The White Lotus Season 3 Theory I Can’t Stop Hating

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Caution: The following discussion reveals details from the final episode of The White Lotus Season 3. Proceed with care if you wish to avoid plot twists!

The third season of “The White Lotus” has ended, and while some are eagerly anticipating where Season 4 might take us, I’m still mulling over the finale. Throughout this season, tension gradually escalated, with no resolution until the final episode, creating a lot of anticipation. This gradual build-up worked effectively for many storylines, but it also seemed to undermine the popular theory about Rick that proved true.

Weeks prior to the Season 3 finale being released exclusively on Max, TopMob published an article discussing a fan theory that Jim Hollinger could be Rick’s father. As it turns out, this theory proved accurate… or so I believe. Below, we delve into the details, examining why I found the scene’s execution unsatisfying and would have preferred if it had been omitted entirely.

The Reveal That Jim Hollinger Was Rick’s Father Came All Too Late

When Sritala revealed to Rick in the Season 3 finale of The White Lotus that Jim was his father, I was left bewildered, as it seemed like an unexpected twist, especially since Rick had been seeking vengeance on the man who killed his dad. To make matters more confusing, Rick’s wife announced that this same person was actually his biological father. The expression on my face must have mirrored Rick’s because I couldn’t comprehend what I had just heard.

It’s clear now, given that “The White Lotus” revealed Rick as the culprit behind the shootout hinted at in the season premiere. I have to admit, my theory about multiple events happening concurrently didn’t quite pan out, but I was right about there being more than one gun involved. Regardless, all my attention was focused on Rick shooting Jim and what would happen next.

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Subsequently, the truth unveils itself, followed swiftly by Chelsea’s demise and Gaitok’s fatal shooting of Rick. His narrative in The White Lotus concludes at this point, as there isn’t a significant connection between his storyline and that of others.

It’s worth mentioning that we can’t verify the truthfulness of what Jim Hollinger has claimed. All we know is what Rick heard from his mother, and we don’t know whether she’s trustworthy. The same applies to Jim, as it seems he wouldn’t have brandished a weapon at Rick in the buffet if he wasn’t up to something questionable. Additionally, it appears that Sritala was gullible enough to believe Rick was an American movie producer, so there’s reason to suspect that Jim might have fabricated several aspects of his past. In essence, when we learned this information, we couldn’t confirm its accuracy, which undermines its credibility.

The Reveal Would’ve Hit A Lot Harder If Done Earlier

It’s odd how The White Lotus developed the incest subplot more thoroughly than Rick’s storyline initially, considering the potential depth that could have been added to the narrative. For instance, if Jim had revealed to Rick during their first encounter that he was his son, or perhaps even when they met at the buffet line, it would have significantly impacted Rick’s character development and the overall plot.

Although Rick could have continued being unkind and expelling him from the resort, the audience would have witnessed Rick’s reconciliation upon receiving this new piece of information. This ruthless individual, believed to be responsible for his father’s death, turns out to be the man he had been longing to find all along? Readers don’t need to use their imagination to grasp the emotional intensity of that scene; they can simply subscribe to Disney+ and watch it unfold in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Reflecting on the situation, it would have been more poignant if Rick had learned about Jim being his father before he shot him. This knowledge would have allowed him time to process this significant detail and decide how to respond. If the events that followed were identical but for this one change, I believe the revelation would resonate more deeply. Contrasting with the approach in Star Wars, where the hero eliminates an undeserving villain who could have been redeemed, this scenario would present a father and son relationship that carries emotional weight. Sadly, like Tanya McQuoid, I doubt The White Lotus will revisit the character of Rick in the future.

For Me, The Reveal Killed A Great Ending To Rick’s Story

Although the early disclosure of Jim’s secret might have had a greater impact on viewers, leaving it out could have been equally effective, given the intense climax of Rick’s pivotal moment in Season 3 of The White Lotus. This brief deviation from the main plotline, however, only served to disrupt my immersion in the scene completely. Introducing new information that was not even subtly hinted at during the season finale often doesn’t sit well with audiences, and this scene demonstrated exactly that.

In Season 3, the portrayal of the three friends felt incredibly authentic, yet I found Rick’s narrative veered too far off course for my taste. I stuck with it until the big reveal, but it left me feeling much like watching a daytime soap opera when a character suddenly unveiled they had an evil twin with a beard. Frankly, such a twist is not what I’d anticipate from an HBO series that boasts six Emmy awards. After all, Game of Thrones taught us long ago that even the most acclaimed shows can stumble when it comes to questionable plot twists and story reveals.

You can stream “The White Lotus” on Max, and just like when Rick unveiled something surprising, it’s better not to linger on that fact because the television lineup for 2025 is filled with fresh programs worth watching. I’m thrilled about the second season of “The Last of Us” and eagerly awaiting to see what else HBO has in store for their spring schedule.

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2025-04-09 01:07