‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Review: Lorazepam, Tsunamis, Buddhism, and a Gold Mine of Untapped Potential

This article contains spoilers for Season 3 of The White Lotus.

It turns out that a spiritual retreat to a resort in Thailand might not be quite as relaxing as it sounds. The third installment of writer and director Mike White’s hit anthology series “The White Lotus” is packed with unrealized potential that ultimately fails to come to fruition, leaving a sour taste in its viewer’s mouth — no, not just from the “spoiled” coconut milk.

Set in a new resort location every season with an almost completely new set of characters, “The White Lotus” always begins with foreshadowing a glimpse of a horrible death that befalls an unknown character at the end of the season. As the show progresses, various character arcs and sources of tension ultimately build up to the anticipated murder or accidental death. In this season’s resort, set in Thailand, the aura of danger surrounding the guests is far more tangible than in the previous seasons. Setting the scene with poisonous fruit and ominous monkeys, White reinforces the illusion of power, especially with the clear disconnect between the Western mindset and the Eastern environment.

The first installment to feature not one but two main character deaths, Season 3 likely takes the cake for the most heart-breaking victim. Chelsea (Aimee Lou Woods) and Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) were a tragic fable — hope and pain — with Rick’s undying obsession with revenge blinding him from the precious life he already possessed. Pure-hearted Chelsea, fueled by a need to heal, was a symbol of purity and light in this season; her death was the result of Rick’s inability to let the past go.

“The White Lotus” has always been a social commentary first and murder mystery second. With a sharp uptick in social media traction this season, a large number of new viewers became hooked on White’s masterful creation from the premiere. Yet, while this season does not as effectively display why there are a number of misleading, unresolved plotlines as the first two seasons, viewers’ disappointment over the season is misplaced.

If anything, this season’s main flaw lies in its rather dramatic, unrealistic ending that will have you double-checking that you’re still watching the same show. Matching the slow, subtle build-up of tension of the previous installments, the first six or seven episodes of Season 3 do exactly what they should. White’s refusal to pander to his audience with unnecessary gore or action, and his focus on realism and social commentary, are part of what made “The White Lotus” stand out in the first place. Even the deaths themselves usually play into this theme, often resulting from an ironic situation or even being to some degree the fault of the victim themselves. However, the rather overdramatic, unrealistic shootout at the resort that claims the lives of Chelsea, Rick, Jim (Scott Glen), and a number of security guards unfortunately takes attention away from the central themes of power, spirituality, and revenge.

In one of the most well-executed character arcs in the third season’s run, Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger) perfectly demonstrates the fluidity of the series’ plot and characters. The initially one-dimensional “alpha male” provides an intersection for White’s commentary on both the modern male identity crisis, on full display in Episode 2, “Special Treatments,” with his lack of boundaries when it comes to his sister Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and younger brother Lochlan (Sam Nivola), as well as the power that lies in finding one’s spirituality.

Despite this success, some underwhelming characters, such as hotel employee Mook (Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal), point to a glaring disappointment of this season: the depiction of the hotel’s staff. Some of the most fascinating and complex characters in the past seasons have been the staff at the various White Lotus resorts, with their developments throughout the episodes often significantly driving the plot. Sadly, the same could not be said for the employees of The White Lotus: Thailand, who seemed to inexplicably take the back seat in the storyline.

Part of the beauty of White’s series — which was in no way diminished in this third installment — is his unique ability to redefine his cast of actors. From former indie darling Parker Posey, portraying Victoria Ratliff, to actors including Walton Goggins (as Rick Hatchett) who have been slowly gaining more traction, White goes against the mainstream by utilizing talent that have often never been seen in similar roles before. The production team’s unrivaled ability to see hidden potential allows the true core of the show — the character development and complex relationships — to shine through.

These casting decisions undoubtedly paid off, with there being a remarkable number of Emmy-worthy performances throughout the show, including an incredible final monologue from Carrie Coon — portraying Laurie Duffy — that brings the longtime friend group’s storyline to an unpredictably uplifting end. Jason Isaacs similarly deserves his return to stardom through his emotionally challenging depiction of patriarch Timothy Ratliff.

With Season 4 already announced, there is plenty of discussion of where White will take his hit series next. Yet, in light of these numerous divergences from the ever-so-successful and refreshing format of “The White Lotus,” the main concern is not location or returning characters, but rather whether the creators will go back to staying true to what made the series so special in seasons past.

—Staff writer Sara R. Eyjolfsdottir can be reached at sara.eyjolfsdottir@thecrimson.com.