The White Lotus Season 3 will end this Sunday, and the question of who will die is in everyone’s mind. With multiple storylines unfinished and a supersized final episode to tie every loose end, the Season 3 finale has a lot to live up to. Luckily, creator and writer Mike White is a brilliant creative mind with more than a few unhinged ideas to make for a spectacular episode that will surely end the season on a high note.
A show as wild as The White Lotus lends itself to equally wild theories, and this list will discuss ten bonkers possibilities for the Season 3 finale. Some won’t make much sense and are certainly wishful thinking, while others might seem a lot more possible, especially knowing White’s twisted sense of humor and the show’s tendency to flip the script with bittersweet endings. However, this range of possibilities is exactly what makes The White Lotus such a hit with audiences.
10
Timothy Ratliff Poisons His Family
Saxon’s Shakes Are About To Become Deadly
Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) has spent the entire season slowly descending into suicidal madness while becoming increasingly addicted to his wife’s Lorazepam pills. The slow realization that his family is full of people actively unprepared for financial ruin has led him to believe the only way out for all of them is to die. The story has been somewhat repetitive, but at least Jason Isaacs is killing it.
Many people have pointed out how Tim will likely blend the suicide fruit into Saxon’s (Patrick Schwarzenegger) protein shakes and wipe out himself and his family at once. It’s probably the easiest and most predictable of the theories, and thus the laziest one. And if there’s one thing Mike White isn’t, it’s predictable. Sure, Tim can use the shakes to off his family, but it’s too easy for a show like The White Lotus.
9
The Ratliffs Will Actually Be Okay
Well, at Least Money-Wise
The whole season has seemingly hinted that, at the end of the trip, the Ratliffs will go back to the States to face scrutiny and financial ruin, with Tim going to jail. However, it would be quite hilarious if, in the end, Tim’s lawyer actually cut a good deal for him, and the family actually gets away without any major consequences.
Every season of The White Lotus has presented a situation where powerful people get away with awful things because of their status. In Season 1, it was Shane Patton (Jake Lacy) literally getting away with murder, and in Season 2, it was Greg (Jon Gries) escaping with Tanya’s (Jennifer Coolidge) money after orchestrating her death. Thus, it makes perfect sense that the Ratliffs, this season’s representatives of obscene wealth and privilege, would also come out on the other side with no repercussions for their actions. It would also be darkly funny that Tim had probably the worst week of his life, to the point where he actively considered killing his family, all for nothing.
8
Saxon Will Become a Better Person
Spiritual Growth Can Happen to Everyone
Saxon Ratliff began Season 3 as possibly the worst character, a jerk who viewed women as objects to have fun with and who seemed obsessed with turning his little brother into a mini version of himself. Seven episodes later, Saxon is one of the season’s most compelling characters, an insecure young man living under the shadow of his far more successful father and going out of his way to compensate for his shortcomings.
Saxon has had several moments of self-awareness throughout the season, mainly through his conversations with Tim and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). In a twist worthy of Mike White’s best, it will turn out that Saxon is actually the only Ratliff sibling who actually grows from the trip. Whereas Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) will reveal her spirituality is only a front to get away from her family, and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) has all but revealed himself as a manipulative little creep, Saxon will turn out to be the vulnerable one willing to change his ways, especially when (or rather, if) Tim’s secret comes to light.
7
Mook’s Actual Role
Double-Agent or Just a Girl?
The casting of mega star Lalisa Manobal, best known as a member of the South Korean band Blackpink, made waves across the internet. Throughout the season, her role as Mook, a seemingly unassuming employee at the hotel and a love interest for Gaitok (Tyame Thapthimthong), has left many wondering if there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Many are betting Mook will turn out to be in cahoots with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravicius) and his friends to rob the store. That is entirely plausible, but it’s also a tad predictable, and Mike White tends to avoid the obvious. It’s also logical that Mook is a smaller role because Lisa is a new actress — indeed, The White Lotus marks her acting debut. Thus, a supporting, less challenging role is a good way for her to make a strong showing and kickstart her acting career. Whatever the truth, Lisa has been quite good throughout the season, meaning the gamble paid off.
6
Laurie, Kate, and Jaclyn Will Still Be Friends
Nothing a Good Hug Can’t Fix
Laurie (Carrie Coon), Kate (Leslie Bibb), and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) have been arguably the highlight of the season. Their toxic dynamic has been a hoot to watch, giving these three brilliant actresses a chance to deliver some of their finest work. Indeed, every scene with them is a masterclass of subtle comedy, especially as tensions mount and the reality of their feeble bond comes to light.
Many expect a huge blowout between the three, a big scene where they reveal their real feelings for each other. It will probably happen, but don’t expect them to stop being friends. In fact, they will probably end the season the same as they started: pretending to like each other yet still staying in each other’s lives. Much like Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) and Shane in Season 1, these three “friends” will choose to stay together more out of convenience and self-preservation rather than genuine affection for each other. Whatever works for them.
5
Greg Loses
Justice for Tanya McQuoid!
To the surprise of many, Greg (Jon Gries) has been the only character to appear in all three seasons of The White Lotus so far. Jon’s part in Tanya’s murder is pretty obvious by now, and Season 1’s Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) is aware of it. Greg has tried to buy her off, but she’s hesitant. The big question going into episode 8 is whether she’ll take the money — and whether she’ll make it out of Thailand alive.
There are two scenarios here. The first is that Belinda takes Greg down once and for all. Either she tips the authorities off or perhaps has one last showdown with Greg that ends in his death. Greg losing would be quite cathartic, especially for all those Tanya McQuoid truthers who yelled at their screens when the beloved heiress drowned. It would also be a big win for Belinda, who has been on a losing streak since Season 1.
4
Greg Wins
And Lives To See Another Day
The second scenario, which seems far more plausible, is that Greg, once again, walks away. One possibility is that Belinda, encouraged by her son, Zion (Nicholas Duvernay), takes Greg’s money and goes back to the US with a pocketful of cash and an uneasy mind. The other is that she rejects the money, and Greg finds a way to silence her.
Greg is the connective tissue between the seasons, a sort of “big bad,” if you like. Thus, having him around for the already confirmed Season 4 makes sense. Greg is also the embodiment of a theme White keeps coming back to in his work: corruption and the poisonous power of institutions and the wealthy. Greg is a symbol of the ruthlessness required to achieve a certain lifestyle; it’s no coincidence that we know next to nothing about him or his past. Greg is an idea, and you can’t kill an idea. Wealth, as it turns out, is an idea, too; it doesn’t disappear, it merely changes hands and shapes, much like Greg.
3
Frank Is Behind the Shooting
He Should’ve Stayed Sober
Chekhov’s gun is a narrative principle where a seemingly unimportant or casual element eventually becomes crucial to the story. Since his introduction, Frank (Sam Rockwell) has been something of a wild card, a former friend of Rick’s (Walton Goggins) who moved to Thailand to escape from some unsavory situations. His monologue in Season 5 is arguably the season’s most viral moment, and it all stems from his confession about his addiction issues. He eventually gets sober and makes a big deal about it but breaks his sobriety during the visit to Sritala’s (Lek Patravadi) house and later goes back to his old ways during a night of partying with Rick.
Simply put, Frank’s sobriety was mentioned a bit too many times to be unimportant, and the fact that he broke it while involved with Rick’s vendetta might be the key to the season’s ultimate mystery. Having an actor of Sam Rockwell’s caliber is already a huge win for the show, and having him also be the main catalyst for the season’s big moment makes sense. Maybe he’s there to punish Rick or maybe to escape Jim Hollinger’s (Scott Glenn) goons. Whatever the reason, it’s never wise to give a gun to someone off the wagon. In many ways, Frank is a living Chekhov’s gun, and he’s bound to go off.
2
Multiple People Are Behind the Shooting
There’s Not Just One Culprit
Episode 7 of The White Lotus puts multiple pieces into play. There’s Gaitok, quite possible the world’s worst security guard, wielding a gun he’s woefully unprepared to use. There’s Greg and the equally unpredictable Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), who are both ready to protect their comfortable life by any means necessary. Finally, there is Valentin and his Russian buddies, who are behind the robbery in episode 2 and have been discovered by Laurie.
All of these people could feasibly go into the hotel and shoot the place. Maybe Valentin and his pals want to scare Laurie, but things escalate when the incompetent Gaitok brings out a gun he’s not ready to use. Maybe Chloe isn’t ready to give Greg up and, learning that Belinda rejected his offer, takes matters into her own hands. Maybe Tim Ratliff finally loses it and decides to shoot everyone, not just his family. Maybe all of these players collide, and what we see is a full-blown shoot out.
1
Chelsea Is the Victim
“Bad luck comes in threes.”
Aimee Lou Wood has been a standout of the season. Her take on Chelsea is sweet, endearing, hilarious, and surprisingly insightful, and her scenes are the perfect mix of comedy and heartfelt sentiment. Throughout the season, Chelsea has gone on and on about how “bad luck comes in threes,” and it all seems to hint that she might be right. Chelsea being the victim makes narrative sense. Her sole arc this season has been to “save” Rick from his darkness. Now that he seems to be free from his demons, having her pay the ultimate price for his revenge is the type of tragic choice Mike White would make.
There’s a scene in the last episode trailer that shows Chelsea and Rick embracing at the beach. The lighting and staging make it seem like a dream sequence, so it seems like Chelsea will die and Rick might follow her, either also dying at the hands of the shooter or perhaps taking matters into his own hands. The scene is them, finally at peace, reuniting in a spiritual realm. It’s a sad ending, for sure, but also somewhat joyful, which fits into White’s approach.
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