The White Lotus season three ending was a finale of jaw-dropping proportions–not that we expected anything less from the mind of Mike White.
With so many loose ends to be tied up for all our favourite characters, and some not-so-favourites, there’s a lot to unpack from the twisty final episode.
It’s no surprise given the way the season began, that the finale was a bloodbath, but beyond the question of who dies, we attempt to unpack and explain the meaning behind the ending for all our White Lotus guests, not just the deceased.
Warning, there are spoilers ahead.
The White Lotus Season Three Ending Explained, By Character
The Ratliff Family Ending Explained
From the beginning of season three, the Ratliff family proved to be the most troubling of the White Lotus’ guests. Throughout the season we saw flashes of patriarch Timothy contemplating not only his own death but that of his family’s. His feelings were tied up with his own guilt and inability to provide the kind of luxurious lifestyle he once had for them.
At one point, it seemed as though he would go through with his murder-suicide plot through spiked pina coladas. Interestingly, his youngest son, Lochy, was the only one to be spared after telling his dad he didn’t care about living a life without money.
The twist however came when Lochy was the one who unknowingly ingested the poison fruit. It was a close call, but Lochy lives through his poisoning and the entire family makes it off the island, but none as the person they once were.
Timothy prepares to come clean about his debts, Piper has gone from self-aware privilege to self-confessed “princess”, while Saxon’s journey has mirrored his sister’s to somewhat of the opposite effect as he seeks out true connection and reads deep books. Then, there’s Lochy, who inappropriately touched his brother and “saw God”–we can’t truly say what will come for him.
What is the meaning behind it? There’s no one answer we can make sense of.
“It’s a bittersweet ending,” Mike White tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Life goes on past this personal valley, but what’s going to happen without their comforts? I don’t think Victoria (Parker Posey) is someone who can live in poverty. I’m sure she can come up with some other solution.”
Three Bestfriends Ending Explained
The dynamic between best friends, Laurie, Kate and Jaclyn was one of the most fascinating of this season. And while many theorised their catty, underhanded remarks and complicated relationship could have led to their demise, the trio had one of the more uplifting ends.
After tension over political views, career jealousy and a man, a moment of honesty from Kate and Laurie unravels years of disdain for one another.
“Nothing makes me feel more grounded than being with friends. Real friends,’ Kate says as she expresses her gratitude for the women who have been with her throughout life.
Giving insight into why these three women remain friends, Natasha Rothwell told us ahead of the finale: “I think all really great friendships, even ones that may not appear great, you’re in it because they bore witness to a version of you that may longer exist.
“They have kind of like the artifacts of your life and to lose them would be to lose pieces of you.”
It perfectly sums up Laurie’s moment of clarity, where she recognises that everything in her life–religion, love–has failed her, but her friends have always remained.
Rick & Chelsea Ending Explained
We should have known that Mike White would rip our hearts out and kill off two of our favourite characters, Rick and Chelsea.
The clues were there all along: Chelsea spouting wisdom like prophecy is the form of astrological readings and Thai phrases about grudges and fate, warning Rick that nothing good would come from revenge.
In the final episode we see Chelsea use the phrase and title of the finale ep, “amor fati” which means, “You have to embrace your fate – good or bad. Whatever will be will be.”
But Rick ignored her warning to chose vengeance, and as he told Chelsea earlier in the episode, “I think we’re going to be together forever.”
It just so happens that forever will be in the afterlife. Read our full breakdown on who dies and the meaning behind it.
Belinda & Greg Ending Explained
Belinda was meant to be the antithesis to corrupt wealth in The White Lotus…or so we thought. But, it turns out money can bend even the most righteous’ morals. And perhaps that’s the moral of Belinda’s story.
“I feel like Belinda was so burned by Tanya I don’t know if she necessarily has the same axe to grind,” Rothwell previously told marie claire Australia of her character’s end.
Not only does the spa manager take Greg’s hush money, she lets her son Zion barter for a bigger sum before doing to Pornchai exactly what Belinda had done to her by reneging on her promise to start a business together.
Greg will go on living a life of wealth (and repression), while Belinda finally gets the money she was promised. It’s a full circle moment that isn’t nearly as satisfying as we had hoped for.
You can catch up on all episodes of The White Lotus including the season three finale on Max + in Australia.
