This Sunday, Season Three of the White Lotus will come to a close. Predictions are all over TikTok as to how this will go. Clarence Moye has written an extensive analysis and has offered his predictions. You should definitely read that. My own analysis and predictions won’t be so deep. Meanwhile, here are some of the predictions floating around TikTok:
And here is the trailer for the finale:
First, I’ll give my analysis thus far. I’ve seen it through a couple of times, and I think I have a good idea about the underlying themes.
The first thing to note is what these characters have said about Thailand.
- There is a tree with poison fruit that is shown in the trailer for Season 3 to remind us that it does exist. If you eat the seeds, it will cause death. At first, I thought, okay, so Jason Isaacs will eat those seeds so he can kill himself and allow his family to at least collect the life insurance. But in the first video above, she sort of indicates that Isaacs delivered a bit of a spoiler, so it might not be how it turns out. But it’s still vague.
- Jason Isaacs also tells Greg Hunt’s character (Jon Greis) that people move to Thailand for only two reasons: they seek something or hide from something. Seems to me this theme defines each of the characters. They are either seeking or hiding, or hiding and seeking. That doesn’t necessarily help figure out who lives or who dies – unless you think that some of these characters (like Greg) are hiding their true identities and that will be something we learn in the episode.
- News broke recently that Mike White had abandoned part of the storyline with Laurie having a non-binary child and how that would conflict with Kate (Leslie Bibb). He dropped it because he knew that it would become the focal point of the Right (he was correct in that assessment and, I think, made the right choice). However, the idea of “ladyboys” or transgender people in Thailand is prominent in the plot. That also makes me wonder if there isn’t some Conclave-like surprise waiting at the end.
Now, let’s look at the cliffhangers left as we head into the final episode.
Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) has been offered $100K to leave Greg alone. She thinks he murdered Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), but he didn’t. She died accidentally. He did, however, steal her money. Belinda could take the money and build a life with the hottie masseuse.
Rick (Walton Goggins) and the Sam Rockwell character were last seen binging on booze, cocaine and prostitutes. Rockwell’s character fell off the wagon in a big way. They have a gun in that bag.
Laurie (Carrie Coon) slept with a grifter criminal Russian, then got into a cab and has mostly been “left out” by the other two women, one of whom (Michelle Monaghan) slept with another Russian criminal.
Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) is waiting for Rick to return from Bangkok. She’s been flirting with Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger).
Tension seems to be swirling around Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong), who has been bullied and diminished by his co-workers, attacked by the Russian criminals, and told, in so many words, by the woman he desires, Mook (the gorgeous and famous Lalisa Manobal, or Lisa), that he has to prove his manhood to her.
He now knows that the Russians were the criminals behind robbing the gift shop and he too has a gun and is running back to the White Lotus to rise to the occasion and finally prove to everyone he is a real man.
Absolutely hilarious supporting player Fabian (Christian Friedel) wants to be as great a singer as Sritala (Patravadi Mejudhon). He wants her job, but he’s nowhere near as captivating or legendary.
Finally, we have what’s happening with the Ratliff family. None of them know how big of trouble Timothy (Isaacs) is in and how it will bring down their entire family fortune. Victoria (Parker Posey) is off her meds. That’s key, I think, to what might happen at the end. The daughter (Sarah Catherine Hook) has lost interest in the monastery now that her weird younger brother, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) wants to join her.
Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) wants to keep her lifestyle with Greg but he’s mad at her for sleeping with the Ratliff brothers. He’s simmering and stewing. Something seems ominous.
Now, on to the predictions. Who will die? And who will be the killer?
Prediction #1 – Gaitok rushes into the White Lotus and fires upon the Russians, accidentally killing Mook (among other people).
Prediction #2 – Victoria finds out about the loss of fortune and shoots at her husband, Jason Isaacs, accidentally killing Sritala, thus freeing up Fabian to rise.
Prediction #3 – Belinda is terrified that Greg is going to kill her, so she picks up a gun and tries to shoot him dead (doubt it, it doesn’t sound right).
Could be: The Russians in a shoot-out with Gaitok but that might be a tragic enough death. The deaths in The White Lotus so far in the first two seasons was happenstance. Whatever happens here it will likely be happenstance, or accidental, rather than an overt murder.
Who might die?
I think the younger brother, Lochlan, could die.
Gaitok or Mook could die.
Greg could die.
Rick could die.
Chelsea could die.
Most likely: Chelsea. She has a “bad things come in threes.” Her death would be an ironic end to Rick’s exodus to find his father. She’s beloved and the most liked characters seem to die.
That’s what I think will happen! It will all probably be wrong.
Meanwhile, Parker Posey should clear a space on her shelf for an Emmy. Here she was 12 years ago playing an acting teacher who teaches how to give an Emmy speech:
Parker Posey is a treasure but this season is a disappointment. Not much happened up till 7th episode. Characters are so underdevelopped. They are who they are which we know from the very first episode. There's no depth in them and their relations. Once defined they stayed almost untouched. Everyone had a very plain problem at the begining and just before the finale the situation is the same. White had 7 hours to make sth interesting out of it but he prefers just to observe how they are struggling with only one emotion. We experience no climaxes, no surprises (spare me the brothers threesome "shock" which was dull af). And the music, oh, it's annoying. It's hard to believe that the finał can rescue this tourist group.
Off tòpic.: The Naked gun reboot/sequel trailer is surprisingly good.
While Tanya did technically die “accidentally”, it was nonetheless Greg’s intention to have her killed via his gay admirer and why she found herself on that yacht with her would-be murderer. Also Rick got rid of his gun in a trash can in Bangkok so the only ones in possession of a gun at the end of Episode 7 are the hapless security guard and the Russian thugs.
My money is on Rick to get bumped in the finale, because it would be very ironic that he should come back unscathed from his Bangkok trip, a new man finally at peace with himself having found the power of compassion and forgiveness, ready to move on and start a new, happy life with Chelsea, and then “boom” he gets killed accidentally by a stray bullet. His death would be the dreaded third bad thing to happen to Chelsea on that trip and the only way she would ever consider getting into a relationship with someone else, otherwise I don’t see her leaving Rick for Saxon, especially not after he comes back to her with a new and improved state of mind, which is what she wanted all along.
It's going to be even more boring than this dull as a dishwasher season cause it's going to be 90 min. Every episode in S3 felt like 1 day long not 1 hr long.
"Parker Posey should clear a space on her shelf for an Emmy."
So you expect the competition in Supporting Actress to be abysmal if that's your projected Emmy win? Ouch. I'm serious. Competition must be beyond redemption if TWL is going to follow Coolidge win with this.
Saw the first 3 episodes of Season One and gave it up. Never looked back.
This show is eminently watchable, but overrated as an awards contender and winner. I don't get why multiple cast members get nommed in the first two season. I think S2 was not as strong as 1 and 3 is diluted and pretty thin at times in character and narrative. It relies too much on atmospherics and repetition.
That said, Jason Isaacs has been impressive; Carrie Coon is an under-appreciated actor; but has little to work with here. Parker Posey's accent jarred me from the first time she opened her mouth. I love her work; and I guess if there's a Jennifer Coolidge styled contender it is her; but it's pretty much a one note performance. I do enjoy Aimee Lou Wood (so affecting with Bill Nighy in Living) and Tayme Thapthimthong as Gaitok has been fascinating to watch. It is also great to see the child of Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola have a break out performance.
It is i guess too obvious to think it is Belinda's body that is suggested in the series opener; is in fact the character that is dead; but as to who diesin Ep 8; Mike White is a master manipulator as a storyteller; which is why the show is so popular and engenders such discussion; but a multiple Emmy nominee or winner again? I hope not. The visuals are great. I just wish it wasn't so diffuse.
If I have counted up correctly your predictions of who will die on this Sunday night are these.
"Mook (among other people)" — covering so many options here, LOL
Sritala could die.
Lochlan, could die.
Gaitok or Mook could die.
Greg could die.
Rick could die.
Chelsea could die.
"Prediction #3 – Belinda is terrified that Greg is going to kill her, so she picks up a gun"
From where would she "pick up a gun"? She will need to kill a Russian or to kill Gaitok to get their guns?
I do not know who will die. I do not really care to have any imagination about it. Because I enjoy more for a story to tell its own story in its own time, instead of pretending that there is any prize for a guessing game.
What I have seen the first two series of White Lotus. The ones who die are the ones who always least deserve to die. They die for senseless reasons that are no reason at all. They die because of a mistake.
The really true evil ones do not die in a White Lotus hotel.
MILD SPOILERS NO NAMES Blah finale with an unforgivable death fakeout. for those who wonder how the character made it – the mixture for pina colada neutralized the poison. Better pacing than 1 hr episodes, shockingly. predictable twist that everyone could see from miles away. Predictable deaths too. Certain character better not appeal in S4 again. all plotlines still boring.
SPOILER So much nonsense. 3 friends who backstabbed each other to oblivion getting a forced “we have each other’s backs” closure. Gaitok abandoning his morals by shooting an obviously unarmed man, with a dead or wounded woman in his arms, because he wanted to move up the ladder for Mook who never cared for him but for his career advancement. Pina colada neutralizing the seed poison thus saving all members of Ratcliff family and Tim finding courage to vaguely admit that something wasn’t right, which they should have pressed on the moment he started to drug himself so obviously and throw away phones that were essential for their busienss. Victoria never putting 2 and 2 together than Lorazepan missing and her hubby suddenly sleeping 15 hrs a day and acting like a sleepwalker were connected. The Russian robbers getting away cause Gaitok the unarmed man killer went soft on their sob story. Belinda turning into Tanya 2.0 by baiting and then screwing Pornchai over the business together. Bloody Greg surviving another season. is he going to be in the next? Please no. The “he is your father, Luke” moment. I mean, everyone predicted that twist but it was so sloppy. Father insults mother without revealing who he was, which was stupid given that his son already pulled a gun at him, just bad plotting to get A to do B. Piper realizing she was a princess after spending a night in a perfectly fine 3.5 accomodation (but not 5 star that she got use to). Like, wasn’t monk life supposed to be ascetic and therefore 3.5 accomodation was an unusual luxury and not authentic? The singing hotel manager’s arc went nowhere. Am I missing something? Very mid season and very mid finale.