The White Lotus Ending: Mike White Pulled A Punch With Lochlan’s Fate

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Without a doubt, Season 3’s finale of The White Lotus contains some surprises. If you haven’t seen it yet, it would be wise to catch up before continuing, and a Max subscription could help you do just that.

One intriguing aspect of “The White Lotus” is that its impact varies greatly among viewers. The interpretation of the finale and the insights gained can be vastly distinct from one person to another. A highly anticipated element in the 2025 TV lineup was the outcome of Lochlan Ratliff, or Lochy, the youngest, albeit not the most innocent, offspring of Tim and Victoria Ratliff, portrayed by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey respectively. Contrary to expectations, Lochy didn’t perish after consuming the toxic seeds from a poison fruit. In my opinion, the show’s talented creator might have held back a bit too much in this instance. Let me elaborate.

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The White Lotus Has A History Of Tragic Accidents

Throughout the first two seasons of the popular HBO show, heartbreaking incidents have affected beloved characters. In Season 1, Shane (played by Jake Lacy) accidentally stabbed hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett). In Season 2, fan favorite Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) slipped, fell off a boat, and drowned following a close call with an assassination attempt.

In Season 3, a similar tragic situation is averted when, after consuming poison and experiencing a brief trip, Lochy regains consciousness in his father’s embrace. While I acknowledge that Mike White was combining ideas of faith, Eastern philosophy, and redemption, which were central to the season’s narrative, I feel that the storyline could have still been effective if Lochy had passed away. For me, this twist lessened the impact of the overarching theme.

Returning To The Ocean

In his last moments, Lochy felt like he was struggling against a turbulent sea, never reaching the surface – much like the Buddhist monk had told Tim about death earlier. The monk explained that death is a return to one unified consciousness, similar to a drop of water merging with the ocean. This could have been a heartbreaking end for Lochy, but it would have reinforced the theme and mirrored his eventual redemption as well.

Lochy’s passing would undoubtedly have created a significant impact, yet it’s important to remember that he was far from an uninvolved party this season. The dynamics between him and his siblings were complex and far from innocent, and that was largely due to his actions. I’m not suggesting he deserved to die, but his personal growth wasn’t fully realized until his brush with death, and it could have occurred whether he lived or died.

Mike White seemingly gave us (and Tim Ratliff) leniency, and even though the demise of Rick and especially Chloe had a profound impact on us, it didn’t compare to the emotional turmoil we might have experienced witnessing Tim dealing with his youngest son’s death in his arms. In a sense, much like Lochy, we were shielded from that ordeal, but perhaps we shouldn’t have been.

You can expect quite a prolonged interval before Season 4 of “The White Lotus” arrives, and unfortunately, the location for the next season remains uncertain. However, one thing is certain – my thoughts are likely to revolve around the conclusion of this current season until its return.

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2025-04-12 01:07