The White Lotus Season 3 Review

In season 3 of The White Lotus on HBO, Mike White continues his fascinating character studies of the ultra-rich and how wealth influences their decisions.

Victoria (Parker Posey) and Timothy (Jason Isaacs) Ratliff are visiting Thailand at the request of their daughter, Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), who wants to visit a Buddhist monastery for her thesis. They bring their sons, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). The family is hesitant to participate in the phone detox, with Timothy and Saxon flatly refusing to give up their phones. But as Timothy finds that things back home are deteriorating quickly, he convinces Saxon to join him in putting their phones away to avoid the news of his potential financial ruin.

On the incoming boat with the Ratiffs are Rick (Walton Goggins) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). This odd couple seems to be a mismatch in every way, but as season 3 progresses, we see that the two have a connection that belies the seeming incongruity of their pairing. Rather than simply being a gold-digger, Chelsea has a genuine affection for Rick, seeing him as her soul mate. While Rick is in Thailand to settle an old score, Chelsea is there, hoping to forge a stronger bond with the man she believes is her destiny.

Another group is a collection of long-time friends. Actress Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), lawyer Laurie (Carrie Coon), and family-first Kate (Leslie Bibb) are getting together for a girls-trip at the White Lotus resort. The three have been friends for decades, but rarely have the opportunity to spend time together, and their lives have gone in dramatically different directions. As the week progresses, the women find that these differences may have caused irreconcilable rifts and that playing nice to keep the sheen of respectability from disintegrating may be beyond their capabilities.

The White Lotus sees the return of Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell), who is visiting Thailand to learn more about the healing techniques that they use at this resort. She is still smarting from having funds pulled for her own spa but is still interested in improving the services that she offers her clients. But while there, she meets a character from her past who causes her a significant amount of consternation as she tries to uncover what plans he might have for her and her future. 

A bit lower on the working-class side of things, we have security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) and his girlfriend Mook (Lalisa Manobal), a performer at the resort. Mook is pushing Gaitok to be more ambitious and to take more risks. But Gaitok struggles with his Buddhist beliefs about pacifism and his desire to become a bodyguard for the most high-profile performer at the White Lotus, Sritala Hollinger (Lek Patravadi). 

As with previous seasons of The White Lotus, season 3 is less interested in a strict narrative, instead focusing on characters and how they learn and grow – and sometimes don’t –  in response to their circumstances. What thoughts run through the mind of a man who has given his family everything only to discover that everything could be taken away in an instant? How do friends reconcile the ways they have grown apart while still finding moments of real connection? Can someone release their troubled past and find healing with the person sitting right in front of them? 

Aside from the questions that The White Lotus asks, this is a beautiful show to watch. White makes the most of the location he has chosen to shoot in, showing the beauty of the carefully curated resort, the allure of the contemplative monastery, and the raucous energy of the city. Thailand could use any shot from the show in a travel video without a second thought. Watching this series is visually magnificent. 

Some aspects of the season don’t come together as well as they might have. Fabian, the resort manager, played by Christian Friedel, has a storyline where he desperately wants to be a performer, which just seems to be a distraction from the primary stories. The story of the hunky Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius) and his friends intersects with Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie, but some aspects of their story feel contrived in a way that don’t wrap up in a satisfying manner. 

Despite some minor stumbles, a potentially triggering drug-fueled party that puts two brothers in a situation that no brothers want to be in, and an intense moment of frankness that makes even an oversharer like me uncomfortable, season 3 of The White Lotus is a masterpiece in character study, visual storytelling, and social commentary. 

Season 3 of The White Lotus is now available to watch on Max in the US, on Crave in Canada, and on Sky & Now in the UK and Ireland.