Why I'm Obsessed with White Lotus and Why You Should Be Too

By: Rylee Cassidy

Season 3 of the infamous show The White Lotus primered February 16, 2025 and this season is arguably the best season to date. This season takes place in Thailand, a different, but equally beautiful, vacation spot than the show has seen. In the first episode we are introduced to all of the vacationers that will be the main source of plot on the show.

Jaclyn Lemon, a famous actress boards the boat with her two childhood friends, Laurie and Kate. These three have a seemingly perfect friendship even though two out of the three of them have seemingly perfect lives. Things go awry when the facade that guards their real lives is unfolded by Laurie.

When we are first introduced to Rick and Chelsea, it goes without saying that they have two

very different personalities. Chelsea is a ray of sunshine with her constant positive remarks and Rick looks like he would rather be anywhere else than with his girlfriend by his side. Rick does not reveal much about his life and the reason for his miserable attitude until he spots the hotel owner, Khun Sritala.

Whether it's due to their high status in the finance world or the nature of their family dynamics we spot the Ratliff family next. Barreling in from North Carolina, the Ratliff family, Timothy, Victoria, Piper, Saxon, and Lochlan come from a very wealthy family directly because of their fathers success in the finance industry. The reason for their trip: Piper’s dissertation on a Thai monastery. As the show continues and the plot unravels, we see the eerie secrets this family is hiding.

Bravely traveling by herself all the way from season 1, the beloved Belinda is back for round 3 in this season. When we meet Belinda she is staying at the hotel with hopes to learn new spa practices from The White Lotus’s chain in Thailand. She has not given up on her dream of opening her own spa, which was promised to her by the late Tanya McQuoid, and is in this new place training to learn new ways she can strengthen her skills.

Just like Belinda there is another character from season 1, although this person may not be as beloved. We meet Greg, Gary from seasons 1 and 2, from Chelsea’s perspective after his girlfriend Chloe and him have a fight. To those of us who have watched seasons 1 and 2 of the show before we immediately recognized the face, but not the name of Greg. Gary/Greg seems to have taken hiding in plain sight to the next level as he has moved to Thailand after the events of season 2 which ended with a failed attempted murder on his behalf.

Two of the hotel staff, Mook and Gaitok, are shown to us in the very beginning of the show and we see their love story develop over time. Although they may not interact with the guests that often, their storyline is unique and interesting in its own way as we see Gaitok try to balance getting the girl of his dreams while also figuring out his own life goals.

Finally, just like the past two seasons of The White Lotus we are introduced to some of the hotel staff when the guests arrive. We meet Valentin, an attractive masseuse who immediately becomes fond of Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie. Fabien, a timid hotel manager. Pornchai, who spends most of his time teaching Belinda his trade, and the infamous Khun Sritala who is the head of this chain of hotels.

In conclusion, this season brings a fresh new take to the past two seasons of The White Lotus with its variety of plots that all seamlessly mesh into one. This season has everything from water gun fights to real gun fights with action, sex, humor, and more in between. Not only this but it features a breathtaking place full of rich culture that many gloss over when imaging vacations. Make sure to watch every episode of the new season of The White Lotus on Max now!