It transpires that snakes have infiltrated every corner of The White Lotus Thailand. The master of ceremonies at the local cobra exhibition declares that these reptiles aren't confined to the jungles alone; they've also slithered into farms and cities. In episode 3, we witness them crawling across the floor during Rick and Chelsea's unplanned rendezvous—poor Chelsea, indeed!—and lurking unseen during Kate, Jaclyn, and Laurie's girls' trip. According to Chelsea, their serpentine presence could signify a biblical omen, whereas Piper views it as a dire warning. With the mysterious murder haunting our thoughts, we dare not dismiss this hint casually.
Victoria's dreams have taken on a chilling tone as well. In her slumber, the mother of three envisions a tsunami bearing down on the beach, with their North Carolina home perilously perched on the shoreline. While this might seem like a lingering effect of Lochlan showing her tsunami videos on YouTube the previous night, Piper suggests at breakfast that it could symbolize something far more profound. Saxon dismisses this notion with a sneer, asserting, "We all dream of fire and snakes because we're inherently afraid of them. It's not that deep."
Yet, it is indeed that deep. If anything, the colossal waves crashing through Victoria's subconscious serve as a metaphor for the impending scandal involving Timothy, which threatens to engulf him at any moment. In fact, Timothy has just received a voicemail informing him that the FBI has obtained a search warrant for his office. "Do not talk to anyone until you hear from me," his colleague instructs him over the phone.
This bombshell pushes Timothy to the brink, prompting him to abide by the resort's no-phone policy after all. If no one can reach him, he reasons, he can't be implicated in any trouble. Saxon, who adores his work and finds this sudden reversal of heart despicable, is disgusted. His father, however, tries to soothe him by reassuring him of his son's brilliant career ahead but emphasizes the importance of unplugging and cherishing what truly matters in life—like family. It's a lesson worth heeding, but Timothy's real motive is to keep Saxon in the dark about the unfolding drama at the office.
Meanwhile, Rick is also up to some suspicious antics. At the breakfast buffet, he introduces himself to Sritala grandiosely as a Hollywood producer and whispers to the actress-turned-hotel owner that he knows a director who is eager to meet her. Initially skeptical, Sritala nonetheless gives Rick her contact details in Bangkok, where he plans to visit the next day. Chelsea later echoes our perplexity, asking, somewhat exasperated, "What was that all about?" Rick remains tight-lipped as ever. "Scorpio. So secretive!" exclaims Aries Chelsea. As his life partner and soulmate, she yearns to know everything about him, but he remains resolutely silent. "Our signs aren't even compatible," he tells her dismissively. (I'd suggest checking that with the AstroTwins, Rick!)
Surprisingly, Rick does open up during his stress management session. "I've done a lot of bad things," he confesses to Dr. Amrita, but insists that his father "was a good man." The haunting memory of his father's murder has cast a long shadow over Rick's life. "I can't get my life back," he laments.
Another couple facing uncertainty is Mook and Gaitok. Mook, whose head is feeling better after being knocked out in the previous episode, doesn't want to show defeat and offers his services to Sritala as an extra bodyguard. However, Gaitok's bubble bursts quickly when Sritala's other, more intimidating bodyguards scold him for trying to usurp their jobs and dismissively call him a "pussy."
Lochlan's masculinity is also under scrutiny during his corrective posture session. He's told that he sits in a "defensive posture" and protects himself "with his female side." This could be attributed to Lochlan's tendency to blend into the background among his family's larger-than-life personalities, who constantly pull him in different directions - Piper with her spirituality, Saxon with his muscle-building, his mom with UNC, and his dad with Duke. "You meet them on their plane of reality," the guide tells Lochlan, "but what is your reality?"
At the shimmering poolside, Chloe and Chelsea engage in gossip about their grumpy, older beaus, with Chloe ultimately spilling the beans about Greg/Gary's revelations concerning his ex-wife—none other than the infamous Tanya McQuoid. "All I've gleaned is that she was truly a case for the shrinks," Chloe remarks. Greg's narrative paints Tanya as so deeply depressed that she wandered into the ocean and never returned, leaving behind only a floating limb as a grim reminder. White Lotus enthusiasts are well aware that this tale is pure fiction and that Tanya's name deserves far more respect.
Rick then takes Chelsea on a jaunt into town to procure some marijuana, but she craves a bit more excitement. Why not catch a live snake show, they decide? In the confines of the compact venue, the couple watches handlers parade venomous serpents before the captivated audience. However, the weed begins to take effect, and Rick finds himself gripped by panic. (As a layperson in chemistry, I'm inclined to think marijuana doesn't typically evoke such a reaction?) He abruptly rises from his seat, driven to liberate the snakes from their glass confines, despite their lethal nature. Though their liberation might seem heroic, given their perilous reputation, Rick's actions lean more towards madness than bravery. As Chelsea dashes after Rick, a cobra strikes, sinking its fangs into her leg, necessitating a rush to the hospital. Perhaps that weed was adulterated, Rick ponders.
Later, at the girls' dinner, Laurie recounts her "energy session" with Valentin, arranged by Jaclyn with the hope of igniting a fling. Kate, however, is somewhat unnerved by these "New Age" meditation and healing practices, finding them somewhat "witch-like." This is precisely what Jaclyn finds appealing, preferring them to the male-dominated narratives and figures prevalent in Christianity. This is where the tension begins to mount. Kate, a churchgoer every Sunday in Austin, doesn't find it odd to be amidst conservatives in Texas. No, she asserts. When Laurie inquiries if she's a Republican, Kate exclaims, "No!" But before her friends can exhale in relief, she adds, "I'm an independent!" Her husband, however, is a staunch Republican. The fear in Laurie and Jaclyn's eyes intensifies.
"You didn't vote for Trump, did you?" Laurie probes further.
Leslie Bibb's retort is nothing short of brilliant. With sarcasm dripping from her tone and a forced politeness that crinkles Kate's face into an amusing scowl, she then slumps her shoulders and adopts a gravity that seems to silently query, "Really?" Her gaze darts over to Jaclyn, conveying volumes without uttering a single syllable. To me, this moment stands as the season 3 counterpart to Meghann Fahy's Daphne's telling glance at Ethan in season 2. Kate, attempting to brush off the inquiry with a casual shrug, dismisses it hastily, "Are we really gonna talk about Trump tonight?" Meanwhile, the exchange between Laurie and Jaclyn hints at a juicy gossip session post-dinner, their looks speaking louder than words. As expected, Kate overhears them whispering about her in the dead of night, one exclaiming incredulously, "I mean, Trump? Are you insane?" They conjecture that Kate blindly follows her husband's every whim and is desperately trying to blend in in Austin, a liberal oasis in Texas (though that's beside the point). After gossiping about their mutual friends in the previous episode, it seems Kate's turn has come to be the brunt of their jokes.
Elsewhere, during dinner, Belinda, who has spent another delightful day training with Pornchai, thinks she recognizes Greg. She approaches him at the table, her curiosity piqued, and inquires if he has ever visited the White Lotus Maui or been involved with a woman named Tanya. He flatly denies it, his lie palpable. The encounter is eerie enough, but later that evening, Belinda senses an unseen presence – or perhaps someone – lurking in her room.
Before turning in, Rick dials an old friend named Frank, seeking assistance for his upcoming trip to Bangkok. Meanwhile, Chelsea is still grappling with the aftershock of her two recent brushes with death. She wonders aloud why Rick would unleash those cobras, unaware of their inherent malevolence. "Even evil things shouldn't be mistreated; it only fuels their darkness," Rick reflects poignantly, almost as if speaking of himself.
At the Ratliffs' villa, Timothy's behavior grows increasingly odd as he and Victoria prepare for bed. "Is something going on?" she inquires, her voice tinged with concern. He remains silent, leaving her with more questions than answers. Perhaps her dreams will offer some clarity tonight.
