich westerner to his poor second world hotel workers and for him she is a way out. He even has sex with her, but my take is she is so clueless she can’t read what’s going on. Just like in season 2 she was stupid enough to think Greg was actually going to finance a business rather than humouring his silly wife.

Belinda for me is unaware of her moral and ethical blind spots. Just like all the characters in Mike White's work. There is no ‘right’ person. They’re all wrapped by late stage capitalism.

I’m betting on Sritala being one of the king pins in the crime syndicate with her husband. Those ‘body’ guard thugs have been the give away the whole series. Bad bad men.

Greg feels to obvious. I think he’s a grifter for sure. But a small player overall.

The one to watch is Fabian. That character has something big coming up. He’s the one piece on the chess board that hasn’t made a significant move yet, and he’s too focused on not to be important.

I love the dichotomy of the left V’s the right playing out amongst the girl group. The progressive morally libertinous Jaclyn who is obsessed with herself and cheats on her husband but feels morally superior and then Laurie, who’s painted as dubious early on as she ‘found religion’ and tending to the right is the only one of the three to think it’s wrong to cheat and holds to her morals.

This I think is the first truly great season of The White Lotus. I’m glad Tanya is gone as she made the program more a farce than a social critique. It’s now gone full Michel Houellebecq which is awesome. This whole series is basically his novel Platform from 2003.

Can’t wait for the shooting to start! And I hope Victoria is holding a gun!

Go Parker.

You mean Kate, not Laurie, R402.

[quote] The speculation here is actually far more dramatic and interesting than what happened (or didn't happen) in the episode.

Exactly.

The WL rabid defenders really insult our intelligence by continually coming up with "excuses" for the sloppy writing.

Listen, if the writing was top notch in the first place, then it wouldn't need you to come up with all of these scenarios to cover for Mike White.

The writing and the story should speak for itself. With no further explanation from the rabid fans.

[quote] The incest vibe I got in the first episode was between Piper and Lochlan, so wouldn't be surprised if something happens there.

You're not the only one. It seems like quite a few of us on this thread picked up on a "vibe" between Lochlan and Piper.

Maybe he's just exploring his sexuality (straight, bi, or gay??) and his only outlet is his siblings.

In any case, the preview for the next episode shows him shirtless in a scene with Piper, and it definitely raises eyebrows.

[quote] I read Pornchai as the ‘Belinda’ of season 3. Belinda is the rich westerner to his poor second world hotel workers and for him she is a way out. He even has sex with her, but my take is she is so clueless she can’t read what’s going on. Just like in season 2 she was stupid enough to think Greg was actually going to finance a business rather than humouring his silly wife.

Belinda wasn't in season 2.

I don't think Laurie feeling betrayed by her slut hussy friend after she was pushed by said friend to go after a guy only to have the slut hussy snatch him after a little too much to drink is unreasonable. What may be unreasonable is if she decides that she still can't have him, why not...he's a whore darlin'. However it's pretty likely that he isn't actually interested and is just being nice and playing into the group dynamic of "Valentin and Laurie sitting in a tree," which would be harmless enough if he hand't fucked someone else in the group.

[quote[The WL rabid defenders really insult our intelligence by continually coming up with "excuses" for the sloppy writing.

Or maybe you're just a dimbulb, r404

I hated Kate this episode. How did she think Laurie was going to react to that news? What was she thinking?

It's not like each of the friends haven't been continuously gossiping behind a missing friend, R408.

Kate was feeling odd girl out after the after party, because to her it felt like Jaclyn and Laurie (party girls) VS Kate (demure girl)

She wasn’t bright enough to realize the actual competition of the evening was between Jaclyn and Laurie over Valentin.

So the next morning she lucks out with a piece of gossip that she thinks she can use to reinforce her bond with Laurie so that the new dynamic is Kate and Laurie vs Jaclyn

She doesn’t realize how effective that knowledge will be tho because she underestimated Laurie’s emotional investment in conquering Valentin.

Laurie overreacts and goes into full war mode with Jaclyn. Kate quickly loses control of the narrative and what was supposed to be a harmless gossip session now has turned into the opening salvo of all out war between the three

R409, I get that. They've all been equally terrible to one another, stirring the pot while the third one is away. But to turn around and then act shocked that Laurie reacted how she did, after being friends for decades. Kinda not very reasonable.

I think what Mike White totally nails this season is the chess-playing that goes on in female friendships - the concern trolling, the ritualized self-deprecation, the “oh my god! Do it, girl! I love that for you!” urgings that immediately become judgmental hissing the moment your back is turned.

Episode Six was a ratings hit. A series high last night.

Thanks for the article R377. Like R400, I think Egypt or Morocco would be fabulous. I'm primed by Havoc, Christopher Bollen, discussed in the 2025 books thread. If we're looking at Europe again, somewhere like Athens or Lisbon would be great.

[quote]I don't think Laurie feeling betrayed by her slut hussy friend after she was pushed by said friend to go after a guy only to have the slut hussy snatch him after a little too much to drink is unreasonable. What may be unreasonable is if she decides that she still can't have him, why not...he's a whore darlin'.

Really, Dawson? Clutching your pearls over straight people having sex when you've just completed ANOTHER 1,000-load weekend?

I loved HAVOC, R414! That is definitely on the unofficial The White Lotus reading list.

Alright, articles like the one at R413 are starting to piss me off. Wow, two siblings kissed briefly and one jerked the other off? How positively horrifying in contrast to those heterosexual paragons of incest, Jamie & Cersei Lannister, who not only FUCKED hundreds of times but produced FOUR INBRED CHILDREN?

But sure, let's revert back to Katy Perry "I Kissed A Girl (And I Liked It!)" silliness...

I can’t imagine a season of White Lotus taking place some where this isn’t ocean or seafront. I feel like there’s at least three minutes every episode of foreboding shoreline footage.

r417 You're getting pissed off over a clickbait title?

The White Lotus -- Sydney

R417, viewers definitely tuned in for the "will they?/ won't they?" and "Will Mike White actually go there?"

I love that narcissistic Jaclyn brought Barbra Streisand’s memoir as her vacation read.

The Streisand tome is too heavy to take on holiday.

How come Tim and his family turned their phones in but Michele Monaghan has hers?

Because the lack of phones is a lazy plot contrivance that is only necessary to the Ratliff story.

I'm in love with a boy named Lachlan. He's so beautiful and str8 acting and he has that twinkle in his eye. And broccoli hair.

[quote] How come Tim and his family turned their phones in but Michele Monaghan has hers?

They have a different specialist assigned to them than she does. Also, no one has to turn their phones in--it's voluntary.

I saw someone on TikTok refer to the brothers’ relationship as Call Me by Our Last Name.

[quote] I liked the Monk’s take on death. Rejoining the ocean and going home. That’s nice.

Yeah. And it's at least metaphorically similar to what a lot of NDE survivors describe.

r423 Only if you have to carry your own luggage

Good episode. Finally some tension. Though i think they are working too many characters standpoints at once.

Positives: Leslie Bibb (surprinsingly), dissolute hungover Patrick , the talks by the pool, Lochy’s ass, the model character who is with Greg is giving a great performance

Noteworthy: the budhist talk, parker posey lowering down a notch and proposing something sensible, Jason Isaacs legs

Negatives: Boring Belinda and the most improbable hook up ever, Carrie Coon’s continuing lack of something to do, Bangkok, lack of any character development, what we know of these people is the same as episode 1 .

Is Piper prepared to shave her head for a year?

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall at Arnold Schwarzenegger's house last night.

Saxon appeared to pause while drinking his morning-after smoothie, like a light went off in his head. Is he soulless enough to employ the fruit of a poisoned tree in a nefarious way?

r367

Are we ever going to see more of the hot bald guy who was macking on Piper at her yoga practive in episode 2?

R431, Leslie Bibb is killing it. It didn’t expect her character to be so willful and aggressive; she’s more of a wild card than the other two.

And Chloe—that tin-hearted bitch, I want everything to work out for her. She’s great.

IRL wouldn’t the rich father talk to his lawyer? Abandoning contact when your business is at stake seems like a stretch. There always is a way to settle etc.

His counsel Chuck advised that in the best case, he would spend some time in federal prison. Guess he's just not ready to hear that.

That bald yoga guy was NoT HOT

Neither is your punctuation, R440

These three are definitely hot.

[quote] I didn't hear Sam or Patrick mention whether Sam was handling Patrick's actual penis while filming the scene or a prop.

Thank you, this made my day.

Has Nicholas Duvernay been in other stuff some of you have seen?

Aimee Lou Wood looks very sexy here.

Damn.

Lek Patravadi (Sritala) in the movie "The Story of Nampu" from 1984.

Saxon will try to poison his brother, but kill his mother instead. And Dad will join the monastery.

r424- You can't have phones in the common areas- she has hers in her bedroom.

No way did Sritala fall for Rick's implausible lie. I was unimpressed with how unprepared Rick was for that meeting with her; he didn't do even the smallest bit of research and came across as sloppy.

[quote] ‘White Lotus’ Actor Fears Lawsuit After Breaking NDA Over Shocking Sex Scene

In a recent interview with Variety, the 21-year-old actor revealed he broke a nondisclosure agreement by giving his parents and girlfriend a heads-up about one of the show’s most shocking scenes.

“I told my parents, but I haven’t told my sister. She’s bad at keeping secrets,” Nivola said with a laugh, admitting, “I was not supposed to have told anyone” due to signing “a lot of NDAs.”

Among those clued in? His girlfriend, Iris Apatow, who was on set in Thailand while the cast filmed the buzzy third season. “She was there while we were shooting it. That’s about it,” he said, before joking, “I’m really scared about getting sued by HBO.”

Nivola didn’t shy away from discussing how difficult the scene was to film, telling Variety he was “totally nervous,” especially considering the close friendship he had developed with Schwarzenegger during production.

“It was very weird kissing Patrick because he’s a really good friend of mine. And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

[quote] And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

Uh-huh. Yeah... right. Where's the Sure, Jan meme when you really need it?

I think this is the scene that has people wondering if Piper is going to get it on with Lachlan.

Ew.

I love the nightlife, I like to boogie. . . .

[quote]And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

Interviewers should say to actors who say this crap, “Gay actors who kiss a woman while playing a straight role never say it was ‘weird’. Why do you and other straight actors feel a need to say that?”

I don’t think HBO could afford a tsunami. Though the actors all say they were there 6 or 7 months and lawd knows they haven’t been up to much yet….

All the publicity around the brother stuff is a bit overdone. I mean, who hasn’t made out with their brother or jacked off with or had frottage or even blown or fucked? When you have brothers, older ones, going through puberty, it’s like Lord of the Flies. (And I was always Piggy.) They have to assert their physiological superiority. They’ll do anything. My oldest brother exposed himself to me and forced oral. My twin brother and I practically fucked each other. My cousins had a circle jerk. It’s not uncommon. It’s a phase.

[quote] And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

Fucked up and the best roles either of them have enjoyed!

[quote] It’s not uncommon.

Oh, hon...

I googled it and there's an old study (1980) that says 10% of male siblings experiment.

[quote] And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

I hear you, man.

Thai actress Francesca Corney was fired as Chloe after already having shot some scenes. I’m guessing Mike White chickened out in having the whore character played by a local.

R461, but he had no problem casting the local women as whores in Sicily.

I'm not completely convinced that the actor who plays Sritala isn't really a man.

Obviously the actor wasn't working In the scenes. A mistake in casting them in the first place, but glad Mike White made the difficult decision to give her the boot and recast the role.

I think whatever her name playing Chloe now is doing a great job. I saw an interview with Sam Nivola that she arrived to Thailand only a couple days before they had to film that sex scene so he barely knew her.

Any actor who says “I’m straight” is suspect especially a nepo baby dating another nepo baby for publicity.

And Patrick S. Is gay,

R465: I too found it a little suspicious that he felt the need to confirm that he and his fellow nepo were straight.

A cold climate White Lotus would have the main plot be the entirety of the film Force Majeure. There could even be cameos from Brady Corbet and Tormund from Game Of Thrones.

[quote] Saxon will try to poison his brother, but kill his mother instead. And Dad will join the monastery.

Good call. The fruit comment in episode one and the blender as Chekhov guns.

Governor Whitmer says come to the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island. Somewhere In Time was filmed there.

I love Mackinac Island but it’s not exotic enough for TWL.

Charlotte Levon is great. She’d be great Bond villainess

* LeBon!

Did Jaclyn really lug that enormous Barbra memoir with her to Thailand? That made me laugh. I also very much appreciated Mike White contrasting it to Chelsea's small Rumi book she was reading in the same episode. It's as if one book represents inflated ego and the other humble wisdom.

[quote]And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

Imagine Johnny Bailey saying something like that about kissing a female actor. So fucking immature.

Chelsea has it all

R456 that was your experience but you don’t represent everyone else. In my house, the teens all hated each other and that was true of my friends too. We weren’t all fucking each other.

[quote]And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

This is such a stupid thing for an actor to say. They have to kiss many actors as part of their roles that they'd never want to kiss in their everyday lives. Even if a straight actor kisses a fellow straight actress, it might still feel weird if they're close off camera or if they're not attracted to each other at all. But I bet neither would say that in an interview.

That said, he's only young and we all say silly things from time to time. Not saying he should be 'cancelled' for it.

[quote]Not saying he should be 'cancelled' for it.

No, but he's already a nepo, so our tolerance for the bullshit that comes out of his mouth should be lower as well.

he has no chin

But clearly you wanted to, R476.

Yeh I'm surprised at Patrick's lack of chin. Seems like he would have had that fixed.

But then he's a nepo baby of the highest order so looks aren't as important.

I’m sorry but Hawaii and Italy are not “exotic.”

[quote] That said, he's only young and we all say silly things from time to time.

He’s 31.

R456 Alabama I assume?

Maybe Jaclyn bought the Streisand book at one of the gift shops in the lobby. In any case those women would have had so much luggage even a big book would be easy to pack away, and they would be flying first class, wouldn’t have luggage weight restrictions that mattered to them.

I was an only child myself, but my survey of gay male friends over the years has suggested to me that sex between male siblings (often crossing gay/straight lines) is way more common than I would have imagined. Gay sibs often want to practice on each other to get their cocksucking technique up to par, straight older brothers will sometimes cajole younger gay sibs into giving them a blow job or handjob to provide ‘relief.’ This would end when one or more started actively dating or went away to school, by which time it was never discussed again.

It’s not rare, people. And since there’s no chance of pregnancy, who cares?

Sam Nivola is 21. I don't think he meant anything by it. It's not the chillest quote I've ever read.

R482 How is Hawaii not exotic? It's in Polynesia. Is it because mostly white Americana live there? And Sicily might not be exotic compared to Thailand, bit it sure is compared to that island in Michigan.

The Streisand book was a great visual. It's a tv program. But yeah, the character who can afford this hotel for their friends isn't doing stairs with their luggage like a TikToker on the Amalfi Coast.

Hawaii is not mostly white

It's all fairly exotic. Thailand is beyond the reach of the average American traveler. But Hawaii is actually visited by Californians.

Well R482, wait until you get to Mackinac Island.

[quote]This is such a stupid thing for an actor to say. They have to kiss many actors as part of their roles that they'd never want to kiss in their everyday lives.

Sam Nivola needs media training because the more he says the more I get annoyed.

[quote]Did Jaclyn really lug that enormous Barbra memoir with her to Thailand? That made me laugh. I also very much appreciated Mike White contrasting it to Chelsea's small Rumi book she was reading in the same episode.

I was watching Book Toks on this. I think it's the same as with the paintings and the monkeys. The books many of them seem to be reading also offer commentary on the characters.

Also the three women are completely acting like their jobs. The actress is straight up lying and gas lighting people even though there's proof she slept with Valentin. The lawyer is straight forward and direct. The MAGA doesn't have a job, wants to gossip but doesn't want to be involved in any actual arguments.

Sam acts and talks gay in interviews so maybe that why he needs to protest too much.

Probably shouldn't even be saying this because I don't want neppies' heads getting even bigger than they already are, but Patrick is really good at playing flustered. Much better than playing a douchey bro, where he comes a distant third to Jake Lacy and Theo James.

I’m disgusted by the reactions from straight women I see on many TWL reaction videos on TikTok. They call Lochlan now “dark”, “sinister”, “dangerous”, “disturbing”, “a monster”. I saw a comment question that asked if someone was killed in the episode. A woman replied, “Worse.” They are claiming that Lochlan sexually assaulted Saxon.

It’s obvious that the reactions aren’t really about them being brothers. It’s the regular old-fashioned view that gay men are predators preying upon straight men, including their family members. The women are using the pretext of being concerned about the familial connection.

In these same episodes, you have Jaclyn acting like a whore, having sex with resort staff, cheating on her partner back home and betraying her friend. There’s Belinda acting like a whore, sleeping with a co-worker and being found in bed while acting like a whore by her son. There’s Chloe, an adult woman having sex with a high school senior and cheating on her partner. Yet it’s Lochlan being nice and giving his brother a sexual favor for a few seconds that is “disturbing” and “difficult to watch”.

This highly selective faux Puritanism is nauseating. At least there are some TikTok videos from gay men who give the mandatory “it’s not right,” followed however by, “but it’s really hot in this case and I’m here for it!” The reaction videos from straight men seem to be largely just laughing it off.

R412 I think the only thing Mike White nails about female relationships is how vapid and uninteresting they are. All three of them are interchangeable in my mind. I have zero interest in that plot, and struggle to tell them apart when on screen. It’s like a live action Bechdel test, nothing more.

I am jealous of whichever one of them it is that got Valentin though.

[quote] I think the only thing Mike White nails about female relationships is how vapid and uninteresting they are.

Straight female viewers feel a strong connection with this season’s trio, saying, “That’s exactly how I and my friends talk about our other friends behind their back.”

^ I’m aware of that. Which is the point.

Maybe Jaclyn bought the Barbra book at the Bangkok airport?

It's pretty clear Nivola and Schwarzenegger didn't want to do any of the 'sex' scenes from the interviews they've done. Perhaps because they're worried about how odd the whole things seems.

It all feels a bit "I would never kiss or jerk off any man and especially not my brother!"

As though the audience is unable to tell fiction from reality.

They both need media training.

I’m sure The White Lotus has a library.

[quote]Even if a straight actor kisses a fellow straight actress, it might still feel weird if they're close off camera or if they're not attracted to each other at all. But I bet neither would say that in an interview.

Orlando Bloom on kissing Zoe Saldana: "Most people think kissing beautiful costars must be great. But it's always awkward, man."

Colin Farrell on kissing Kate Beckinsale: "She's married to the director. [It was] moderately uncomfortable. Kissing her was a little bit dodgy 'cause the director, her husband, wasn't kind enough to leave the room."

Jennifer Lawrence on kissing Chris Pratt: "He was married. And it was going to be my first time kissing a married man, and guilt is the worst feeling in your stomach."

James McAvoy on kissing Angelina Jolie: “It was uncomfortable, sweaty, and not very nice."

Kirsten Dunst on kissing Brad Pitt: "Everyone at the time was like, ’You’re so lucky you kissed Brad Pitt,’ but I thought it was disgusting."

This is a good summary tease leading into the next episode.

For the record, if you go back to watch the flashbacks, it's clear each time that Saxon is receiving a hand job. It's easy to miss, but it's never hidden.

R495, I don’t think it’s homophobic so much as it is anti-male generally, by making explicit verbal ‘consent’ the most important thing in the world. They project their feelings as women onto men in the rare occasions men are seen as the passive person in a sexual encounter. Whereas, men approach sex very differently than women do. At least I think they do.

I find this puritanism ridiculous, and I’ve been glad to see that where there have been comments like that about this situation in this series, there has also been pushback, sometimes from other women.

[quote] For the record, if you go back to watch the flashbacks, it's clear each time that Saxon is receiving a hand job. It's easy to miss, but it's never hidden.

I thought he was jerking off.

Yes. In the flashbacks he's definitely jerking off in one shot while his brother is occupied with whats her name.

But there are a couple where it’s easy to assume he’s jerking off even though, if you look, you can see he’s not

R507 It's pretty clear what was shown... in the first clips Saxon is in the bed next to the bed where his brother is fucking Chloe... in subsequent clips you see an arm, presumably Lochlan's, reaching across to jerk Saxon off.

My assumption, i.e. the picture in my mind, was that Lochlan was fucking Chloe and saw his brother and reached over... by definition a 3-way.

I think a lot of people missed the arm and didn't realize what had happened until the pool scene with the girls, then confirmed by Lochlan's flashback at the temple.

I would treat Lochlan’s body, or even just his booty, as a temple.

I’m curious how many of the posters calling for a movement to destigmative non consensual gay incest also regularly shovel hate onto the trans movement for ruining mainstream social acceptance of gays.

Do you really think it would endear us to the mainstream if we adopted pro brother-fucking platform?

[quote]It's pretty clear Nivola and Schwarzenegger didn't want to do any of the 'sex' scenes from the interviews they've done.

Care to share a link that backs up your assertion R500?

I can't believe that they weren't apprised of the storyline and what would be required of them when they were hired. I know that Patrick has talked about how much he wanted to be in the show, and even that the idea of being nude in episode 1 was his.

[quote] I would treat Lochlan’s body, or even just his booty, as a temple.

Careful, that temple could give you a nasty case of pink eye!

[quote] I'm not completely convinced that the actor who plays Sritala isn't really a man.

My theory, which I mentioned on an earlier thread, is that Sritala is a female impersonator if not MTF, who is somehow involved in whatever happened to Rick's father (if not Rick's father himself/herself)

Are they still called "ladyboys" if they're elderly?

It’s a courtesy title.

So Sam's character admits he likes t get fucked by men and that just goes unnoticed lol? Side note, Walter Goggins body is sick. I mean the face is meh but damn his body is life goals. I would have loved to see Sam tell Walter 'I will do the role play if you fuck me."

[quote] My oldest brother exposed himself to me and forced oral. My twin brother and I practically fucked each other.

You mean like Paul and Luke Harwerth (Twinsauce)?

The early clips were Saxon's remembrance of what happened - that his brother was fucking Chloe while he is masturbating. It's not what actually happened, though which he comes to realize later.

You're missing the context R503, but that may be because you pulled it from an article with truncated quotes.

Orlando and Zoe were joking back and forth about this. She said he was gross. He added that she tried to tongue him. They have been friends a long time and had already done two films together.

Colin Farrell was on Conan O'Brien and joking the entire time.

Jennifer Lawrence was talking about her sex scene with Chris Pratt. It was her first sex scene ever and she got drunk. The whole interview was goofy. She had just finished talking about skinning squirrels.

James McAvoy was talking about his sex scene with Angelina in 2008. He didn't want her or any female costar to think he was getting off while doing those scenes. He also added that she was beautiful and he didn't consider himself to be that so it was weird.

Kirsten Dunst was talking about kissing Brad Pitt when she was doing Interview with the Vampire. The only answer she could and should have given was that it was disgusting.

R503 Looks like R522 has covered it but there's also those actors and actresses are straight in real life and are discussing kissing an actor or actress of the opposite sex.

So the uncomfortable aspect isn't rooted in any aspect of their lives offscreen, whereas Sam Nivola thought the fact both he and Patrick S are straight in real life made their kissing onscreen feel weird.

Like I say, I'm not about to demand he's cancelled for it, but it was a stupid thing for an actor to say.

[quote]“It was very weird kissing Patrick because he’s a really good friend of mine. And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird."

Agreed that this entire article is fucking weird. As if denying he likes cock wasn't enough, they had to of course mention that his girlfriend-and-probable-beard, fellow nepo baby Iris Apatow, flew all the way to fucking Thailand to watch over the shoot!

I'm sorry, but Sam pings my 'dar considering *more* than a number of openly queer actors – and regardless, this reads as a tone-deaf comment from a Gen Z nepo baby who should already knew full well what the general dos & don'ts are in this area. (A definite don't is a defensive-sounding "I'm straight!" retort. Not sure if HBO's pissed at him, but his PR flack & media coach may be another story.

[quote]R461, but he had no problem casting the local women as whores in Sicily.

R462, they explained this one early on in Mike's New Yorker interview that came out shortly before the current season. And I can explain the inherent problem pretty easily: you know that dark-as-fuck story Sam Rockwell told about whoring himself out as a ladyboy and getting railed by hundreds of guys? Now imagine that, except instead of a fucked-up (but willing) middle-aged white dude, the sex workers are 12-year-old boys & girls.

THAT is the reality of Thailand sex-work scene: almost no one does it willingly, and it's still common for impoverished families in the country to sell their children off into sexual slavery. In stark contrast, last season featured two fun-loving young women who were living their best lives, and paying for a lot of it with some sex work as a side hustle. VASTLY different context, and it frankly would've been weird to have a Thai native in that particular role (especially since it wasn't needed for any plot reasons).

What I find more interesting is in Sam Nivola's view Lochlan isn't attracted to Saxon at all. Which okay kid ..I don't think Mike White would agree with that. I mean he was staring at Saxon's naked body before and as soon as he gets fucked up he gets his hands on Saxon.

[quote]You're missing the context [R503], but that may be because you pulled it from an article with truncated quotes.

Whatever. Contra R454, I've read plenty of quotes over the years from straight actors complaining about the awkwardness of kissing scenes.

The fucked-up part about all the pearl-clutching can be ascertained if you ask any of the people weirdly "triggered" by Lochlan giving Saxon a subtle handjob the follow:

"Did you ever watch HBO's highest rated show to date, 'Game of Thrones'? If so, did you fail to notice that a lead 'couple' on it are in fact a brother & sister who've had four biological children together, and are shown multiple times having full-on penetrative sex? ...

Oh, so you know exactly what I'm talking about, and yet this idea didn't 'click' till just now? I have bad news: you're a homophobic bigot, darlin'."

R495, who cares what those women-children (as in the female version of a man-child) think?

r495 You don't get to accuse others of puritanism when you refer to someone as a whore because they had sex.

[quote]What I find more interesting is in Sam Nivola's view Lochlan isn't attracted to Saxon at all.

Did he actually say that, or are you just assuming? If the latter: WTF? You're "assuming" it's somehow "not weird" to be lusting after your own brother? Or that a high school senior even *knows* who he's attracted to necessarily? (There's also a 5-6 year age gap between the two of them. If anything I'm surprised no MAGAts have complained about its "pedophilia," since Lochlan's a high schooler – albeit played as the de facto top in the situation.)

While I'm assuming you're trying to will this all into being solely because you think faux incest is hot, we actually have little idea of the context behind any of the character's actions. (Okay, aside from Piper: she may be the only one there who *is* clear on what she wants to do with her life, or at least what she does NOT want to do, e.g. return to her family's fucked-up NC life.) Lochlan, like Piper (and the entire Ratliff family, really), is lost, in the context of not understanding what he wants out of life yet – and btw that also tracks as his rationale for staying at the monastery with Piper.

Lochlan's "attraction" to Saxon may not be specifically sexual, either. Brothers have rivalries, and particularly in this fucked-up family, a rivalry would make sense. And to explain the handjob: while keeping in mind that it was LITERALLY in the heat of the moment – while he was actively fucking Chloe and rolling his nuts off on molly. If he's still in HS and Saxon's already a successful finance bro, Lochlan may want to be more like Saxon, and did exactly that in an admittedly bizarre way. Maybe he felt bad that Saxon wasn't "in on the action" for some reason. Or maybe he has a dark / prankster side and concluded (accurately so, but subconsciously) that jerking Saxon off would be a variation of "owning the libs": devastating to his ego.

What it is NOT is a basic "Lochlan lusting after his brother" basic-bitch binary story. While it's not Severance level or something, many of the things we've seen on the show to date – meaning all three seasons – are sophisticated character-building & plotting. (YES I KNOW this season is assumed to be subpar, but we still have two eps to go, so I'm not concluding that yet.)

[quote] You don't get to accuse others of puritanism when you refer to someone as a whore because they had sex.

This is Datalounge. We mean “whore” as a compliment.

[quote]the de facto top in the situation

Eh?

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think Jaclyn was blameless in sleeping with Valentin. She did all she could to encourage Laurie and Val to sleep with each other and finally, when it clearly wasn't happening, mostly out of Laurie's reluctance, she took Val for herself.

What's so bad about that? Of course, other than Jaclyn's married. Why should Laurie hold that against her?

R532, he was a de facto top re: being "in control" in terms of giving Saxon "surprise handy" instead of the usual "surprise anal." Maybe "alpha" is a better descriptor, but point being that he's shown to be the aggressor.

And while no one's explicitly mentioned it, the scenario of Saxon going after Lochlan would've been FAR worse, probably raising – yet again – the "predatory gay male obsessed with sex" ridiculousness. Just a few runs through the MAGAt Spin Machine, and this one scene could become HBO/Max "supporting" child predators by "allowing" one on a show to rape his own high school-age brother. (But concurred that it was the right call, storywise. Saxon is far & away the most utterly spoiled, entitled douchenozzle this season. He NEEDED to be taken down a few pegs, albeit not necessarily via surprise handy.)

[quote] You don't get to accuse others of puritanism when you refer to someone as a whore because they had sex.

They weren’t referred to as whores. As far as we know, there was no money involved. It was stated that they acted like whores, to give a fair description of the women’s behavior in those specific situations. Most importantly, the post doesn’t condemn or judge them for acting like whores. It only provided other examples of sexual behavior that the puritanical commenters could or should have found more disturbing than Lochlan’s innocent act of inclusion.

I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong that she fucked Valentin (and I don’t think Jaclyn is a whore like that freak upthread).

But it’s a common pattern for women to pretend to offer/encourage their (less attractive) friend in something, only to snatch it for themselves, once the bait is taken. It’s a very typical action amongst insecure women with social heft like Jaclyn and is very common in elementary schools.

But make no mistake, she was being cruel to Laurie. As soon as Jaclyn saw those tits out in the pool, it was settled. It’s basically a power move settling the social hierarchy.

[quote]What's so bad about that? Of course, other than Jaclyn's married. Why should Laurie hold that against her?

Since there seems to be some confusion on the matter: we actually don't know if Jaclyn's telling the truth. Much like what happened with Saxon & Lochlan, they left a lot of it vague or up in the air: we know he spent the night, but nothing specific about what happened. Among the possibilities:

1. It happened as Laurie & Kate assumed, but despite being obviously thirsty, Jaclyn is lying about fucking Valentin. They'd be pissed for multiple reasons: Laurie's jealous AF (and Kate probably is as well under her ice queen facade), and both are pissed that their "BFF" is attempting to gaslight them after Kate literally saw him leaving her bungalow before dawn.

2. It happened as Jaclyn claimed: Valentin stayed over and maybe they messed around a bit, but didn't even get to second base. Since we know by know that Jaclyn's an awful person, it's entirely possible she's "messing with" both Laurie *and* Valentin as some sort of fucked-up female rivalry. Or maybe she's a bigger ditz than we realize, and is genuinely in the dark about why Kate & Laurie are so pissed about something that didn't happen.

3. Regardless of what happened with Valentin, Laurie & Jaclyn have had an ongoing rivalry for 30 years – they've now mentioned that they're 45 and have known each other since middle school – and may very well both be guilty of playing mind games on the others. We have no way of knowing the full extent of their past, but Laurie plainly suggested Jaclyn "has a pattern" with this type of thing. In other words, they're in a severely toxic friendship that probably should've ended 20 years earlier.

The folks saying Lochlan sexually assaulted Saxon are so dumb

R538, they can't even type out 'sexually assaulted' the way you just did. It's too triggering, so they type it SA. Nevermind that they're ones seeing 'SA' in every corner and bring it up any moment that they can.

r537 we see Valentin climbing naked on top of Jacklyn and she practically grabs his asshole -- I think we're meant to believe that they probably fucked from there

[quote] Thailand is beyond the reach of the average American traveler.

Luxury resorts like the Thailand White Lotus would be out of most people's reach, but I know many middle-class travelers who have stayed in much cheaper accommodations in Thailand.

Given that we saw Jaclyn's bare tits and Valentin's bare ass in her bed (and she saw his dick), even if they did not technically have intercourse (which seems unlikely) they still had what counts as sex.

Jaclyn was lying to Kate and Laurie, and they all knew it.

I can't believe Jaclyn thought that was a believable lie. Oh, yeah... Valentin just came over and they had a little 3:00 a.m. chitchat over some chamomile tea.

Don’t knock chamomile tea!

I think Jaclyn only lied because her husband called her that morning and she felt really guilty about it. If he hadn't, she probably would have dished all the juicy details and they'd all laugh about it. A case of unfortunate timing, but definitely better for drama purposes.

She wasn't expecting them to find out, she knows Laurie would get upset.

Laurie doesn't give a fuck about her cheating on Harrison, she cares that this was a mind game. Jaclyn wanted to have Laurie flirt with Valentin, but sneak in and be the one to have him. All about making herself feel good and as the most desirable woman.

There could also be something to be said about Valentin wanting to bag a celebrity actress.

R547, good point. And just how famous of an actress is Jaclyn supposed to be? Is she supposed to be a Kaley Cuoco-level of fame?

Well, I think she chose the wrong one, I'd've bagged Aleksei instead. But preferably both, at the same time. Not to brag, but I've more than enough room down there, the tremendous whore that I am.

r534 We have no idea who the aggressor was. Saxon could've grabbed Lochlan's arm and put his hand on his dick, Chloe could've done it, etc.

Either way, portraying that as being the top is a weird and frauish way to put it.

Marina Hyde has an idea for the next season in her column about the Signal fuck up:

[quote]They really should make a darkly satirical TV show about these absurd, degenerate, unpleasant people. Call it The White Potus.

I WAS RAPED!

R552, SAed, Saxon. You can't say that word aloud.

R13 flames visible from outer space

Those two white women look scarily thin. The Jacquelyn woman almost looks haggard. Carrie Coons looks healthier. Too thin ages women.

I'm not too familiar with Carrie Coon's work, other than this and Gilded Age. I don't like her at all on GA, but really like her on WL. The breakfast scene where she learns about Valentin and what's her name was brilliant yet subtle.

I think it's pretty safe to assume Laxon is the instigator r550. First Chloe confirms she had nothing to do with it (and from a storytelling perspective that wouldn't make sense anyway) And it's no coincidence it is framed as Saxon lying back while Laxon is the one performing a sex act on him.

Sam Nivola's own interviews make it clear he thinks Laxon was the one who initiated it.

[Quote] So, the thing on the boat is Lochlan’s tragically misguided attempt at being like, “So, you’re the sex guy. Let’s do something in that realm and try to connect in some way.” It’s obviously a big swing and a miss.

[Quote]Fuck, everything I do is in service of trying to get my brother to like me. And now I’ve pushed him further away from me.” Lochlan is the orchestrator of his own downfall.

I don't think it's supposed to be some mystery.

WHO LAXON?!

[quote] Well, I think she chose the wrong one, I'd've bagged Aleksei instead. But preferably both, at the same time. Not to brag, but I've more than enough room down there, the tremendous whore that I am.

The sheer capaciousness of your yawning hole is certainly something to boast of!

A really awful episode. The three women are boring---unless one gets murdered, they seem like extraneous characters. White obviously doesn't know much about Buddhism. The 3-way thing seems dubious and you'd have to be delusional to even want to touch buck teeth. It looks like something might actually happen next week.

[quote] I'm not too familiar with Carrie Coon's work, other than this and Gilded Age.

I’ve watched The Guilded Age, but didn’t realize it was the same actress until I read this just now. No wonder she says that no one recognizes her in public.

r495, surprisingly on Reddit, the common view is that Chloe is the evilest one (barring GreGary right now).

r548, I would think more Jennifer Aniston, since Aussies know who she is.

I think Carrie gained a little weight for this, to look more like a normal working woman with a kid, rather than a successful tv actress and trophy wife.

[quote] I'm not too familiar with Carrie Coon's work, other than this and Gilded Age.

She stole The Leftovers. Really amazing performance.

Loved Carrie Coon in The Nest with Jude Law.

R555 after forty you have to choose face or fanny.

I haven't watched a lot of scripted television in the last many years, so this franchise has afforded me the opportunity to become familiar with many actors with whom I'm unfamiliar.

R544, right, chamomile goes great with getting knocked up by strange men while cross dressing as a ladyboy

R564, OMG Carrie was amazing in that movie.

I’ve been very impressed with Coon (and Leslie Bibb I’m shocked to say!) in The White Lotus this season. Michelle is also nailing this character. And I actually like that we have this girls trip storyline to balance out the more dark, life or death stuff being taken care of with the other guests’ storylines.

I’m intrigued by Greg telling Chloe that he needs her to help him at the dinner party. Is she going to do something to Belinda?

[quote] WHO LAXON?!

In Timothy's stressed and Lorazepam-addled brain, it's Lacher & Piplan or Laxon & Sachlan.

[quote]I'm not too familiar with Carrie Coon's work, other than this and Gilded Age. I don't like her at all on GA, but really like her on WL. The breakfast scene where she learns about Valentin and what's her name was brilliant yet subtle.

[quote]She stole The Leftovers. Really amazing performance.

That scene with Regina King in season 2 is some of the best TV I've ever seen. They were astounding.

Fuck Sam Nivola having to announce he’s straight. Sure, Jan. Fuck off, nepo baby.

Given Lochlan inexperience and drugs, IRL Saxson would just have a talk with his brother about boundaries. And not berate him. But this is TV so I’m sure it will be unnecessarily dramatic.

Carrie Coon was the best thing about "Gone Girl", too.

Wow. Had no idea Coon played "Go" in Gone Girl.

The sheer Coonage on display has me pumped for the new season of The Gilded Age. Hopefully Morgan Spector and/or Harry Richardson got inspired by her getting her tits out on TWL and they'll finally drop trou on that show.

Carrie Coon should have played the role Julia Roberts played in the film of August: Osage County which was written by Coon’s husband Tracy Letts. But Julia Roberts is…Julia Roberts. I actually think Roberts did a good job but Coon would have been better.

Thinking if this show had been done in, say, the 1980s, who would have played the three friends. I think Coon’s character could have been played by Marybeth Hurt.

Oh, and Carrie was also great in Season 2 of "The Sinner."

First time I saw Carrie Coon was on B’way, as Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Hated her performance. Hated it. Tracey Letts was quite good as George ( not sure if they were yet married). Have enjoyed several of Coon’s performances since, including the current White Lotus.

I enjoyed Carrie Coon as a cult leader in that Sinner show.

[quote] IRL Saxson would just have a talk with his brother about boundaries

Oh fuck, they'd turn into fraus? Can't they just stay drunk and keep this thing quiet, with the occasional furtive visit to each other's bedrooms that nobody ever talks about?

Parker Posey and Sherry Stringfield roomed together after college.

The men are way hotter in this season

Way hotter than what?

Not you, but the rest of the cast wasn’t hot

Will Sharpe and Adam Di Marco were also hotter than anyone on this season, r584.

The end was beautiful

Which end? Sam Nivola's?

Valentin’s end was beautiful.

Link to Part 7.

I agree with whoever said Jason Isaacs's legs are gorgeous.

A conversation about boundaries r572?

What? That would be completely out of character for Saxon to have some sit down with Lochlan give him a therapy session about what happened that night. What show have you been watching?

The men were hotter this season than on Season 1. And the plot is more compelling and the stakes are higher.

What was S1 about again? Bratty Sydney Sweeney?

It was about Murray Bartlett falling apart and finally pooping on a suitcase.

R593, oh yeah, he and his rimjob (which introduced the world to gay rimming) were the best part of that season.

Also it was about:

Jennifer Coolidge spreading her mother's ashes, falling in love with Belinda's massage technique, and then letting her down really badly

Steve Zahn's anxiety about his biopsy and then his father's homosexuality

Alexandra Dadarrio's awful marriage to jake Lacey

Fred Hechinger running away to join the native outriggers

IN a suitcase.

Season 1 was also six very tightly written episodes.

But the first two episodes were slow.

R595, you forgot about that cunt mean girl Paula who caused the cute Hawaiian WL employee to get sassy to his superiors and ended up losing his job.

Can't remember S1 ever leaving one on the edge of suspense like this season is doing.

r599, the first episode of S1 also opened with the revelation a cast member was going to die.