While it’s beenan uneven seasonat times these past few weeks, this was undoubtedly a shocking finale.
For those who caught it, the finale’s bloodbath produced some mixed, but mostly positive, results.
But manyfans were decrying it online, saying that it was sloppy writing that nearly ruined the season.
Our season kicks off with three main groups of vacationers.
But they have had some scandalous interactions with the hotel staff.
Jim maybe killed Ricks dad or maybe is Ricks dad, were not sure.
Lets not forget the girls' trip, though.
Of course, these are all new names and faces.
But there are a pair of familiar faces worth keeping an eye on in the season 3 finale.
Natasha Rothwell is reprising her season 1 role as Belinda.
Will the Ratliffs vacation from Hell finally end?
The Ratliff family has had a tough time in Thailand.
Things started out great but then family patriarch Timothy discovered he might be going to jail and losing everything.
Since then, hes entered a drug-fueled downward spiral thanks to his wife Victorias stash of Lorazepam.
The rest of the time, hes imagining killing his family and himself.
So now, the Ratliffs just need to make it out of this episode alive.
Or will Timothy enact his plan for a murder-suicide to end his familys suffering?
I wouldnt be surprised if Rick and Chelsea end up starting fresh by the seasons end.
And my gut is telling me Kate wont make it out.
Maybe Im just saying that because I find her character annoying, to say the least.
-Alix Blackburn
Could this episodes violence be limited to the hotel staff?
Itd spiritually break him.
Her castmate Charlotte Le Bon was more blunt.
People are going to hate Mike White, she told the industry press outlet.
Sorry, but thats his signature!
Jon Gries, aka Gary/Greg, agrees.
It is shocking absolutely, mouth-agape shocking.
Inan oral historyfeature, he added, Whatever you think you know, youre going to get it wrong.
White, for his part, hopes people wont hate him.
I cant believe I did that, he said in the uncensored oral history.
Belinda will almost certainly turn down Gary at first
Poor Belinda.
She’s gone through so much.
Fast forward two seasons and Belinda still hasn’t gotten her own spa off the ground.
She needs to finally catch a break and this gives her the money Tanya originally promised her.
Tanya betrayed Belinda after all; she doesn’t owe Tanya’s memory anything.
This season might boil down to eight episodes of monkey business
The monkey dunnit!
That was one of the prevailing theories on fan forums this season and it makes a lot of sense.
And as shots ring out, there are several shots of monkeys reacting to the noise.
So all these monkey references cannot be for nothing!
Call it “Chekhovs monkey” holding Chekhovs gun.
They were actually accidental.
So, another accidental death would align with the previous ones.
A monkey, instead of a human, being the culprit would fit nicely.
Unfortunately, Michelle Monaghan seemingly debunked this theory on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Monkeys didnotdo it, she declared to the talk show host.
Im not sure I believe Monaghan, though.
It seems odd for a cast member to definitively say whether a theory is true or false.
Generally, the M.O.
for cast and crew is to play coy and dance around that kind of stuff.
But apparently, the ooh-loo-loo-loos were supposed to be there all along!
Tapia de Veer wanted to give fans a longer version with the ooh-loo-loo-loos but that White nixed it.
With the composer departing the series, I hope this doesnt mean the ooh-loo-loo-loos are also gone forever.
In under 20 minutes, youll be able to watch on HBO or Max (pull from intro).
When you get back, well be reacting live to everything from this (probably) epic finale.
We havent seen screeners (nobody has), so well be reacting in real-time just like you!
We’re live!
‘The White Lotus’ season 3 finale has officially begun!
Place your bets now on who you think dies.
Check out the video above.
Did the ‘Previously on … ' confirm any theories?
I think Lochlan definitely stays in Thailand and I’m more convinced than ever that Gaitok kills someone.
Beyond that, I’m not sure of anything.
Words that I’ll one day put on a poster from Piper Ratliff.
First monkey sighting of the episode!
Her son Zion, on the other hand, is ready to help her get what she deserves.
You know, because of the whole him going to prison and losing all his money thing.
Officially, our first shocking moment of the episode.
Gaitok and Valentin begin a possibly deadly dance
We’re quickly shifting between storylines.
Well, apart from Chelsea and Rick.
Especially since he’s now opened up one of the fruits.
He seems desperate, but is he perhapstoodesperate?
I’m starting to doubt my Gaitok kills a Russian theory, because it now feels too obvious.
Belinda turns down Gary/Greg’s offer, but did Zion overplay his hand?
Only, we know that he’s adding a secret ingredient.
Interestingly, he’snotletting Lochlan drink.
Then there’s Belinda and Zion, who are nervously awaiting Gary/Greg’s money.
I don’t see them getting that particular course for dessert, but who knows!
There’s no way they actually drink it …
… ## Crisis averted for now
Timothy drinks his deadly cocktail.
“Have you ever heard of wine?”
I just don’t see a happy ending for Rick.
But the wild card is officially Gary/Greg, who just gave Belinda atonof money.
Is he going to let her leave Thailand with the funds?
I lean yes, or at least, I’m still convinced Belinda and Zion survive.
Lochy, no!
Lochy goes to make a pre-workout shake … which still has a deadly ingredient inside.
Will he accidentally drink it?
Well, now it seems that it could definitely be the latter.
Jim Hollinger has returned to his hotel and is packing heat.
C’mon Tim …
Still, at present it really seems like Lochlan is dead.
He’s now being chased by security … and Gaitok is about to get his gun.
He’s killed two security guards and in the crossfire, Chelsea is also mortally wounded.
As he carries her body, Gaitok shoots him, giving us our body in the river.
Lochlan is also still possibly dead from the suicide fruit.
I am indeed shocked.
Lucky Lochy lives!
It seemed that, surely, Lochlan would pull through.
Especially after the shootout pilled up such a high body count.
No prison for Timothy Ratliff?
Our guests have left the hotel
The Ratliffs have left, as have the girls.
Meanwhile, Gaitok is now Sritala’s bodyguard and seems to still be in a budding relationship with Mook.
Unfortunately for Pornchai and Belinda, their budding relaitonship has come to an end.
It’s the people who are dead, especially Rick and Chelsea.
As for the winners?
Tough to call that anything but a win.
Will anyone from season 3 return for The White Lotus season 4?
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, show star Patrick Schwarzenegger offered his pitch on an all-star season.
One can only dream about the season 4 cast…
Some of the staff could be Daisy Edgar-Jones, Harris Dickinson, Will Poulter, and Ambika Mod.
-Alix Blackburn
Could we be heading to the land of ice and snow next season?
This was based onreportsof a project titled Secret Garden reportedly getting money from the Norwegian Film Institute.
So, where will season 4 take place?
The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island.
Plus, Desroches Island is made from of nice, jagged coral.
Perfect for accidentally or intentionally killing someone.
But theres always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.
This does somewhat line up with what HBO EVP Francesca Orsi toldDeadlineabout our next vacation.
Back in February, Orsi let slip that the White Lotus team were looking for their next stop soon.
The family shared a couple of looks after getting their devices back, but that was it.
Reddituser optimusgrime23 wrote Not seeing Victoria find out she is poor is an absolutely astonishing omission.
Its an opinion shared by several users in that White Lotus thread.
At least we got thathilariousthumbs-up during Pipers big confession?
That’s Emmy-winning comedic timing right there.
Plot hole?
When might ‘The White Lotus’ season 4 start streaming?
The simple answer is that we probably have quite a wait on our hands.
When we firstlearned the show had been renewed, Variety reported that HBO was eyeing production in 2026.
