The tragic season 3 finale of The White Lotus highlighted one of the big themes of this season—letting go.
What Happened In ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Finale?
The eventful, dramatic season 3 finale sees the Ratliff family patriarch, Timothy (Jason Isaacs), essentially losing his mind, burdened with a terrible secret that he can’t bear to tell.
Timothy is a man who likes to be in control, and his reputation is everything; faced with the incoming cataclysm awaiting him back home, he decides that he’s going to put his family out of their misery with poisoned cocktails, as though their lives are his to end.
Only Lochlan (Sam Nivola) is to be spared the poison, as he is the only Ratliff who seemingly can live without luxury.
Timothy is willing to go to terrifying lengths to preserve his status as the patriarch and provider of his family. He backs out of his deranged murder-suicide plan at the very last minute, but his carelessness leads to Lochlan’s near-death experience.
The seed’s poison gives Lochlan a spiritual awakening, and grants Timothy an epiphany—he learns to let go of his status, understanding that his family’s health and safety is more important than anything—even their income bracket.
This is unfortunate for Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Victoria (Parker Posey), who bonded over their attachment to material things.
After dragging the family to Thailand, Piper let go of her lofty spiritual ambitions and embraced who she truly is—a wealthy westerner, used to her home comforts.
Victoria, of course, always knew exactly who she was, and didn’t need to let go of anything, but she certainly will after the credits roll. We don’t get to see the family reacting to the earth-shattering news, but the climax wasn’t the point—it was all about the journey of self-discovery.
Perhaps it will all work out for Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who finally let go of his rise-and-grind, hustle persona, and is now trying to find meaning in life.
In hindsight, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) should have really let go of her one-sided relationship with Rick, and given Saxon a chance.
Rick and Chelsea’s story is surely the most tragic, with Rick (Walton Goggins) unable to let go of his anger and grief. If Rick had simply moved on from his father’s taunting, he would have spent the rest of his years living in peace, nodding along to Chelsea’s Zodiac theories, but he just couldn’t let it go.
Rick should have listened more carefully to the memorable monologue from Frank (Sam Rockwell), who described an endless, increasingly bizarre cycle of hedonism which led him to nowhere.
The blonde trio’s storyline has been one of the most compelling of the season, a carousel of gossip and clashing egos, but it ended with a vulnerable moment from Laurie (Carrie Coon), who admitted that her friends (Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan) forced her to reflect on her worst choices.
Laurie learns to let go of her regrets and petty rivalries within the circle, and embraces her friendship for what it is.
For some characters, however, the finale was all about letting go of their morals and embracing their material wants.
Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) spent this season struggling with his pacifist nature, which clashed against the requirements of his job, and against the ambitions of Mook (Lalisa Manobal, AKA, Lisa of Blackpink).
For the sake of his career and his love life, Gaitok decides to shoot Rick in the back, abandoning his value system. Gaitok is rewarded with everything he’s ever wanted, but at what cost?
The longest-running plotline of The White Lotus finally reached its conclusion in the season 3 finale, with Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) deciding to take the bribe from Greg (Jon Gries).
In this moment, Belinda lets go of her lifelong ambitions, as well as her blossoming love affair with Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul).
Belinda’s split from Pornchai perfectly mirrors the moment Tanya takes back her offer to fund Belinda’s business, way back in season one.
Tanya’s murder has been deliberately forgotten, but the corrupting effect of her money lives on.
Even Greg has learned to let go of his jealousy and embrace his cuckold fetish, seemingly free to enjoy Tanya’s fortune—it’s unclear if Greg will pop up again in season 4, as his murder plot has been the only recurring storyline in the series.
With Belinda taking the money, that’s likely the last we’ll see of both characters—it’s probably time to let them go.
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