The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 2 “Special Treatments” sheds light on what might have initially attracted Rick (played by Walton Goggins) and Chelsea (played by Aimee Lou Wood) to each other: their physical connection. Although Chelsea is a hopeless romantic who believes she was meant to rescue Rick from his deep-seated issues, it becomes clear in this episode that they share intense chemistry in bed, as hinted by Sabrina Carpenter’s lyrics. This chemistry culminates in a passionate encounter following a tense dinner involving Chelsea’s new friend Chloe (played by Charlotte Le Bon) and her partner “Gary,” who is actually Greg (played by Jon Gries).
Aimee Lou Wood, who portrays Chelsea in The White Lotus Season 3, acknowledges that her character has indeed landed a catch in Rick. While filming the show, Wood couldn’t help but notice the growing admiration for Goggins, particularly due to his portrayal of the enigmatic antihero, the Ghoul, in Prime Video’s Fallout.
“He was already considered a heartthrob, and I agreed, but with the release of Fallout and the Ghoul capturing people’s attention, his popularity soared,” Wood shared with DECIDER. “Throughout our filming, his heartthrob status continued to escalate.”
“It was actually really fun to be around that time that Fallout came out and this huge reaction to the Ghoul and people being like, ‘How can he still be sexy with no nose?’”
“Yeah, I get it. I get it,” Wood said, acknowledging the affect that Walton Goggins has on many fans.
Wood also noted that she, herself, is one of those fans. So much so, she had to separate her costar’s character from his public image to get the job done.
“Yeah, I was saying he had to be ‘Rick’ to me. He couldn’t be Walton Goggins,” Wood said. “Because if he was Walton Goggins, I’d be sat there going, ‘I’m acting with Walton Goggins and I’m freaking out.’ So he was just Rick.”
We learn more about Rick this week. Namely that his father was killed before he was born and his drug addict mother died when he was a child. It’s this trauma that stokes his nihilism.
We also learn more about Rick and Chelsea’s dynamic. They share a private moment of amusement over the fact that Gary/Greg doesn’t know that Chloe is French Canadian, showing a shared sense of humor. When Rick later points out Chloe is likely a sex worker, Chloe is shocked, pushing back that her new friend is a model. This suggests that Chloe is not a sex worker, since the idea didn’t occur to her, and that her attraction to Rick is legit. She also rushes to his arms after surviving the jewelry store heist and then comes to his bed begging that he hold her and protect her. Chelsea really is sprung on her man.
When DECIDER asked Aimee Lou Wood if Chelsea likes Rick for just his personality, or if she’s sexually attracted to the man she drags for being “old” and “grumpy,” she once again references her co-star’s sex symbol status.
“I think that it is his soul, but, yeah, Chelsea will definitely be like, ‘Rick’s gorge!’” Wood said. “I mean, yeah, obviously. It’s Walton.”
The White Lotus returns next Sunday, March 2 at 9 PM ET on HBO and MAX.
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