Okay buckle up White Lotus fans because episode 5 of season 3 just aired and... wow. Just wow. If you thought this season was already pushing boundaries this episode just threw the rule book out the window set it on fire and then did some weird yoga poses on top of the ashes. We need to talk about it because there was A LOT going on and some of it was seriously bonkers.
Sam Rockwell Shows Up and Delivers the Most WTF Monologue in White Lotus History (Maybe Ever?)
Let's just dive right into the deep end shall we? Walton Goggins' Rick has been dealing with some daddy issues and this week he heads to Bangkok and reunites with an old buddy named Frank played by surprise guest Sam Rockwell. Now when Sam Rockwell Shows Up you expect some interesting stuff but no one could have predicted THIS.
Frank is not the same guy Rick remembers. He's sober for ten months now and has found enlightenment through... well... a wild journey of sexual exploration. Frank launches into this monologue that is truly something to behold. He talks about coming to Thailand for women getting "insatiable" and then having this epiphany about desire and identity.
And then it gets REALLY weird. Frank reveals he started dressing in women's lingerie and hooking up with guys to try and understand what those women felt. He even hired a woman to watch him! It is bizarre intense and you cannot look away. The whole scene is framed around Frank's newfound Buddhism but it's safe to say his path to enlightenment is... unconventional to say the least. Honestly Sam Rockwell deserves an award just for delivering this completely off-the-wall speech with a straight face. It is peak White Lotus awkwardness and dark humor.
Ratliff Family Drama Goes Full Soap Opera (and Maybe Incest?)
If the Rockwell scene wasn't enough to make you clutch your pearls the Ratliff family storyline took a turn for the truly bizarre. Remember Saxon and Lochlan the brothers? Yeah things got weird with them too. They're still trying to impress Chelsea and Chloe those two women they are vacationing with. At a party fueled by drinks and who-knows-what Chelsea and Chloe share a kiss. Then Chloe in a moment of questionable judgment suggests the brothers kiss too. And Lochlan? He goes for it planting a long lingering kiss on Saxon. Um... what?
Executive producer David Bernad has actually come out and defended this scene saying it's not just for shock value but part of a larger thematic idea. Apparently this brotherly kiss and the overall Ratliff Family dysfunction is going to have a "satisfying" narrative purpose later in the season. We will see about that but right now it is just... uncomfortable. Especially given Saxon's general creepiness towards his siblings all season.
Speaking of the Ratliffs Piper finally confesses to her parents the REAL reason she dragged them to Thailand. Turns out her thesis is fake and she actually wants to spend a year at a meditation center there. Mom Victoria predictably freaks out about the "Chinese religion" and "Taiwan" (geography is not her strong suit apparently). Meanwhile Dad Tim who has been spiraling all season after learning he is under investigation for white-collar crime? He is planning to use Gaitok's gun to kill himself. Victoria interrupts his suicide attempt with some hilariously clueless reassurance about how successful he is. It is dark comedy at its finest but also deeply sad and messed up.
Desire and Discontent: Other Wild Moments from Episode 5
It wasn't just the Rockwell scene and the Ratliff family freaking out. Episode 5 was packed with other moments highlighting the characters' desires and the inevitable discontent that follows:
- Jaclyn and Valentin Hook Up: Remember Lori the single friend on the girls trip? She seemed to be the one interested in Valentin but surprise! Valentin ends up in bed with Jaclyn. Jaclyn has been pushing Lori and Valentin together all week but it seems she wanted Valentin for herself all along. Talk about friend betrayal.
- Belinda and Pornchai Finally Kiss: In a rare moment of sweetness Belinda and Pornchai FINALLY share a bedside kiss. After seasons of Belinda getting the short end of the stick it's a genuinely heartwarming moment to see her get something she desires. It's a nice contrast to all the other messed up desires on display this episode.
- Full Moon Party Mayhem: The episode is set against the backdrop of the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan and the wild party atmosphere definitely amps up the chaos and questionable decisions.
Episode 5 Highlights: The Most Shocking and Talk-worthy Moments
- Sam Rockwell's Buddhist Sex Monologue: Frank's confession about his sexual odyssey and spiritual awakening is truly unforgettable and bizarre.
- The Ratliff Brothers' Kiss: Saxon and Lochlan's incestuous kiss is shocking uncomfortable and definitely going to be debated.
- Tim's Suicide Attempt Interrupted: Tim's near-suicide and Victoria's cluelessness is a darkly comedic and heartbreaking moment.
- Jaclyn Steals Valentin: Jaclyn's betrayal of Lori and hookup with Valentin adds another layer of drama to the girls trip storyline.
- Belinda Finds a Little Happiness: Belinda and Pornchai's kiss provides a brief but welcome moment of genuine connection amidst the chaos.
Is White Lotus Season 3 Going Off the Rails or Is This All Part of the Plan?
Episode 5 of White Lotus Season 3 definitely took things to another level of crazy. Some viewers might be loving the escalating drama and shocking twists. Others... well others might be wondering if the show has gone completely off the rails. Forbes even declared that Season 3 has "turned out to be bad" criticizing the lack of comedy and the overly dramatic storylines.
But is this all intentional? Is Mike White intentionally pushing boundaries and making us uncomfortable to explore deeper themes about desire identity and human nature? Or has The White Lotus lost its way and become shock value for shock value's sake? Episode 5 certainly leaves you with a lot to think about and a lot to question. Love it or hate it one thing is for sure: White Lotus Season 3 is not boring.