The White Lotus: The Meaning of Dreams
March 2, 2025 7:23 PM - Season 3, Episode 3 - Subscribe
Saxon gets work calls too, so Timothy enforces a no-phone rule. Chelsea faces danger after going to town with Rick. Jaclyn pushes Laurie toward Valentin, while Gaitok fears trouble with his superiors.
“Reiki → Paganism → Christianity → Texas conservatives → The myth of independent voters → Did you vote for Trump?”—from Amanda Whiting’s 4-star recap for Vulture.
“Reiki → Paganism → Christianity → Texas conservatives → The myth of independent voters → Did you vote for Trump?”—from Amanda Whiting’s 4-star recap for Vulture.
You know he's right about those snakes they look sort of depres-
no no man no what are you doing
Odd observation: for some reason the cocktails looked particularly delicious last night and I don't know why.
posted by jquinby at 6:08 AM on March 3 [5 favorites]
no no man no what are you doing
Odd observation: for some reason the cocktails looked particularly delicious last night and I don't know why.
posted by jquinby at 6:08 AM on March 3 [5 favorites]
Another episode that just felt too long, but perhaps like the editor, I'm not 100% sure what to eliminate.
An uncomfortable silence as the Childhood Trio Friends discover that one of them moved to Texas and became a Trumper. "They're good families!" Uh. What's interesting is how the show is clearly setting up situations where all three women feel isolated and/or criticized by the other two. What I don't know is the end goal here. Do they end up split up by the end of the trip? Do two pair off against another in a life or death situation near the end? So far I find the three characters among the least interesting as a story element.
In Team UNC/Duke, it's kind of interesting watching someone start to live boil under a criminal investigation. I'm feeling that next episode we see Jason Isaac's Timothy break into the safe or something to get his phone back. Incidentally, for those wondering, Thailand does have an extradition treaty with the United States. Saxon continues to be Saxon, both uninteresting, but charming in a revolting way. Is Saxon going to get himself shot by Greg after flirting too much with Chloe? And when will Lochlan come out of the closet with the show throwing "you protect yourself with your feminine half" followed by immediate discomfort? Piper getting the Friday appointment felt rather omniscient of something bad happening on Friday. And of course...the tsunami dream. Yes, yes, there is a tsunami, but it is a metaphorical one on its way.
Belinda. He is into you.
Maybe it's Walter Goggin's general appeal, but Rick and Chelsea's story is maybe one of my favorites of the season. It's a good pairing with Chelsea constantly calling him out while he kind of wanders in a post-psychological daze from his sessions on his life. I feel like we knew the snake freeing was going to happen. I was kind of surprised that Chelsea being bitten ended up being a nonstakes situation other than if we're counting, that's twice that she's almost died. Third time is a bad charm?
posted by Atreides at 7:28 AM on March 3 [3 favorites]
An uncomfortable silence as the Childhood Trio Friends discover that one of them moved to Texas and became a Trumper. "They're good families!" Uh. What's interesting is how the show is clearly setting up situations where all three women feel isolated and/or criticized by the other two. What I don't know is the end goal here. Do they end up split up by the end of the trip? Do two pair off against another in a life or death situation near the end? So far I find the three characters among the least interesting as a story element.
In Team UNC/Duke, it's kind of interesting watching someone start to live boil under a criminal investigation. I'm feeling that next episode we see Jason Isaac's Timothy break into the safe or something to get his phone back. Incidentally, for those wondering, Thailand does have an extradition treaty with the United States. Saxon continues to be Saxon, both uninteresting, but charming in a revolting way. Is Saxon going to get himself shot by Greg after flirting too much with Chloe? And when will Lochlan come out of the closet with the show throwing "you protect yourself with your feminine half" followed by immediate discomfort? Piper getting the Friday appointment felt rather omniscient of something bad happening on Friday. And of course...the tsunami dream. Yes, yes, there is a tsunami, but it is a metaphorical one on its way.
Belinda. He is into you.
Maybe it's Walter Goggin's general appeal, but Rick and Chelsea's story is maybe one of my favorites of the season. It's a good pairing with Chelsea constantly calling him out while he kind of wanders in a post-psychological daze from his sessions on his life. I feel like we knew the snake freeing was going to happen. I was kind of surprised that Chelsea being bitten ended up being a nonstakes situation other than if we're counting, that's twice that she's almost died. Third time is a bad charm?
posted by Atreides at 7:28 AM on March 3 [3 favorites]
The "I'm an Independent" line was the first time this season has gotten me to audibly laugh. I was also amused at their unease/testing of whether Valentin is a "good" Russian.
Overall this season isn't gripping me as much as the first two - not quite sure why - but there is still time.
posted by coffeecat at 11:31 AM on March 3 [3 favorites]
Overall this season isn't gripping me as much as the first two - not quite sure why - but there is still time.
posted by coffeecat at 11:31 AM on March 3 [3 favorites]
Walter Goggin's general appeal
In this I find him balanced on a knife-edge of being appealing and repulsive, although that's a thing that quite a few TWL characters have pulled off before. I do find Rick & Chelsea's relationship oddly compelling.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:23 PM on March 3 [4 favorites]
In this I find him balanced on a knife-edge of being appealing and repulsive, although that's a thing that quite a few TWL characters have pulled off before. I do find Rick & Chelsea's relationship oddly compelling.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:23 PM on March 3 [4 favorites]
I think part of this is Chelsea is almost a POV character for the audience. When we want to holler at Rick, she does it for us.
posted by Atreides at 2:02 PM on March 3
posted by Atreides at 2:02 PM on March 3
I have never found Walton Goggins less interesting than I do as Rick, alas, but I do like Chelsea. Maybe Rick will get more interesting grilling Gary on a boat next episode.
I am extremely concerned Gaitok will end up in trouble, either as the shooter or as the person whose gun ends up in the shooter's hands.
Best case scenario, Saxon shoots or gets shot by Greg/Gary, over Chloe or whatever, but no way Mike White plotted out anything that viscerally satisfying.
I also feel like this season is dragging a little overall, but I am prepared to change my opinion entirely if Belinda can fuck up Greg's Thai life in some way and have a satisfying fling with Pornchai.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:30 PM on March 3 [5 favorites]
I am extremely concerned Gaitok will end up in trouble, either as the shooter or as the person whose gun ends up in the shooter's hands.
Best case scenario, Saxon shoots or gets shot by Greg/Gary, over Chloe or whatever, but no way Mike White plotted out anything that viscerally satisfying.
I also feel like this season is dragging a little overall, but I am prepared to change my opinion entirely if Belinda can fuck up Greg's Thai life in some way and have a satisfying fling with Pornchai.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:30 PM on March 3 [5 favorites]
Yeah, I'm thinking Gaitok is lining up to be the heel. He's a sweet character, but he's also kind of clueless and innocent and over enthusiastic. Which I think is a bad thing for White Lotus characters. He takes every chance to insert himself in Mook's life, despite her showing no interest. He seeks the boss lady's favor, unsolicited, apparently thinking getting cold cocked is a sign of bravery or toughness, even though he kind of failed to do his job that resulted in a robbery. Maybe he'll get that new promotion next episode. Or canned. Either way, he may decide he's got something to prove, both to Mook, and to those jerk security guards.
Rick is starting to hold some interest for me. Curiously, it feels like we're getting to know more about him than Chelsea, who insists that he's her soulmate. Despite him mostly being a dick, and the two of them seemingly not knowing, or caring, all that much about each other. Except when Rick is toasted.
I don't know what's going through Timothy's mind, but I thought he was going to pop when Lochlan shows him the video of the tsunami, saying, "he didn't even run...just stood there" as the man get swept away. The window of opportunity is closing.
Saxon's a total douche indeed, but he seems more like a complete facade bullshit nepo baby (yeah, I know), desperately needing Daddy's approval. So it's especially cringy when Dad shows utmost concern trying to get the phone locked away from him by cloaking it as fatherly love.
And if he ends up taking all Victoria's pills, she's going to have a very rough vacation.
Piper's ambition feels pretty cringy. Her study of the religion is like that of a exactly who she is: a rich American enchanted with the exotic East. The monks with Macs probably get a steady stream of such seekers, and considering the proximity to resorts, and are likely willing to accommodate as many as are willing to pay their way.
The three girlfriends... ugh. Who love the idea of being closest of old friends, despite having so little in common, and jockeying to establish a hierarchy each can live with.
And poor Pornchai. I can't decide of Belinda is oblivious or just really not interested. I think the latter.
"Is that a Thai expression?"
Oh, it is now...
posted by 2N2222 at 11:12 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
Rick is starting to hold some interest for me. Curiously, it feels like we're getting to know more about him than Chelsea, who insists that he's her soulmate. Despite him mostly being a dick, and the two of them seemingly not knowing, or caring, all that much about each other. Except when Rick is toasted.
I don't know what's going through Timothy's mind, but I thought he was going to pop when Lochlan shows him the video of the tsunami, saying, "he didn't even run...just stood there" as the man get swept away. The window of opportunity is closing.
Saxon's a total douche indeed, but he seems more like a complete facade bullshit nepo baby (yeah, I know), desperately needing Daddy's approval. So it's especially cringy when Dad shows utmost concern trying to get the phone locked away from him by cloaking it as fatherly love.
And if he ends up taking all Victoria's pills, she's going to have a very rough vacation.
Piper's ambition feels pretty cringy. Her study of the religion is like that of a exactly who she is: a rich American enchanted with the exotic East. The monks with Macs probably get a steady stream of such seekers, and considering the proximity to resorts, and are likely willing to accommodate as many as are willing to pay their way.
The three girlfriends... ugh. Who love the idea of being closest of old friends, despite having so little in common, and jockeying to establish a hierarchy each can live with.
And poor Pornchai. I can't decide of Belinda is oblivious or just really not interested. I think the latter.
"Is that a Thai expression?"
Oh, it is now...
posted by 2N2222 at 11:12 PM on March 6 [2 favorites]
You know he's right about those snakes they look sort of depres-
He only released those snakes because the iguana wouldn’t have fitted in a tuk-tuk.
posted by rongorongo at 4:12 AM on March 8
He only released those snakes because the iguana wouldn’t have fitted in a tuk-tuk.
posted by rongorongo at 4:12 AM on March 8
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posted by bcwinters at 7:28 PM on March 2