www.forbes.com
The White LotusCredit: HBOThis weekends episode of The White Lotus ends with a promise, or perhaps a threat. As several of our heroes boat off across the ocean to an island full moon party, Saxon raises his beer in a toast: $&%!s about to get crazy! he says the other partygoers. There is much merriment all around. But we know that Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) is correct. Things are about to get very crazy, indeed, for both the staff and guests of Thailands posh White Lotus hotel. Spoilers ahead.The Last Boy ScoutThe White LotusCredit: HBOProbably the most significant moment in the entire season so far, other than the shooting itself in the opening scene, is the introduction of The Gun. Russian playwright Anton Chekov famously said, when discussing narratives, If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.Mike White turns this idiom on its head a bit by introducing a body in the first act, but its the same concept. Episode 4 effectively begins the second act of this season of The White Lotus, and its not until the second act that the actual gun makes an appearance. Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) is having a very bad week. The feds are investigating a shady embezzlement scheme he and a colleague, Kenny (Ke Huy Quan) were involved in, and he learns from his lawyer that said colleague is fully cooperating with the investigation. So much for killing himself, now hes selling Timothy down the river.Ratliff is clearly not above stealing. The money scheme may have been his first taste of this and that but he continues to steal and lie once in Thailand. He pilfers one of his wifes benzos after she urges him to take one to relax. Then he takes a couple more. When Victoria (Parker Posey) confronts her children about the missing pills, he doesnt confess. When they go on Gary/Gregs (John Gries) boat, Victoria hides her purse and Timothy steals the entire bottle.How hes still managing to stand, let alone stay awake, by the dinnertime is truly baffling. Several lorazepams and several drinks in, he can barely sit up straight.There are several important moments with Timothy:He tells a couple on the boat that hes in finance and then reveals that his grandfather was the governor of South Carolina, his father was a successful businessman and then starts rambling about how glad he is his parents are dead. The couple politely makes their escape.At the bar, he asks Gary/Greg what hes doing in Thailand. They say people only come here for two reasons, he tells him, to look for something or to hide from something. We know that Gary/Greg is doing both, but he brushes it off. Hes just retired. When he asks Timothy the same question, he says that hes just on vacation with his family But you never know . . . .Finally, at dinner his wife tells Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) that shes lucky her dad isnt like one of those tax-evaders and other neer-do-wells on the boat. Hes a boy scout she says. Rattled, he makes a quick exit and goes to retrieve his phone.The last conversation he has is with his lawyer, who tells him the bad news and that he should expect prison time, though in a cushy federal prison and only a few months if they play their cards right. Id rather die! Timothy shouts. And whats he supposed to tell his family now that all their assets have likely been frozen and the government is poised to take their house and all their worldly goods? That were poor now? he scoffs. He hurls some further abuse at his lawyer before hanging up. And as he veers into a panic attack that even a day of lorazepam and booze cant waylay, he looks up and notices something.Which brings us to Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) who is about to have a very bad evening. The affable security guard hasnt had the best day, either. Hes been given a stern talking-to by both hotel manager, Fabian (Christian Friedel) and his direct supervisor. The supervisor wants him to learn how to shoot a pistol, which he takes out of his desk and shows him. Immediately, I knew this would be The Gun.Later, as Gaitok sits staring at the handgun, Mook (Lalisa Manobal) walks in, dressed in an elaborate costume and looking quite lovely. Gaitok is twitterpated, and forgets everything else. He offers to walk Mook back when she says its time to go, and all he can think of is how badly he wants to go on a date with her. He doesnt think about putting the gun back.So there it is, on the desk, when Timothy Ratliff looks up. Gaitok passes him on the way back to the security guard station, but its doubtful hell put two and two together. The gun is gone, and Gaitoks world comes crashing down around him.I Want My Father Back, You S.O.B.The White LotusCredit: HBOFor some time now, Ive suspected that Rick (Walton Goggins) hasnt brought Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) to The White Lotus for R&R, though lord knows he could use some. In Hide or Seek we confirm our suspicions. After much pouting and begging, Rick tells Chelsea the truth. The man who (allegedly) murdered his father while his father was (allegedly) just trying to help people in Thailand is the owner of the hotel. Thats why theyre here and thats why Rick has to go to Bangkok.She doesnt want him to go because she knows hell likely do something stupid and try to take revenge. Is this like a You killed my father, prepare to die thing? she asks, in a very funny little reference to one of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride. He assures her that it is not, that he just wants to look the man in the eyes and tell him what hes done, how hes ruined his life, but it seems unlikely that Rick will be calm enough to leave it at that, should he find his fathers killer.Rick also bumps into Amrita (Shalini Peiris) who tells him that hes touched her heart, and urges him to continue to come to meditation sessions. You can break the karmic cycle, she says. He can walk a new path. This has an impact on him, clearly, but he tells her hes off to Bangkok and leaves it at that.Its All Fun And Games Until Someone Gets SoakedThe White LotusCredit: HBOMuch of the comic relief this episode comes from the Gossip Girls: Kate (Leslie Bib), Laurie (Carrie Coon) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan). Jaclyn is stressing out about her husbands lack of communication. He isnt answering her calls or returning her texts. Shes half-convinced herself that hes just busy shooting a movie, but she has her doubts. These manifest as anstiness. Jaclyn wants to get out of the hotel and go do something fun.The Gossip Girls turn to Valentin (Arnas Fedaraviius) for suggestions and he sends them first to a nearby beach pool and bar. Here, Jaclyn runs into some older women who ask if shes on TV. After a brief and deeply awkward conversation, Jaclyn begins to notice her surroundings: Almost all of the guests are old. She grows increasingly flustered and then gathers her friends and makes a speedy retreat, hollering at them to hurry up.She finds Valentin and asks him why he sent them there. Its a good question. This was clearly not the vibe she was looking for and Valentin certainly knew that. They force him to join them on their next endeavor and the quartet heads into town where he departs to go track down his friends to join them. Before he goes, they notice that everyone in the crowd has water-guns and he says not to worry. The locals are celebrating Songkran, a holiday that is traditionally celebrated with water fights. This takes place during the hottest, driest time of the year in Thailand, and it actually gives us a precise date for when this story is taking place: Between April 13th and April 15th.In any case, this all seems kind of curious to them until some mischievous children take an interest in these three white women, so clearly not participating in the festivities. Soon, the Gossip Girls are surrounded by kids with super-soakers, blasting them as they first beg, then scold, then run screaming through the streets. Honestly, in that heat why not just enjoy it? If theyd simply ignored their attackers, the kids would have gotten bored and moved on, but instead they did everything possible to ensure theyd get a good spray-down, before finally hiding in a little shop to escape. When they look out, the kids are waiting for them. Its probably the most hilarious moment yet this season, and the funniest this show has been since Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) tried to climb off the boat in Season 2 and derped her way to an early grave.Finally, our trio makes their way to a beachside bar where Valentin and two of his friends await. These are, I assume, the two thieves from the second episode. The first is Bikovi (Julian Kostov) whose eyes and brow match the masked gunmans. The second is Vlad (Yuri Kolokolnikov) whos wearing a hat, but who looks like he could easily be the driver from the jewelry heist due to his lack of hair. $%*^s about to get crazy, alright!The Curious Incident Of The Gary In The Night-TimeThe White LotusCredit: HBOFinally, we have Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) who cant stop thinking about Greg/Gary and how she knows she knows him and cant shake how weird the whole thing is. She hears another noise in her room, but I dont think this is Greg/Gary. Maybe its a monkey. I dont think its him because he doesnt start investigating her until the end of the episode, and the noises shes been hearing were at the end of last weeks episode and beginning of this weeks.In any case, she looks up Tanya and learns about her untimely and suspicious death. She also learns that her husband was wanted for questioning by Italian authorities but never showed up. Hes off hiding in Thailand, up to no good. Shes shocked by these revelations, though its unclear what she plans to do about it, or whether shell be able to before Greg/Gary does something to silence her.Her son, Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) is set to arrive the next day. We already met him, of course, when we see him and Amrita during a meditation session when the gunshots start ringing out in the jungle.Whos shooting the gun? Is it Timothy, finally off his rocker with stress going on a suicide shooting spree? Could it be one of the thieves? Or perhaps Rick, hunting down his fathers killer? Maybe one of the Gossip Girls has a mental breakdown and goes on a rampage. Then again, it could be Gaitok chasing down Valentins cronies.Or perhaps . . . just maybe . . . its a monkey with a gun. If you introduce a monkey in the first act, you have to have it fire a gun in the third. Chekovs Monkey.Scattered ThoughtsWhat if Sritala (Lek Patravadi) and her husband are mixed up in the robbery? They could be pulling an insurance scam. Who better knows just how lax the security is at the hotel?I am starting to suspect that when Rick finds his fathers killer, the man will be in such bad health that exacting revenge will not seem as appealing. But I also believe that Rick will get in some kind of trouble in Bangkok.The full moon party is going to be crazy. Saxon and Lachlan (Sam Nivola) are hoping for a good time, but I wonder if theyre getting in over their heads. We all are sort of rooting for Saxon to get smacked down in some form or another, but I worry about Lachlan, who is too easily influenced by his crummy big brother.Piper also reveals this episode that shes planning on moving to Thailand to join the Buddhist retreat. She wants to reveal this at dinner, but her timing could not be worse. It appears she wont that conversation just yet. Shes also the first to notice that her father is acting not just strangely, but that something is wrong. She asks him and he just stares at her, then sort of caresses her hair and face and tells her he loves her so much, that shes perfect, until hes interrupted by Victorias arrival and news that her pills are missing. Its . . . uncomfortable. I think all the weird incestuous stuff weve noticed with the Ratliff family is making me see every interaction of theirs through that lens, even if there isnt anything going on.Ill add any other scattered thoughts I come up with to this section if and when I have them.What did you think of this episode? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
