The Ratliff family’s financial woes

The White Lotus fans have checked out of season three with more questions than answers.

Mike White’s smash hit show concluded its third season on Sunday night with a bloodbath in Thailand, which saw the demise of fan favourite Chelsea, her beau Rick and resort owner Jim Hollinger.

Stretching the finale to 90 minutes, and the season to eight episodes, allowed White to pack the pacy plot with twists and turns aplenty.

But whilst the likes of returning character Belinda had her story arc neatly tied up (with a notable throwback to Tanya’s storyline from way back in season one), other characters were left gripping on to loose ends and the dregs of what felt like a hasty edit.

As the credits rolled, one fan declared on X: ‘I need a lorazepam and I need some answers’.

MailOnline rounds up the MIA plot points and unanswered questions… 

The Ratliff family’s financial woes

The White Lotus fans have checked out of season three with more questions than answers after Mike White’s hit show concluded its third season on Sunday with a bloodbath in Thailand

Tim Ratliff’s (Jason Isaacs) life is in tatters as the family sail away from the resort, after the businessman’s finances formed a central plotline of the series

‘You built up that whole storyline only to have a lackluster “we’re family and we’re gonna be alright” ending? nah they didn’t try at all,’ tweeted one furious viewer

Tim Ratliff’s (Jason Isaacs) life is in tatters as the family sail away from the resort, after the businessman’s finances formed a central plotline of the series.

Whilst Tim backtracks on his panicked plan to kill his family with the poison fruit referenced in episode one, White refuses to offer an epilogue for the Ratliff’s future.

In the closing minutes Tim’s wife Victoria (Parker Posey) is seen happily handing out the family’s confiscated phones on board the boat, but the family’s final scene ends without Victoria and the three Ratliff kids discovering their dad’s foibles.

Instead we see a nervy Tim declaring ‘things are about to change but we’ll get through it because we’re family.’

‘You built up that whole storyline about them finding out about their dad’s money laundering scandal, only to have a lackluster “we’re family and we’re gonna be alright” ending? nah they didn’t try at all,’ tweeted one furious viewer.

Others came up with their own alternative conclusions, with one deciding that ‘a better ending would’ve been for Lochlan to have died and then for the Ratliff family to have all gotten their phones back only for the lawyer to call the dad and say it’s all been a mixup, he’s in no legal trouble, & they have all their money.’

Victoria and Kate’s weekend together 

Episode two saw an unexpected crossover between character groups as Kate recognised Victoria Ratliff during breakfast

During the awkward interraction Kate (Lesley Bibb) revealed that the two had met years earlier at a mutual friend’s baby shower, only for Victoria to rudely brush her off

The brief moment stuck in viewers’ minds throughout the seasons, with some theorising that it foreshadowed a future clash

Episode two saw an unexpected crossover between character groups as Kate recognised Victoria Ratliff during breakfast. 

During the awkward interraction Kate (Lesley Bibb) revealed that the two had met years earlier at  a mutual friend’s baby shower, only for Victoria to rudely brush her off.

The brief moment stuck in viewers’ minds throughout the seasons, with some theorising that it foreshadowed a future clash which would see Kate, who remained in possession of her phone and Google access throughout the season, spilling Tim’s money secrets to his blissfully ignorant family.

‘I did hope & expect that Kate would eventually talk about Victoria again & maybe even spill to others what Tim Ratliff was getting accused of doing back home. She was denied the chance to gossip on this story…such a disappointment,’ one viewer posted on X.

Others pointed out that the Ratliffs’ phone sacrifice was another loose thread. ‘So Kate and Victoria knowing eacH๏τher and the Ratliff’s being the only ones without their phones meant NOTHING??? I hate this show why do I keep coming back.’ 

Mook’s missing storyline 

There was a surprise casting for series three, with the addition of Blackpink star Lisa

Fans of the South Korean girl group singer were full of expectation for her character Mook, a member of staff at the five star resort

There was a surprise casting for series three, with the addition of Blackpink star Lisa.

Fans of the South Korean girl group singer were full of expectation for her character Mook, a member of staff at the five star resort.

Ultimately though, despite the all-star casting, Lisa’s plotline fizzled, and she was given just ten minutes of screentime across the entire eight episodes.

Mook served as a confidant and hype woman to Tayme Thapthimthong’s character Gaitok, but she didn’t share any other interractions with the main cast.

Fans were hoping the character would have her moment in the 90 minute finale, but were left disappointed. ‘What the hell was Lisa’s role in the White Lotus like Mook did not contribute to the storyline at all she was credited as a main character for what,’ begged one viewer.

Mike White may have offered a clue as to Mook’s limited character development when he admitted he didn’t know who Lisa or Blackpink were. ‘All I knew was that there was a Blackpink girl [her bandmate, Jennie Kim] in The Idol, and I was like, “We’re not doing that.” Then I found out that there might be security issues, and I was just like, “No.” They were like, “She’ll audition”,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter of his reluctant casting.

Rick’s return to the resort

The penultimate episode of the season saw Walton Goggins’ character Rick reaching the end of his quest to find the man who killed his father

Declaring that he had rid the monkey from his back, Rick sauntered back to the resort and girlfriend Chelsea without a care in the world – a plot point which infuriated viewers

The decision to stay at the resort ultimately led to Rick and Chelsea’s demise, as the episode concluded with Rick shooting Jim after another run in at breakfast

The penultimate episode of the season saw Walton Goggins’ character Rick reaching the end of his quest to find the man who killed his father.

Rick, with the help of his friend Frank (Sam Rockwell), conned his way into Jim Hollinger’s (Scott Glenn) Bangkok home and aimed a gun at his lifelong foe. 

Rick had an ephinany as he was about to shoot, instead resorting to kicking the resort owner over in his chair. 

Declaring that he had rid the monkey from his back, Rick sauntered back to the resort and girlfriend Chelsea without a care in the world – a plot point which infuriated viewers.

‘Mᴀssive downgrade and lazy script. Why is Rick in the resort after life threatening and pushing the notorious perilous owner? No sense,’ asked one viewer.

And the decision to stay at the resort ultimately led to Rick and Chelsea’s demise, as the episode concluded with Rick shooting Jim after another run in at breakfast.