HBOEpisode 1 set the scene. Episode 2 got us settled into routine. But The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 is really starting to open the can of worms each of our guests is hiding.
It’s beautifully ironic that the only person having a nice time on their hols so far is Belinda, who’s technically supposed to be working. Everyone else is either stabbing each other behind the back (hello, ladies) or trying to keep their family from finding out their arrival home will likely follow the pilot episode of Schitt’s Creek.
In the middle of this is a mystery we’ve all conveniently forgotten about – somebody has died. Belinda’s son Zio hasn’t even arrived at the hotel yet, meaning we’re still pretty far out from discovering who was floating face down in the pond.
Regardless, The White Lotus is only just getting started with the messy drama. If you think you’ve recognized someone else from a previous season, Season 3 Episode 3 is about to prove you right. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Rick makes his next move in The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3
HBOVictoria and her lorazepam are on the beach at night when The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 opens. Lochlan is across the beach with two members of staff, saying “This is what it looks like before a tsunami.” The staff wrap her up in a duvet and she walks into the sea. Sure enough, a tsunami-style waves comes to swallow her as she lays down… and then wakes up.
Timothy is on the phone when she does, pacing outside recalling details of how he first met Kenny Ngyuen. He protests that the fund, Sho-kel, was not his idea. He also asks the caller, who we learn is called Joe, to “find out whatever you can.” The next morning at breakfast, Victoria tells the family what she dreamed of, with Piper thinking it’s a warning. Saxon immediately ridicules this, with Timothy unable to focus.
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Rick manages to approach Sritala, with Chelsea looking on in disbelief as he sits down. He tells her he’s a producer in Thailand working on a high-profile project, asking her to take a meeting with a client of his. Rick tells her the meeting is in Bangkok, which is conveniently where Sritala is leaving to in order to reunite with her sick husband. She gives Rick her card, making his way back to Chelsea. Naturally, he won’t tell her what any of that is about.
This infuriates Chelsea, who thinks everything Rick does concerns her. “Of course it does, I’m your life partner,” she adds. Rick pushes her away, sarcastically claiming their star signs aren’t compatible. He then tells Chelsea he’s leaving for Bangkok the next day. When she asks what she’ll do in the meantime, Rick replies “Maybe you can meet a guy who’s richer than me and sponge off of him instead.”
Timothy goes to extreme measures to keep the truth a secret
HBOOur trio of backstabbing besties touch base with Valentin, who offers them sessions with the hotel’s energy healers — and he just happens to be one. They ask him about his life in Russia, with Jac borderline flirting while asking if he has a girlfriend. When he leaves, Jac tries to get Laurie to have a fling with him, requesting him for a healing session with her.
After Belinda finds out her day’s itinerary, we cut back to the Ratliffs. Timothy’s phone is blowing up with calls, telling the family “Nothing is wrong, it’s just work stuff.” He leaves the table to answer, finding out two FBI agents are at his office looking for him. A member of staff has given them his number, with someone called Chuck telling him they have a warrant. Timothy’s told not to call anyone until Chuck gets back in touch.
Back at the room, Saxon gets a call from a man called Terry, telling him everyone is looking for Timothy. When Terry calls Saxon for a second time, Timothy declines the call. Saxon gets annoyed when it happens for a third time, with Timothy spontaneously deciding to give their phones up to the staff after all. Saxon refuses this, while Victoria is totally on board. This starts a fight between Piper and Saxon, the latter blaming his sister for her “Buddhist identity crisis” meaning everyone else has to give her what she wants. Timothy takes Saxon aside, telling him “there’s gotta be more to life than success.”
With nothing else to do, Saxon makes Lochlan his pet project. He tries to beef his brother up with protein shakes, assuring him he’s “going to get laid” by the end of the week. Chloe seems to be Saxon’s own target, having previously told Chelsea she thought he was cute. Gaitok tells Mook about a conversation he had earlier with Sritala, offering his help to her in Bangkok. He also tells Mook he’d leave the island if she came with him.
“Gary” is Tanya’s ex-husband Greg
HBORick goes to his second stress management class, teasing doing “a lot of bad things, made a lot of mistakes.” He adds “My father was a decent man, but I never got to know him because he was murdered. Now I can’t get my life back… but maybe I can still get some satisfaction.” Piper goes to the temple to get her meeting scheduled, which she reveals is actually for a placement she wants to start after college. If you’re wondering where Belinda is in all of this, she’s having a lovely time being cradled in a pool by Pornchai.
At the pool, Chloe complains to Chelsea about her boyfriend Gary — specifically, about his ex-wife. Eagle-eyed viewers will know this is actually about Tanya, as “Gary” is really Greg Hunt from Season 1. When Rick leaves for town, Chelsea follows him, leaving Chloe open to be approached by Saxon. “I hear you’re a douche” Chloe says after they make introductions, smiling. Sritala’s henchmen, who were behind her during the earlier exchange, approach Gaitok. They ridicule him for not being able to detain the robber, claiming Fabian wanted him fired.
Rick’s mood completely changes when he gets his hands on a spliff, with Chelsea asking if they’re ever going to have fun again. Rick wants to get wasted, but Chelsea says they’re meeting Chloe and Gary and the hotel barbecue later that night, much to Rick’s dismay. He spots a snake show on the street, goading Chelsea to go. Rick’s perturbed by how many in cages, claiming even a venomous creature has the right to be free. Victoria offers Timothy her lorazepam to help relax him, who reluctantly takes it.
Chelsea almost dies… again
HBOStumbling out of the snake show, Rick opens some of the glass boxes, trying to set the snakes free. When Chelsea comes to find him, a cobra bites her in the leg. She’s immediately taken to hospital by the staff, who prevent Rick from going with her. Meanwhile, the hotel barbecue gets underway, complete with a fire show. Chelsea is a-okay, with Rick claiming his weed was laced. Chelsea, Chloe, and Gary arrange a boat trip for the following day.
It’s Jac and Laurie’s turn to slyly turn on Kate when she reveals she goes to church in Austin every Sunday. Kate gets defensive when the pair question Texas’ politics and conservatism, claiming everyone she interacts with are “nice people.” She then tells them her husband’s a Republican, dodging answering whether she voted for Trump herself. Belinda tells Pornchai what happened at the hotel in Season 1, sharing she recognized someone the previous evening. Belinda approaches Gary/Greg’s table, who flat-out denies his true identity or connection to Tanya.
Saxon reveals he’s got the Ratliffs on Gary’s boat the next day to celebrate the full moon. Timothy is missing from dinner, absolutely sparked out. Gaitok is told by the other security guards that he has to have a meeting with Fabian the next day. Rick puts in a call to a Bangkok-based friend called Frank, asking him to help with a couple of things. Chelsea tells him even though she thinks he’s “insane,” he’s never going to get rid of her.
Pornchai drunkenly hits on Belinda while walking her back to her room. Kate wakes up in the night, hearing Jac and Laurie talking about her. Timothy secretly takes more of Victoria’s lorazepam while she sleeps. Victoria asks if something is going on, but Timothy can’t bring himself to answer.
The White Lotus Season 3 is now airing weekly on HBO. While you wait, check out everything we know about House of the Dragon Season 3, if The Penguin Season 2 will happen, and more TV shows streaming this month.