S03.E03: The Meaning of Dreams

[luna1122again]

Walton Goggins did a movie a few years called Them That Follow, in which he played a charismatic Pentecostal preacher in Appalachia, in a sect that incorporated snake handling in his sermons. So he knows a little bit about managing snakes. But i just read an interview with him this am in which he admits that he's pathologically terrified of snakes. The man faces his fears for his art! 

And poor Rick. Even with his girlfriend getting bitten by a cobra, he couldn't get out of dinner with Gary/Greg. 

[dabbrusc]

16 hours ago, Night Cheese said:

I was confused as well. I wonder if the writing team is aware that Austin is a very blue (only blue?) part of TX? I can see them writing her as living there to demonstrate how much money her husband has because the cost of living in Austin is so high, but to be a wealthy, church-going Trump supporter, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex would have made more sense.

Houston is also very blue in Texas.

And while Austin itself is liberal when you get to the more affluent suburbs just outside of town they would be very conservative. Presumably Kate lives in one of those.

[MollyB]

23 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

Oh damn, Brenda is so onto Greg/Gary, I am very concerned about her now.

Is the White Lotus the only restaurant in town?  I would think he'd stay away from any and all White Lotus venues.  

[peeayebee]

He and Chloe may not normally go there, but since Chloe found a new friend in Chelsea, she probably pushed for them to have dinner there. 

[MamaMax]

14 hours ago, peeayebee said:

I think you've hit it. In her separate conversations with Jaclyn and then with Laurie, she was agreeing with whatever they were saying about the other woman. In a way, I now don't think she was being two-faced, but just that she kind of absorbs other people's opinions because she doesn't know what to think herself.

Jaclyn and Laurie said that Kate just follows her husband, so all this is consistent with her. They may have moved to Austin for work, with that having nothing to do with it being liberal. Many people assume if you say you live in Austin, you must be liberal. 

Another thing is that Kate honestly didn't seem to anticipate that her saying, or implying, that she voted for Trump would get a negative reaction from her friends. I mean, that's a volatile subject. She seems to live in a bubble.

I don't know - I saw some face acting going on there where I felt Kate was watching the other 2 closely to gauge their reactions and that she tested the water with religion before rolling into politics. I think she was 100% aware that the other 2 would disagree at best, and be appalled at worst. 

I feel like its not as much about all three of them tearing each other apart as much as Kate and Laurie competing for Jacklyn's BFF status. The discussion they had between themselves was (I think) a little protesting too much, I think they both feel she's the queen bee, popular girl. 

[roughing it]

On 3/3/2025 at 11:43 AM, Broderbits said:

Or at least get her teeth fixed! I know it's shallow of me, but her buckteeth are just awful.

Chloe's teeth are bad too.  They are horribly crooked.  You'd think being a model she would have them fixed?  Or maybe she's not really a model 😉

Edited Tuesday at 07:34 PM by roughing it
oh shit

[topanga]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

He and Chloe may not normally go there, but since Chloe found a new friend in Chelsea, she probably pushed for them to have dinner there. 

Chloe and Saxon were making googly eyes at each other from across the restaurant. What's the over-under that they hooked up already?

14 hours ago, peeayebee said:

What did she see in her room? Nothing looked weird to me, but she said, "Fuck is that?"

All in all, I didn't particularly love this ep. I don't mind character development and subtle storytelling.

I heard noises in Belinda's room when she sat down. Maybe it was just the wind (or monkeys). Let's hope it's not Gary/Greg.

Yeah, this season is somewhat interesting but hasn't grabbed me emotionally just yet. It would help if the characters were more compelling. Or funny or likable. 

[roughing it]

23 hours ago, Broderbits said:

Or at least get her teeth fixed! I know it's shallow of me, but her buckteeth are just awful.

Chloe's teeth are bad too.  They are horribly crooked.  You'd think being a model she would have them fixed?  Or maybe she's not really a model 😉

[Irlandesa]

18 minutes ago, MamaMax said:

I don't know - I saw some face acting going on there where I felt Kate was watching the other 2 closely to gauge their reactions and that she tested the water with religion before rolling into politics. I think she was 100% aware that the other 2 would disagree at best, and be appalled at worst.

Yep.  She had a plastered on smile when they asked if she voted for Trump even though she didn't answer.  I also thought her decision to describe herself as an indepenent when they asked if she was a repubican was a deliberate attempt to thread the needle.

For me, this was a very boring episode up until we got to this scene and Belinda confronting Greg. 

[roughing it]

On 3/3/2025 at 11:43 AM, Broderbits said:

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:35 PM by roughing it
oopsie

[eclectcmoi]

59 minutes ago, topanga said:

Chloe and Saxon were making googly eyes at each other from across the restaurant. What's the over-under that they hooked up already?

I heard noises in Belinda's room when she sat down. Maybe it was just the wind (or monkeys). Let's hope it's not Gary/Greg.

Yeah, this season is somewhat interesting but hasn't grabbed me emotionally just yet. It would help if the characters were more compelling. Or funny or likable. 

I think if Chloe and Saxon had hooked up already, we would've seen it. There really hasn't been any sex at all in this season so far compared to the past seasons.

And... I'm confused. Does Belinda not know that Tanya is dead?  Didn't she say when she was explaining to Pornchai that Tanya had left the White Lotus and never followed through on her offer to help Belinda with her own spa? If she doesn't know Tanya is dead, would she think Gary/Greg was a bad guy? 

[peeayebee]

It sure seems like she doesn't know Tanya is dead.

[Snewtsie]

I really need to see some more info from the writers on why Chelsea is with a guy like Rick, who seems totally irritated by her most of the time.  Did they trauma bond over a past brush with death?  Is she inserting herself into his life like a psycho, and he too weak (or enjoying the sex too much) to end things?  The only time he showed her any affection was after the armed robbery- and I thought we might be given more insight on their dynamic but so far nothing.  We need more backstory on these two.

 

1 hour ago, eclectcmoi said:

And... I'm confused. Does Belinda not know that Tanya is dead?  Didn't she say when she was explaining to Pornchai that Tanya had left the White Lotus and never followed through on her offer to help Belinda with her own spa? If she doesn't know Tanya is dead, would she think Gary/Greg was a bad guy? 

I think we see in the previews for next week that Belinda will learn of Tanya's death... so at this point, no, she does not yet know this.

[eclectcmoi]

25 minutes ago, Snewtsie said:

I think we see in the previews for next week that Belinda will learn of Tanya's death... so at this point, no, she does not yet know this.

Thanks for the clarification!  My recording cut off before the previews for next week so I missed this. 

[carrps]

22 hours ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

The White Lotus 3x03 | Which Character Voted for Trump? | TVLine

 

Leslie Bibb was not terribly coherent in the beginning part of that interview. Carrie c**** was great -- very insightful and intelligent.

 

2 hours ago, roughing it said:

Chloe's teeth are bad too.  They are horribly crooked.  You'd think being a model she would have them fixed?  Or maybe she's not really a model 😉

I noticed that, too, and had the same thought. Also, when she did that full body stretch on that pool lounger, she looked like a skeleton. I know you have to be super skinny to be a model, but I just cringe looking at her.

 

4 minutes ago, eclectcmoi said:

Thanks for the clarification!  My recording cut off before the previews for next week so I missed this. 

Moi aussi. So thanks from me, too.

[RedHawk]

On 3/3/2025 at 1:01 PM, MamaMax said:

I loved Belinda's dress at dinner.  Is she feeling attracted to Pornchai? I couldn't tell. He was obviously feeling her. 

I think Kate's living in Austin was the reason the other 2 were surprised to hear she was conservative and church-going.  It may not have been as much of a shock if they knew she was living somewhere ultra-conservative.  Does Kate work? 

Yes, Belinda is definitely attracted to Pornchai. He also seems attracted to her. I think she's doing the "oh, there's no way this guy is into me, I'm not attractive enough (etc.) for him" thing on herself. I was hoping she'd yell for him when she got scared someone or something was in her room. 

Even in the bluest places there are conservatives. So Kate living in Austin doesn't mean there aren't churches there. She might attend one of the modern "evangelical" Rick Warren-affiliated mega-churches. Maybe she started going because her husband grew up Republican, perhaps a native Texan, and a church-goer. And possibly she was always more conservative than her two friends and they never really noticed or paid attention. It wasn't such a dividing line before Trump-MAGA happened. 

[cardigirl]

Has the theory that Valentin is part of the gang and in on the robbery and distracted Gaitok on purpose been floated? Cause the more I see of Valentin, the more uneasy I become.

[astrohip]

On 3/3/2025 at 5:54 PM, Night Cheese said:

I was confused as well. I wonder if the writing team is aware that Austin is a very blue (only blue?) part of TX? I can see them writing her as living there to demonstrate how much money her husband has because the cost of living in Austin is so high, but to be a wealthy, church-going Trump supporter, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex would have made more sense.

The big TX cities are all Blue. They tend to be very blue in the core/center, and getter redder as you go out.

example: Houston is a Blue city, although not near as liberal as (for example) a NE city. But the Houston suburbs are Red.

Also, Texas is not a bright Red as people think. Typically, in a pres election, it goes 52-55 red, 45-48 blue. Nothing like a RED state that's 70-30 or 80-20 (eg, Wyoming). Gerrymandering has given Reds huge power here, even though they are barely a majority.

[JenE4]

21 hours ago, Blakeston said:

Chelsea seems downright stalker-ey. The whole "if you get me killed, I'll find you every time we get reincarnated" thing was just creepy.

I'm not sure if she'd be acting this way around Rick if he wasn't bankrolling a life of extravagant travel. That said, I think she's perceptive enough to realize that he has a decent side.

That was pretty much the only thing that really struck me about this episode, how Chelsea repeatedly mentioned they’re soulmates, how she’ll follow him in this life and the next life and the life after that, and how Rick almost got her killed and she almost died twice. Being in Thailand and the focus on Buddhism, I felt like they were really implying that Chelsea in this life was Rick’s father in the past life. And that’s why there’s such a big age difference because Rick’s father died before Chelsea was born. To me, that also seemed to imply that if Rick is nearly getting Chelsea killed in this life, then perhaps he did something that led to his father’s death. Whatever is going on with the hotel owner couple, he seems to be trying to get karma for his father’s death. So maybe something he did as a kid either led to or at least didn’t stop the hotelier husband from killing his father. Ironically, he probably will get Chelsea killed in this life, since they are telegraphing that.

1 hour ago, cardigirl said:

Has the theory that Valentin is part of the gang and in on the robbery and distracted Gaitok on purpose been floated? Cause the more I see of Valentin, the more uneasy I become.

Yes, I said that in the last episode thread, that Valentin is obviously involved the way he distracted Gaitok and let the robbers through.

[DrSpaceman73]

While texas cetainly has the typical bug city blue parts, it's pretty red.  

 

[carrps]

What are the population numbers in the red areas vs. the blue areas? 

 

[Makai]

13 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

While texas cetainly has the typical bug city blue parts, it's pretty red.  

 

Heavily gerrymandered. The precinct map gives a more accurate picture.

Edited Wednesday at 06:25 PM by Makai

[astrohip]

4 hours ago, carrps said:

What are the population numbers in the red areas vs. the blue areas? 

 

That's the key. While that map makes it look like TX is 99% Red, it's the land that's 99% red. But most of that land is sparsely populated.

2024 Pres results: 56-42, 2020 was 52-47.

The areas around Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio... JUST these four areas have 2/3 of the entire state's population.

[DrSpaceman73]

4 hours ago, Makai said:

Heavily gerrymandered. The precinct map gives a more accurate picture.

Yeah I looked at that too but still pretty red.

I'm sure Austin and Dallas like all big cities are more blue, as shown, but I'd also guess she's in a rich white suburb, not 'in the city' and her area is hard core red.  

15 minutes ago, astrohip said:

That's the key. While that map makes it look like TX is 99% Red, it's the land that's 99% red. But most of that land is sparsely populated.

2024 Pres results: 56-42, 2020 was 52-47.

The areas around Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio... JUST these four areas have 2/3 of the entire state's population.

If you're referring to the map I posted it's by congressional district.  They'll all going to have about the same population. I chose that view on purpose. 

And yes gerrymandering but still, outside major city center metros,  which is blue countrywide,  all suburbs and rural areas are red. 

I don't like it but it's just how the election went.  

[chaifan]

On 3/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, RedHawk said:

Yes, Belinda is definitely attracted to Pornchai.

I'm not convinced, but I go back and forth.  Before this episode I thought so.  But when he walked her to her room at the end of the episode, and once she was inside, the expression she had was more like you'd give when there's some young kid who has a crush on you and you think it's silly.  So I really don't know.

At the end of season 2, in the final episode thread I think, I posted a theory on Greg that I was hoping would be revealed this season.  Basically, that he's part of a group con men (mostly gay) who find easy marks in older women at these types of resorts.  Tanya wasn't the first victim, wouldn't be the last.  I was hoping there would be a flashback to him staking out Tanya, developing the plan, etc.  And then we'd see him do the same this season, but it would end with him getting caught/killed.  

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out Chloe is his new partner in crime.  I don't think they're after Saxon - he doesn't have any money.  But to get to Tim's money through him could be what they're after.  And then they'll find out there is no money.

And I think it would be hilarious to find out that Chelsea isn't who she says she is, either a con woman, or somehow involved in whatever mystery Rick is trying to unravel.

I'm really bored with the Ratliffe family, all of them.  I find nothing interesting about Timothy's plight, as he's admitted upright it's a mess of his own making.  But now he's trying to play the victim.  Victoria is boring.  Piper is boring.  Both boys are boring.  

I see -0- chemistry between Chelsea and Rick.  I don't get them as a couple at all.  

It's hard for me to believe that other WL's wouldn't hear about the death of a guest, especially one that stayed at their WL only a year prior.  I would think stuff like that would be purposely conveyed to hotel management, and then trickle down from there.  

I was wondering if Brenda's son had arrived, and that's who is making the noise in the apartment.  I think it's a fake out.  I wonder if WL keeps pictures of guests (so they can easily be identified upon arrival), and if Brenda will ask Maui for a picture of Greg.  

The 3 friends story is entertaining, and I find it believable.  I do wish they hadn't actually said "Trump", though.  It always takes me out of a story when real life is brought into it so bluntly.  They could have talked around him, so we'd all know who they were talking about, without saying his name.  

Mook & Gaitok are also snoozers.  yawn.  

I'm in it for the scenery, I guess.  I'm not really invested, but at least no one is grating on my nerves like in prior seasons.  (Not just Jennifer Coolidge by the way.)

 

 

 

[peeayebee]

51 minutes ago, chaifan said:

I'm not convinced, but I go back and forth.  Before this episode I thought so.  But when he walked her to her room at the end of the episode, and once she was inside, the expression she had was more like you'd give when there's some young kid who has a crush on you and you think it's silly.

I saw it the same way, which surprised me because I thought earlier she looked attracted to him.

Quote

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out Chloe is his new partner in crime. 

I don't know. She told Chelsea that Greg/Gary's first wife disappeared into the ocean, IIRC, and just an arm was found? Am I remembering that right? Anyway, I don't get the impression that she knows about Greg/Gary's real background.

Quote

I'm really bored with the Ratliffe family, all of them.

Me too. I like Piper ok, but Timothy is a one-note character, as are the others. I can't stand Saxon, and Lachlan is dull as dishwater. 

I read that some viewers think Saxon is so hot. Ugh. Yes, he has a nice body and face, but everything else about him cancels that out.

Quote

I was wondering if Brenda's son had arrived, and that's who is making the noise in the apartment.  I think it's a fake out.

I forgot about him. That would be weird if he had snuck into her room. I suppose his visit was a surprise. Did she say she was expecting him? I still don't see what she saw in the room. Was her closet door open? I may rewatch. :shrug:

 

Quote

Mook & Gaitok are also snoozers.  yawn.  

Aww, I love them. Both are very cute, in looks and personality. I esp like Gaitok. He is so sweet. However, I figure we're in for a personality switch with him. He wants to be seen as a tough guy, in order to please Mook, but I think he's going to take it too far.

[bilgistic]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

I read that some viewers think Saxon is so hot. Ugh. Yes, he has a nice body and face, but everything else about him cancels that out.

It's the constant shit-eating grin that I can't stand.

[KittyQ]

On 3/3/2025 at 7:35 PM, Blakeston said:

Chelsea seems downright stalker-ey. The whole "if you get me killed, I'll find you every time we get reincarnated" thing was just creepy.

I don't know - I've threatened to haunt people if they end up getting me killed by doing something I'm wary of. It is a way to voice your concern about doing something risky without putting your foot down.

Is there any significance to two of the three girlfriends being named like OG Charlie's Angels actresses? 

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 3/3/2025 at 10:36 PM, peeayebee said:

What did she see in her room? Nothing looked weird to me, but she said, "Fuck is that?"

She heard a noise.

On 3/4/2025 at 1:31 PM, topanga said:

I heard noises in Belinda's room when she sat down. Maybe it was just the wind (or monkeys). Let's hope it's not Gary/Greg.

Yes.

On 3/6/2025 at 10:10 AM, peeayebee said:

Quote

I was wondering if Brenda's son had arrived, and that's who is making the noise in the apartment.  I think it's a fake out.

I forgot about him. That would be weird if he had snuck into her room. I suppose his visit was a surprise. Did she say she was expecting him?

Yes, she said it when she was shown to her room.

On 3/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, RedHawk said:

Yes, Belinda is definitely attracted to Pornchai. He also seems attracted to her. I think she's doing the "oh, there's no way this guy is into me, I'm not attractive enough (etc.) for him" thing on herself.

Agreed.

On 3/6/2025 at 9:09 AM, chaifan said:

I'm not convinced, but I go back and forth.  Before this episode I thought so.  But when he walked her to her room at the end of the episode, and once she was inside, the expression she had was more like you'd give when there's some young kid who has a crush on you and you think it's silly.  So I really don't know.

He was drunk, and he said he's never drunk.  Not a good time to invite him in.

On 3/4/2025 at 8:12 PM, JenE4 said:

To me, that also seemed to imply that if Rick is nearly getting Chelsea killed in this life, then perhaps he did something that led to his father’s death.

On 3/4/2025 at 8:12 PM, JenE4 said:

So maybe something he did as a kid either led to or at least didn’t stop the hotelier husband from killing his father.

He told Amrita that his father died before he was born.

On 3/6/2025 at 1:29 PM, KittyQ said:

Is there any significance to two of the three girlfriends being named like OG Charlie's Angels actresses? 

Kate Jackson was on the show from 1976-1979, and Jaclyn Smith from 1976-1981. If the White Lotus characters are meant to be around 45-48, they could have been named after the then-popular actresses. (Leslie Bibb is 50 and Michelle Monaghan is 48.)

Edited Friday at 07:01 PM by ItCouldBeWorse

[chaifan]

On 3/6/2025 at 10:10 AM, peeayebee said:

That would be weird if he had snuck into her room. I suppose his visit was a surprise. Did she say she was expecting him?

Yeah, but I could see this being a oh, I was able to get an earlier flight and wanted to surprise you.  I'm just saying maybe it's the son.  On the other hand, his luggage would be in the room...  So maybe not.  I still think it's a fake out of some sort.

On 3/6/2025 at 10:10 AM, peeayebee said:

Aww, I love them. Both are very cute, in looks and personality. I esp like Gaitok. He is so sweet.

Yes, the characters are sweet.  I just find their story line to be really boring.  It does seem something is going to happen with Gaitok, so we'll see. 

 

[Roccos Brother]

I'm surprised this show tried to portray Austin as if it were some Trump-loving bastion of Christianity and ultra conservatism. I mean, it's Austin... not Odessa or Waco.