Fans of The White Lotus were left heartbroken when two beloved characters met their demise in a dramatic bloodbath during the season three finale. But amidst the tragedy, one astute viewer has uncovered a symbolic secret tucked away within the chaos.
Viewers set social media alight after the 90-minute episode aired on HBO on Sunday night, with many expressing shock over of the dramatic ending.
Like previous seasons, the first episode foreshadowed one death by showing a corpse floating in a pond.
However, in a surprise twist, three key characters were killed off this season, including two beloved fan favorites.
The carefree Chelsea, portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood, and her ill-fated lover Rick, played by Walton Goggins, perished in a violent confrontation at the opulent resort. Alongside them, the hotel magnate Jim Hollinger, portrayed by Scott Glenn, also met his end, unveiling the startling revelation that he was Rick’s biological father.
A sharp-eyed fan noticed a subtle yet profound significance in the positioning of Rick and Chelsea’s lifeless forms in the pond, recognizing a striking resemblance to the ancient yin and yang symbol.
The Season 3 finale of HBO ‘s The White Lotus delivered much more death than previous seasons, with a whopping three victims losing their lives
Free-spirited Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and her star-crossed lover Rick (Walton Goggins) both died in a shootout at the luxury resort
X user Spencer Althouse spotted a hidden meaning in the scene, tweeting: ‘Holy crap Rick and Chelsea’s bodies literally formed the yin and yang symbol after they died in the White Lotus’. Chelsea had previously described their ‘yin and yang’ union, noting she represents hope in the relationship while Rick represents pain
Hotel owner Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), who was revealed to be Rick’s real father, was also gunned down by Rick himself, before Sritala revealed Jim was actually RIck’s father
Rick revealed earlier this season that he had come to Thailand to confront the man his mother said killed his father, White Lotus co-owner Jim Hollinger.
Rick ultimately got in the same room with Jim, under the ruse of a movie production wanting to cast his wife, but he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to kill or even harm the man.
Rick returned to The White Lotus in the premiere a changed man, this weight off his shoulders, but that all changed when he ran into Jim back at his resort.
Jim called Rick’s mother some disparaging things, which caused the resentment to build back inside him as he confronted Jim again, pulling Jim’s own gun from his jacket and shooting him in the chest multiple times.
It was then Sritiala who delivered the biggest twist of the season yet, revealing that Jim Hollinger himself was actually Rick’s father!
After killing Jim, his private security engaged in a gunfight with Rick (the shooting heard in the premiere), and while he killed them, his beloved Chelsea was caught in the crossfire.
As Rick tried to carry his dead girlfriend away, Gaitok arrived and shot Rick many times in the back, causing Rick and the already-dead Chelsea to fall into the pond.
X user Spencer Althouse shared an image of Rick and Chelsea’s bodies, side by side with the Chinese yin and yang symbol, tweeting, ‘holy crap Rick and Chelsea’s bodies literally formed the yin and yang symbol after they died in the White Lotus.’
Rick revealed earlier this season that he had come to Thailand to confront the man his mother said killed his father, White Lotus co-owner Jim Hollinger.
Rick ultimately got in the same room with Jim, under the ruse of a movie production wanting to cast his wife, but he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to kill or even harm the man
It was then Sritiala who delivered the biggest twist of the season yet, revealing that Jim Hollinger himself was actually Rick’s father!
The alignment of their corpses is certainly quite purposeful, after Chelsea explained to Saxon how yin and yang fits into their own relationship.
During last week’s episode, Chelsea said that she represents hope in the relationship while Rick represents pain.
‘He has this sadness. It really touches me. I want to heal him. It’s like we’re in this yin and yang battle. And I’m hope… And Rick is pain. And, eventually, one of us will win,’ Chelsea tells Saxon.
Though, unfortunately, neither of them won, as they both ended up dead amid tragic circumstances as Rick let his pain get the best of him, forcing him to kill Jim Hollinger, thus forcing Gaitok to kill him, with Chelsea simply caught in the crossfire.
An X user dubbed @slaytlinbb2 added, ‘idk why people are saying you’re forcing this – you’re absolutely right. it was referenced for a reason. chelsea said one of them would win – it was Rick and that’s why he’s face up.’
Alex (@Alexbashestv) added, ‘There’s a lesson here. Don’t let your hate and anger distract you from the love you have. At the table rick said: I can’t let go of what he took from me. And Chelsea said: but I’m here. Bro had it all and didn’t value it so he lost it all.’
Yellen (@yellenomix) added, ‘people disagreeing with this tweet and saying the season sucked makes so much sense lmao they don’t know what they’re watching but SWEAR they do. it’s called symbolism.’
While others thought the suggestion was ‘forced,’ others saw it, like @LIYLKY, who said, ‘“you’re forcing it” well they’re not gonna twist their bodies to form it so that your brain can understand the symbolism that’s already BEEN established.’
An X user dubbed @slaytlinbb2 added, ‘idk why people are saying you’re forcing this – you’re absolutely right. it was referenced for a reason. chelsea said one of them would win – it was Rick and that’s why he’s face up.’
Alex (@Alexbashestv) added, ‘There’s a lesson here. Don’t let your hate and anger distract you from the love you have. At the table rick said: I can’t let go of what he took from me. And Chelsea said: but I’m here. Bro had it all and didn’t value it so he lost it all.’
Yellen (@yellenomix) added, ‘people disagreeing with this tweet and saying the season sucked makes so much sense lmao they don’t know what they’re watching but SWEAR they do. it’s called symbolism’
After killing Jim, his private security engaged in a gunfight with Rick (the shooting heard in the premiere), and while he killed them, his beloved Chelsea was caught in the crossfire
As Rick tried to carry his dead girlfriend away, Gaitok arrived and shot Rick many times in the back, causing Rick and the already-dead Chelsea to fall into the pond
Gaitok pulls his weapon and kills Rick with several shots to the back as he carried his dead girlfriend Chelsea away.
Fans did not hesitate to take to social media to react to the shocking twist online, including X user John Schmitz (@johnschmitz001).
‘I loved the ending. But I hated that Chelsea died 🙁 I guess we can’t have everything in life #TheWhiteLotus,’ John said.
Danny (@beyoncegarden) added, ‘we spent the entire season waiting for rick to get his revenge only for it to be HIM who killed his own father right along with chelsea.’
Others like Julian (@jxmld_) were upset with creator Mike White, stating, ‘WHY DOES THE WHITE LOTUS ALWAYS MANAGE TO P*SS ME OFF DURING THE FINAL EPISODE!! Mike white count your days!!!! #TheWhiteLotus.’
Kahra (@24_Karrots_) added, ‘Of course he’s Rick’s dad, where’s that tweet I saw 3 weeks ago #TheWhiteLotus.’
Others like Miam (@makeitamystery) were impressed with the finale and the season as a wohle, stating, ‘A very satisfying ending to a great season. #TheWhiteLotus.’
Others like Raven Brunner (@raventbrunner) were done with the series as a whole, tweeting, ‘#TheWhiteLotus should pack it up after these three seasons because each season has been a bit worse than the one before. It has been fun but S3 had no new tricks.’
Others like @famefcker said, ‘All that just for the to kill chelsea I’ll never forgive Mike White she was supposed to have the multiple season arch.’
Mar (@roycoswift) shared a GIF of Chelsea shots adding in all caps, ‘MIKE WHITE HOW DARE YOU #TheWhiteLotus
‘I loved the ending. But I hated that Chelsea died 🙁 I guess we can’t have everything in life #TheWhiteLotus,’ John said
Danny (@beyoncegarden) added, ‘we spent the entire season waiting for rick to get his revenge only for it to be HIM who killed his own father right along with chelsea.’
Others like Julian (@jxmld_) were upset with creator Mike White, stating, ‘WHY DOES THE WHITE LOTUS ALWAYS MANAGE TO PISS ME OFF DURING THE FINAL EPISODE!! Mike white count your days!!!! #TheWhiteLotus.’
Kahra (@24_Karrots_) added, ‘Of course he’s Rick’s dad, where’s that tweet I saw 3 weeks ago #TheWhiteLotus’
Others like Miam (@makeitamystery) were impressed with the finale and the season as a wohle, stating, ‘A very satisfying ending to a great season. #TheWhiteLotus.’
Others like Raven Brunner (@raventbrunner) were done with the series as a whole, tweeting, ‘#TheWhiteLotus should pack it up after these three seasons because each season has been a bit worse than the one before. It has been fun but S3 had no new tricks.’
Others like @famefcker said, ‘All that just for the to kill chelsea I’ll never forgive Mike White she was supposed to have the multiple season arch.’
Mar (@roycoswift) shared a GIF of Chelsea shots adding in all caps, ‘MIKE WHITE HOW DARE YOU #TheWhiteLotus
While there were three deaths in the finale, there were almost four, with Lochlan (Sam Nivola) nearly meeting his maker as well.
The Ratliff patriarch Timothy (Jason Isaacs) decided to use the fruit from the pong pong true – which their health mentor Pam (Morgana O’Reilly) said had poisonous seeds.
While Timothy arrived at The White Lotus on Cloud 9, his world quickly started to unravel, as he learned the feds were closing in on him and his company.
He decided to put an end to his family’s woes by making them all pina coladas with the poisonous seeds mixed into the drink, except for Sam, since he wasn’t 21 yet.
As they were all enjoying their drinks, Timothy had a change of heart, slapping Saxon’s drink from his hand and taking the rest away, saying the coconut milk had gone bad, as they switched to wine instead.
The next morning, Lochlan went to make one of his brother Saxon’s protein shakes, without cleaning out the blender with the poisonous seeds.
As his mother Victoria, sister Piper and brother Saxon went to their final breakfast, they let Timothy sleep in, and he would wake up to find Saxon unconscious.
Somehow Lochlan was brought back to life, which confused some fans and left some angry at Lochlan simply for using a dirty blender.
While there were three deaths in the finale, there were almost four, with Lochlan (Sam Nivola) nearly meeting his maker as well
The Ratliff patriarch Timothy (Jason Isaacs) decided to use the fruit from the pong pong true – which their health mentor Pam (Morgana O’Reilly) said had poisonous seeds
Somehow Lochlan was brought back to life, which confused some fans and left some angry at Lochlan simply for using a dirty blender
An X user dubbed @1llicitBuck said, ‘How lazy do you have to be to not clean a used blender out. Lochlan deserves that atp- #WhiteLotus #thewhitelotus.’
Juju (@jul13an) adds ‘So lochlan gets to resurrect like jesus christ yet chelsea dies??? #TheWhiteLotus.’
MT (@bem_vinda0) insisted, ‘#TheWhiteLotus Lochlan deserved peace’
Others like Bukan Nicolas Saputra (@sandhykeyz) said, ‘Lochlan used it just the way it was showed us that he is a spoiled kid. He didn’t get the idea of washing dishes.’
Another X user – @stfusaturnn – said ‘Lochlan not cleaning the blender that was sitting there overnight was the real shocker of the season #TheWhiteLotus’
Keenan Cooks (@AyoKeenan_) said, ‘Timothy I’ll never forgive you for almost killing Lochlan !! #TheWhiteLotus.’
An X user dubbed @1llicitBuck said, ‘How lazy do you have to be to not clean a used blender out. Lochlan deserves that atp- #WhiteLotus #thewhitelotus.’
Juju (@jul13an) adds ‘So lochlan gets to resurrect like jesus christ yet chelsea dies??? #TheWhiteLotus.’
MT (@bem_vinda0) insisted, ‘#TheWhiteLotus Lochlan deserved peace,’ while Keenan Cooks (@AyoKeenan_) said, ‘Timothy I’ll never forgive you for almost killing Lochlan !! #TheWhiteLotus.’
Others like Bukan Nicolas Saputra (@sandhykeyz) said, ‘Lochlan used it just the way it was showed us that he is a spoiled kid. He didn’t get the idea of washing dishes.’
Another X user – @stfusaturnn – said ‘Lochlan not cleaning the blender that was sitting there overnight was the real shocker of the season #TheWhiteLotus.’
Elsewhere in the episode, Valentin confessed to Gaitok that he and his friends Aleksei and Vlad robbed the jewelry store.
Valentin reveals his friends can’t work in Thailand so they robbed the jewelry store, insisting they will die if he turns them in, but Gaitok ultimately doesn’t turn them in.
The three girlfriends – Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Kate (Leslie Mann) and Laurie (Carrie Coon) all buried the hatchet after a fun but sometimes-contentious week together.
Gaitok seemed to have also gotten the girl with Mook, after his promotion to the owner’s private driver/security staff.
The White Lotus has been renewed for a fourth season on HBO, though it’s unclear where the season will be set.
