When the curtains lifted on Season 3 of "The White Lotus" last month, an undeniable ripple of astonishment spread through viewers as Belinda, a recurring character, unexpectedly encountered a hauntingly familiar visage amidst the serene resorts of Thailand: Greg Hunt, the cunning suitor of the late, lamented Tanya McQuoid. As the season unfolded with captivating intrigue, Greg, brought to life by Jon Gries, emerged as a formidable antagonist, particularly after Belinda embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding Tanya's untimely demise and discovered that Greg, now alias Gary, had cleverly evaded the authorities' probing eyes.
In a series renowned for its relentless reinvention, the same transformative demand was placed upon the actor, who embraced the challenge of portraying a character whose essence shifted like quicksilver. Like "White Lotus" itself, Gries's role was a labyrinth of twists and turns. Reflecting on his initial portrayal, Gries shared in a recent CNN interview, "At the onset, I envisioned Greg as a man on his last legs," referencing the character's overtly fragile health in the critically acclaimed first season that premiered in the summer of 2021. He further elaborated, "When portraying a character, one seeks to uncover their empathetic side, to trace their origins and comprehend the journey that led them to their present circumstances."
However, when creator Mike White extended an invitation for Gries to reprise his role in Season 2, the actor realized he needed to recalibrate his conception of Greg, despite having already conjured up a "comprehensive history" for him in his mind. Recalling the encounter, Gries said, "White told me, 'I'm penning it as we speak, and I'm writing for you. I just need a straight answer now: If you're in, I'll keep going. If not, I'll halt.'" Needless to say, Gries eagerly agreed, ultimately relocating to Italy for several months to film his scenes.
During production, White revealed to Gries that Greg harbored a "sinister" nature, a revelation that became unmistakable by the season's gripping climax, which unveiled Tanya's demise orchestrated by her new spouse. Enter Season 3, where Gries was tasked with rescripting Greg's backstory once more, drawing inspiration from unlikely sources such as the HBO docuseries "The Jinx," chronicling the life of convicted killer Robert Durst, and the captivating tale of the infamous "Tinder Swindler."
Gries was particularly struck by Durst's "placid demeanor," which served as a blueprint for Greg's evolving persona—a man who displayed minimal emotion, rarely showing anger, instead displaying a hint of irritation that masked a dangerous undercurrent. "Beneath that exterior lies a repressed fury," Gries mused. "Such individuals—at least in the guise of Gary, Greg, Gary—fascinate me."
Yet, as Gries sought to rekindle an empathetic connection with his character, he pondered if any redeeming qualities lingered within Greg. A pivotal moment of clarity arrived during a crucial conversation with White just prior to filming in Thailand. In unequivocal terms, the show's creator labeled Greg a "psychopath." "That was my epiphany," Gries recounted. "It was like starting from scratch. And it genuinely aided me."
The penultimate episode of the series will air on Sunday, a night that, thanks to "The White Lotus" and other compelling shows, has reclaimed its status as a must-watch evening amidst a broader shift away from binge-watching. Gries expressed his appreciation for this change. "We are a society that, in a peculiar way, overlooks the beauty of anticipation, the magic found in the silence between the notes," he mused. "If I binge-watched 'White Lotus,' it would be akin to consuming too many chocolates. The experience would lose its flavor. You need time to digest it."
"The White Lotus" airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO, with episodes available for streaming on Max. Both HBO and Max, like CNN, are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.
