By Bob Grimm
The third season of The White Lotus concluded on Sunday, April 6, and all eight episodes are available on HBO’s Max for your visual binging pleasure.
As with past seasons, it does not disappoint. In many ways, this season is the sturdiest and most fulfilling of the three, with a darker edge, headier drama and powerhouse acting all over the place. I mean, Walton Goggins is in this season, so that alone gives you enough of a reason to watch.
Goggins plays Rick, a bothered man arriving at The White Lotus hotel in Thailand with a purpose. He’s accompanied by Chelsea (Aimee Lee Wood), a happy Brit who wants to have good time despite Rick’s brooding.
Also in the cast are Jason Isaacs as Tim, father of three and husband to Victoria (the always awesome Parker Posey). Tim’s a finance man in a lot of trouble, hiding secrets from his wife, as well as his sons Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger, showing he’s very much the best actor in his family) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). Tim’s daughter, Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), has actually tricked the family into a Thailand vacation with secret intentions for her future.
Occupying another hearty subplot are Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon and Leslie Bibb as Jaclyn, Laurie and Kate, three friends with bumpy pasts trying to sort out what their bond really means. Coon is the standout in this group.
The cast is rounded out by returning stars Jon Gries as the ever-mysterious Greg, and Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, the character who had grand plans with Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya to start a health-spa business.
That’s not all. There’s also pop star Lalisa Manobal and Tayme Thapthimthong (awesome last name right there) as hotel employees trying to embark on a little romance—one that moves ever so slowly. A couple of big guest stars also show up to make things mighty interesting.
Creator Mike White has come through with another twisting mystery that doesn’t fully come together until the final episode. He establishes mystery in the first episode so ominously that you can’t help but return week after week (or, for many of you, in one full eight-episode binge) to see what happens. The conclusion was not easy to guess, and I found it wholly satisfying.
Sunday nights have been Walton Goggins Heaven on Max with this and the return of The Righteous Gemstones for the fourth and final season. Seeing Rick’s tribulations on this show followed by Goggins in full comedy mode as Baby Billy on Gemstones has been one of 2025’s great weekly delights.
Season 4 is happening, so rest assured knowing that a whole bunch of bad shit is going to go down at a future White Lotus hotel location.
The White Lotus is now streaming on HBO Max.
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