Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The White Lotus Season 3.It’s a wrap on yet another drama-filled stay atThe White Lotus.Season 3 was chock-full of messy and out-of-touch characters, from the Ratliff family, who are unaware they are about to lose everything, to Rick (Walton Goggins), who uses his vacation to settle a personal vendetta. But one of the most intriguing storylines of the season was that of Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Kate (Leslie Bibb). They are a trio of longtime friends who haven’t seen each other in a while and decide to check into The White Lotus Thailand for a girls' trip. But what was intended to be a bonding and catch-up experience for the ladies is instead rife with personal drama, as they don’t seem to like each other all that much. Much of their arc is spent talking behind one another’s backs and being generally catty toward each other. So when it came time for the finale, fans were expecting to see the trio’s friendship implode once and for all, as that’s what the show had been building to.Instead, the final episode sees the women reconcile with an admittedly beautiful monologue that just doesn’t feel earned after all we’ve seen.
Laurie, Jaclyn, and Kate Are Toxic Friends In ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3
When the women first arrive at the resort all seems fine.Jaclyn is clearly the ringleader of the group, being that she’s a Hollywood star and is the one funding the trip. Laurie has recently gone through a messy divorce, and Kate is sort of the mediator (and instigator) who holds them all together. In only the second episode of the season, Jaclyn and Kate gossip about Laurie’s divorce and daughter as soon as she’s out of the room. In the next episode, Kate and Laurie gossip about Jaclyn’s obsession with looks, and in the following episode, Jaclyn and Laurie gossip about Kate’s political views.It’s a vicious cycle, and it only accelerates as their time at the resort goes on.
The true turning point is when they go out to a clubwhere they meet up with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravicius), a handsome worker at The White Lotus, and his friends. All of the men are attractive, but Laurie is especially drawn to Valentin at Jaclyn’s insistence. That is until they get back to the resort, and Jaclyn quickly outshines her friends and gets Valentin’s attention, sneaking him into her villa to have sex, which Laurie finds out about after Kate sees him leave the next morning. Her confrontation with Jaclyn about her actions has to be one of the most awkward moments of the season. She’s rightfully upset, but they also have a few more days left of vacation together, and since Jaclyn doesn’t see her actions as wrong,they end up in an argument that lingers for the remaining episodes. The stalemate comes to a head during a heated confrontation at dinner, prompting Laurie to abandon her friends to go have a wild night of her own.
‘The White Lotus’ Finale Faked Us Out Twice, and Neither Worked
Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice…
By the time the finale rolls around, it seems pretty clear that their friendship is simply not viable anymore.They’re all grown women; they’re not the same people they were when they first became friends, and that should be okay. But instead of acknowledging the crappy time they had with each other,Laurie delivers a grand monologue about how much she loves her friends, leading to a reconciliation that does not feel earned all things considered.
Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie’s Reconciliation Doesn’t Work
A happy ending for aWhite Lotusstoryline can be quite rare, and it’s great that Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie get a fairly euphoric farewell (even if they were privy to a murder shortly after). But after spending an entire season watching them bicker and gossip about one another, it doesn’t work the way it should. Laurie’s monologue to her friends is all about howshe has no belief system, because all the things she thought she believed in, like love, motherhood, and her career, have all failed her. But she says that time is the one thing that gives her life meaning and that she started this life with her friends, and even though they live it apart, they’re still linked forever.
“I look at you guys and it feels meaningful and I can’t explain it, but even when we’re just sitting around the pool talking about whatever inane shit it still feels very fucking deep. I am glad you have a beautiful face and I’m glad that you have a beautiful life. I am just happy to be at the table."
It’s a stunning monologue, beautifully delivered by Carrie Coon, as her character finally realizes that even though she’s gone through some hard stuff, she is enough and she deserves happiness just as much as anyone else. It’s a great character moment, but unfortunately, it doesn’t fully hit as hard as it could because we never got to see the good parts of their friendship. Granted, the point ofThe White Lotusis that we are literally spending these people’s vacation with them. We only know them for the duration of their stay and thus only get a glimpse into their life. So on one hand, it’s understandable that we don’t have much backstory for them. But on the other,the show spent so much time pitting the women against one anotherwhen it could’ve thrown in at least one or two scenes to show that they actually do care about each other.
That’s why this scene doesn’t work, especially coming from Laurie, who, for all that has gone on, isthe one most deserving of better friendswho will actually support her and care for her during her hardships, not turn her problems into petty gossip.This sort of realization about friendship would make more sense coming from Jaclyn, given that she’s the most out of touch with those around her.It would have been nice to see her own up to that and leave their storyline open-ended. But coming from Laurie, who admits that she spent her entire trip sad, it felt like a cheesy copout to give at least one storyline a happy ending.
The White Lotus
