Mike White’s spellbinding social satire, The White Lotus, returned for its third season last week and already, the world is frenzied over the new ensemble cast, luxurious resort, and, of course, the face-down body in the show’s opening scene.
Since its first season, the show has hooked viewers with its complex, morally-corrupt, privileged, horrible (yet, often bizarrely likeable) cast of characters, and this season is already proving no different. Tackling themes of class, sex, race, wealth, morality and this season, spirituality, with astute finesse, White’s brilliance lies in his unique capacity to portray people in all of their messy glory, blurring the lines between love and hate, good and bad, innocent and guilty.
Here, we round up our favourite characters from the third season of the show thus far, as we wait with baited breath to discover who the villain (and victim) is before the end credits roll.
Pam
Homegrown hero Morgana O’Reilly steps into the role of resort staffer and ‘health butler’ Pam with pitch-perfect precision, infusing the series with her signature, quintessentially Kiwi brand of sardonic humour. As she caters to the whims of the monied Ratliff family, O’Reilly — renowned for her sharp comedic prowess — delivers a captivating performance as a knowing staff member who sees straight through their farcical dilemmas.
Victoria Ratliff
Parker Posey stars as Victoria Ratliff, a self-medicated Southern American socialite on holiday with her high flying businessman husband, Timothy (Jason Isaacs), and their three children. With her languid, Xanax-laced charm and exaggerated drawl, Hollywood’s beloved ‘Indie Queen’ crafts a character that’s both compelling and unpredictable — one to watch as the cracks in this picture-perfect family begin to show.
Chelsea
Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood shines as Chelsea, a free-spirited Mancunian on holiday with her much older, perpetually glum boyfriend, Rick. Quickly emerging as the season’s most endearing character (her response to a meagre wine tasting pour — “I don’t mean to complain, but that’s not very much” — certainly helped), Chelsea feels like the perfect embodiment of a cheerful Brit abroad, and with her charm and effortless authenticity, we can’t wait to see where the season takes her.
Saxon Ratliff
Patrick Schwarzenegger (yes, Arnie’s son) delivers a compelling turn as Saxon Ratliff, the acerbic, entitled heir determined to earn his father’s approval — whether or not it’s warranted. The eldest Ratliff sibling, Saxon has little interest in Thailand’s Buddhist philosophies, embracing instead the ruthless tenets of capitalism — money, power, and a not-so-charming streak of misogyny, all wrapped up in a desperate need to prove himself.
Belinda Lindsey
This season welcomes back Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, the warm-hearted spa manager from season one — endearingly kind, yet perpetually out of her depth among the privileged and morally corrupt guests. This time, she’s joined by her son, Zion, the only character we can confidently say is safe from the inevitable chaos. As Belinda embarks on what feels like a doomed journey of self-reconnection, her return is sure to bring both heart and heartbreak.
Laurie
Renowned for her nuanced portrayals of complicated women, Carrie Coon joins this season’s ensemble as Laurie — a businesswoman and mother whose holiday with childhood friends Jaclyn and Kate quickly reveals itself as anything but relaxing. Trapped in endless, vacuous conversations, Laurie swiftly realises she’s outgrown her companions, and as tensions rise, we’re left wondering just how far one burnt-out woman can be pushed before reaching breaking point.
Chloe
French-Canadian actress Charlotte Le Bon steps into the role of Chloe, a regular at The White Lotus who lives nearby with her older boyfriend, Gary. But keen-eyed fans will recognise ‘Gary’ as none other than Greg — Tanya’s (Jennifer Coolidge) scheming ex-husband, who likely walked away with her entire fortune after her untimely, watery demise last season. Whatever Chloe sees in him, we can only hope her fate is kinder than Tanya’s.
