‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Ends in Explosive Finale: “It’s a Classic Greek Tragedy”

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[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from The White Lotus season three finale.]

Does death equate to a joyful reunion or a massacre? For ‘The White Lotus’, it might be a mix of both. Concluding its eight-episode journey in Thailand, creator Mike White’s anthology series has wrapped up another storyline, and true to the show’s essence, the season three finale unveiled one of its key mysteries: who will meet their end?

The first two seasons concluded tragically, as key characters Armond (Murray Bartlett) and Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) met their ends. This left viewers pondering how the next season would surpass or match the previous climaxes. The third season opener hinted at a violent finale, as Zion Lindsey (Nicholas Duvernay) bore witness to chaos and gunfire throughout the White Lotus: Thailand resort. As the episodes unfolded, viewers were left guessing which character would suffer the consequences of the impending shootouts, with no lack of suspects.

Is it possible that the victim of this year’s murder could belong to the extensive Ratliff family, either Timothy (Jason Isaacs) or another relative from his lineage? Could one of Laurie (Carrie Coon), Kate (Leslie Bibb), or Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), who were once close friends but now compete as adults, be the unfortunate individual? Rick (Walton Goggins) seemed like a plausible suspect due to his constant preoccupation with various matters, but could it be that Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), his partner, might face the repercussions instead? And what about Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) or Greg (Jon Gries), both embroiled in a dispute over Tanya’s death? Could it be that more than one of them could be involved… perhaps even all of them?

Now, no more need to speculate. Here’s who died, and how the rest of the finale played out.

Who Died in the White Lotus Season 3 Finale?

“Fuck you.”

I’m not addressing you, reader. Instead, I’m echoing the significant words spoken by Rick Hatchett to Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), the individual who Rick has been imagining killing throughout this season. In the climactic ending of the series, Rick carries out his plan. Upon returning from his trip in Thailand, Rick finds a sense of tranquility, both with Chelsea and within his own dark journey. However, his peace is short-lived as he encounters another unfortunate event.

The day following his arrival home, Sritala (Lek Patravadi) and her spouse Jim resume their visit to the White Lotus. During breakfast, Jim clashes with Rick, hurling disrespectful remarks at Rick’s mother and even his father, claiming they weren’t valuable individuals. Unbeknownst to both parties, it is later revealed that Jim and Rick’s father are one and the same – a truth that Rick discovers far too late.

At the height of the season, Rick finds himself unable to bear witness to Jim’s tranquil moment with Sritala and the trio – Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie – in a photograph. Overcome by an uncontrollable impulse, Rick approaches Jim, seizes his gun from its coat pocket, and coldly snaps, “I hate you.” Before anyone can react, he fires the weapon, hitting Jim on the spot.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Rick mistakenly kills Jim, unaware that Jim was his father. This revelation comes from Sritala, moments before her bodyguards open fire on Rick. The hotel echoes with gunfire as both sides exchange shots. Rick manages to take down a few guards, but unfortunately, they also strike an innocent victim – Chelsea. All season long, Chelsea had been warning about three misfortunes. Earlier in the season, she narrowly escaped injury during a robbery and cheated death from a snake bite. Tragically, her third encounter was fatal, as she was shot to pieces in the crossfire.

Rick picks up Chelsea and strolls away with her, assuring her they’ll always be together. This vow is kept when Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) fires at Rick from behind, as per Sritala’s orders. Stricken, Rick and Chelsea tumble into the adjacent pond, slowly drifting upwards on their shared journey towards the afterlife.

Why were Rick and Chelsea the unfortunate casualties in season three? According to White in a post-episode analysis, “This is a common motif found in Greek tragedies: a character unintentionally destroying what they cherish most while seeking retribution.

White expresses that Chelsea seems to carry a romantic destiny perspective towards their relationship, and he advises to embrace it. He tells her, ‘Quit dwelling on the affection you missed out on. Consider the love you possess! I’m here for you!’ This conversation echoes the initial therapy session with Amrita (Shalini Peiris), and now we observe it in a fresh light. If Amrita had counseled Rick instead, perhaps none of this situation would have unfolded.

What Happened to the Ratliffs?

As the final act approaches, it’s the Ratliff faction who seem most at risk, given their precarious circumstances. Timothy, entangled in questionable business activities, has spent the entire season devising escape plans, even contemplating taking drastic steps such as suicide and ending his family’s lives. In a chilling turn of events, he nearly carries out this dark scheme when he mixes some of the resort’s tainted fruit into a piña colada for his loved ones.

White shares that the character in his story was based on an aristocratic individual who murdered his entire family due to financial struggles and lack of courage to inform them. He explains, “Timothy’s family’s perception of him is vital to his identity, so when this is threatened, it would be more preferable for him to destroy everything rather than confront the truth.

Just before the end, Tim snatches the drinks from his family’s grasp, but the next morning, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) mixes a drink using the same contaminated blender. He falls gravely ill, yet miraculously recovers in Tim’s embrace.

In the final second, Tim grabs the drinks from his family members, while Lochlan (Sam Nivola) uses the tainted blender to make a drink at dawn the next day. He becomes severely unwell, yet unexpectedly resurfaces in Tim’s hold.

Regarding Patrick Schwarzenegger’s character, Saxon, and Sarah Catherine Hook’s character, Piper, it appears that Saxon is departing the series, much like his on-screen counterpart. On the other hand, Piper feels that her life won’t be luxurious enough in the monastery she led her family to explore. This development comes at an unfortunate time, with Tim facing impending financial and legal troubles. However, as they depart from the resort, Tim calls everyone together and shares a message: “Prepare yourselves, because major changes are coming our way. But we’ll face them together as a family.

As a devoted admirer, I find myself grappling with a bittersweet denouement. Beyond this personal low, life persists, yet the question lingers: what lies ahead without their familiar comforts? To me, Victoria (Parker Posey) seems too extraordinary to subsist in poverty. I’m confident she’ll find some ingenious alternative.

What Happened to the Best Friends?

Initially united as a tight-knit trio, Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie found themselves on the brink of becoming sworn enemies during the season. However, their rivalry fades away peacefully. Following her night with the Russians, Laurie realizes how crucial her friends are to her, confiding in them about her dependence on them as they are the ones who have known her longest and best. Amazingly, despite their disagreements, all three women – like sisters by choice – manage to mend their relationships effortlessly.

White points out that long-standing, minor and major disagreements among the women have surfaced. This causes distress for them, as they often spend a significant portion of their later years defending past choices or seeking self-justification. For Laurie, what can she learn from this experience? How will she apply this lesson to navigate her next phase of life successfully?

Laurie manages to find her answers, and the three women conclude their season in a tight race. However, they narrowly avoid being involved in Rick’s violent outburst with guns, since they are the ones standing with Sritala and Jim when the shooting starts. For now, they get another opportunity for a holiday escape.

What Happened to Belinda and Greg?

Among all potential candidates, Greg stood as the most likely choice for the death draft. He was the sole figure to make an appearance throughout the entire three seasons of the series. Greg had proposed a $100,000 deal to Belinda, asking her to forget their past connection and enable him to spend his remaining years in Thailand. However, in the finale, Belinda and her son Zion unexpectedly returned to Greg, requesting a far larger sum: $5 million (in the style of Dr. Evil). Zion served as the intermediary for this negotiation, and ultimately Greg agreed, transferring the money into Belinda’s account.

Originally, Harvey Dent famously stated, “You’re either a hero, or you live long enough to turn into the villain.” In this story, Belinda appears to have transformed into someone else, or Tanya in essence, as she chooses to keep the money and informs her short-lived lover and potential business partner Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) that she intends to leave Thailand due to shifting circumstances. The last scene of the finale shows Belinda and Zion departing on a speedboat, having won the season with a five million dollar fortune, undeniably standing as the clear winners in season three.

White comments, “Belinda has experienced quite a few letdowns.” He then adds humorously, “Greg proposes something for Belinda, and I find it amusing to think that someone could gain advantage from the misfortune that struck Tanya.

What Now?

The final events have been resolved. Rick and Chelsea are deceased due to Rick’s relentless pursuit of vengeance against Jim. All others can leave, except for a few guards. A new season of the popular HBO series is in production without an announced release date. There’s speculation about the show’s direction moving forward, but what does its creator have to share regarding the future of his Emmy-winning masterpiece?

This upcoming season marks my fourth, and instead of the usual cliffside clashes with the ocean, I’m yearning for a change. However, it seems that the White Lotus hotels continue to offer an unexpected bonus: more intriguing mysteries!

You can now stream The White Lotus season two on Max. For in-depth season three interviews and coverage, including an unfiltered oral history with White and the cast, visit here.

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2025-04-07 05:55