Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The White Lotus season 3, episode 1, “Same Spirits, New Forms.“The White Lotusis only one episode into season 3, but fan theories about the latest outing of the HBO show are already surfacing — and some are pretty convincing after the premiere. Every season ofThe White Lotusopens with a mystery, and this one is no exception. Gunfire at the White Lotus resort in Thailand raises questions about whether any of the characters are dead and why. There are certainly some suspicious figures amidThe White Lotusseason 3’s cast, and they give viewers plenty to speculate about when it comes to the opening scene.
They also raise other questions throughoutThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 1, as it’s obvious some of these characters have secrets that will come out later on. From the bizarre behavior of Walton Goggins' character, Rick, to the awkward tensions between the Ratcliff siblings, there are several eyebrow-raising moments in “Same Spirits, New Forms.” Viewers have come up with theories to explain them, and the best ones would make for great twists.
5Walton Goggins' Rick Is A Hitman In The White Lotus Season 3
Sritala’s Husband, Jim, Might Be His Target
Walton Goggins' Rick is among the most aggressive characters introduced inThe White Lotusseason 3, and his reasons for visiting the titular resort may be more sinister than he’s letting on. His girlfriend, Chelsea, mentions that she wanted to visit Australia during the premiere, and she also notes that it’s unusual for them to splurge like this.It appears that visiting the White Lotus in Thailand was Rick’s idea, and the fact that he’s looking for the hotel owner’s husband offers context for this choice.
This theory would explain Rick’s decisions in the premiere, and it would also explain why he’s no longer allowed in Australia.
There are plenty of reasonsRick might be looking for Sritala’s husband, Jim, but his reaction upon learning that he’s not there is a bit surprising. He becomes angry and flustered, leaving viewers to wonder why it’s so important that he finds Jim.Some speculate that Rick is a hitman who’s been hired to kill Jim, and his response is fueled by the fear that he won’t complete his job. This theory would explain Rick’s decisions in the premiere, and it would also explain why he’s no longer allowed in Australia: he has probably gotten in trouble with the law there.
4Carrie Coon’s Laurie Is The Mother Of The White Lotus Season 2’s Portia
The Two Bear A Striking Resemblance To One Another
Laurie travels to the White Lotus in Thailand with her friends Jaclyn and Kate, butThe White Lotusseason 3 makes it obvious that she’s the odd one out in their friend group. It’s not entirely clear why this is the case, but Laurie needs to excuse herself while her friends are celebrating. She appears to feel less successful, happy, and connected than the other two — at least on the surface. We don’t know the trio well yet, but viewers do get a few tidbits about Laurie’s life as the friends talk. Andamong them is the fact that she has a daughter.
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As Laurie bears a resemblance to Portia fromThe White Lotusseason 2,some viewers are positing that Portia is Laurie’s daughter(viaReddit). Despite Portia getting wrapped up in the conflict between Tanya and Greg,The White Lotusseason 2’s endingdoesn’t give her much closure. Having her mother be one of the main characters ofThe White Lotusseason 3 might be a stretch, but it would also be a clever means of revealing what happened to Portia and connecting the two seasons.
3Lochlan Isn’t Related To The Other Ratcliffs
It Would Explain The Weird Tensions In The White Lotus Season 3, Episode 1
The members of the Ratcliff family have an extremely uncomfortable dynamic inThe White Lotusseason 3, and that’s especially true when it comes to the kids. The eldest son, Saxon, acts appalled when his brother and sister want to share a room, and he immediately sexualizes the situation. He also openly discusses masturbation in front of his younger brother, Lochlan, who watches him closely as he heads to the bathroom naked to watch pornography.
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These moments left viewers wondering what is going on withthe Ratcliff kids inThe White Lotusseason 3, as the tensions between them feel a bit incestuous. OneReddittheory posits another explanation for the strange dynamic, however: that Lochlan isn’t related to the rest of the family. If Lochlan was recently adopted, it might explain Saxon not wanting him to stay with his sister, or Lochlan being attracted to one of them.It would also make sense of his efforts to fit in, as well as the fact that the siblings speak to each other like they’re not well-acquainted.
2Jaclyn Is Dying In The White Lotus Season 3
This Would Flip All The Comments About How Young & Great She Looks
ThisReddittheory aboutThe White Lotusseason 3 feels like another jump, butone viewer posits that Jaclyn is dying in the newest season of the show. Jaclyn appears to be the most glamorous and successful of her friends, and there are lots of comments about how young and great she looks in the premiere. She gets a bit awkward when faced with these, and she dodges questions about the doctor she uses to get work done.The White Lotusmay be setting the stage to subvert expectations surrounding her character, revealing she’s not as healthy and well-off as she looks.
New episodes ofThe White Lotusseason 3 air on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. They stream on Max at the same time.
Notably,Jaclyn pays for her friends to go on this trip to the White Lotus, and she seems interested in the wellness aspect of the resort. All of this could be connected to her being sick, which would be a devastating revelation for her travel companions. It would also turn the situation with Laurie on its head, as Laurie is spending so much time being jealous, when her friends' lives aren’t necessarily better than hers. We’ll need more evidence for this Jaclyn theory, but it would make for an intriguing twist.
1The Shooting Has Something To Do With The Monkeys At The Resort
The Most Popular Theory So Far Is Also The Most Outlandish
The White Lotusis known for dropping minor details that become important later, and season 3’s premiere focuses on the presence of the monkeys at the resort quite a bit. This has resulted in theories that the monkeys are somehow involved in season 3’s shooting — and while initially seems outlandish, there are ways to make it work. While most speculation jests that the monkeys could be doing the shooting,it’s possible one of the guests is shootingatthe monkeys duringThe White Lotusseason 3’s opening.
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We’re specifically told that the monkeys can be aggressive, which could be the series laying the groundwork for such a twist. It’s possible the dead body from the beginning of season 3 isn’t from the gunfire at all; the gunfire could be a guest attempting to fend off the wildlife. There’s also a lot of focus on the resort’s pong-pong tree in the premiere, which could be the real clue abouthowThe White Lotusseason 3’s mystery victim dies. All of this would be a great way to upend expectations, somethingThe White Lotusis known for doing.
