Politically charged, deeply symbolic, and at times, factually inaccurate: read on for our local review of The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 from a Thai person’s perspective. Perhaps, there are some details you may have missed. Do not fear: no spoilers lie ahead.
As Mike White’s award-winning The White Lotus takes to Thailand for season 3, we’re reviewing the show through a critical, local lens. On #WhiteLotusWatch for the next weeks, stay tuned for our weekly reviews on special details, shooting locations, and cultural nuances you may have missed.
Episode 3 is named ‘The Meaning of Dreams,’ and brings the slow burn of the first two episodes into a fiery new arena. New relationships are established, and Mike White’s signature dinner- or breakfast-table conversations reach heated levels in Thailand. We loved the theme of dreams, fires, and snakes, touching on important and meaningful elements of local Thai culture. To a backdrop of some Thai songs (note another Carabao banger), we spotted more Thai actors in scenes this week — even if some of the dialogue and depictions weren’t entirely accurate.
While general reviews on the episode can be found far and wide, we watched The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 from a Thai perspective, and with plenty of insider knowledge. Here are key things you may have missed.
The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 reviewed by a Thai person: What you may have missed
Most of the filming locations for Episode 3 are real places (yes, including the snake farm)
The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3 begins in Phuket, as Victoria Ratliff (Parker Posey) lives out a strange dream. As the waves crash upon the shore, a Sino-Portuguese mansion can be admired in the background. Often featured in films, this location is known as Panwa House, part of the Cape Panwa hotel nearby. The private beach makes it a romantic setting for dining, and the restaurant prides itself in serving Thai heritage dishes — that is, when the Ratliffs aren’t around to cause havoc.
Later in the episode, several guests continue with spa and wellness treatments, shot at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. Interestingly, the Anantara Spa really does offer several of the treatments mentioned, including ‘Chakra Crystal Balancing,’ yoga, and various sound healing programmes. While we couldn’t find Lochlan’s (Sam Nivola) posture-correcting treatment on the spa menu, there are various ‘body contouring’ sessions available. Fun fact? Lochlan’s therapist is played by Thai actor Oak Keerati, who is also involved with the House of Opium Museum.
Other filming locations for Episode 3 include Wat Phu Khao Thong in Samui, which Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) visits, as well as the shrine at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, where Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) pays his respects. At dinner time, the barbecue takes place at Am Samui Resort Taling Ngam.
The snake farm which Rick (Walton Goggins) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) visit is also a real location, including the yellow signage. It is known as Snake Farm Koh Samui.
What they say about the tsunami is factually inaccurate
While The White Lotus Season 3 tends to describe its location as ‘Thailand,’ it has long been known that the island on which the fictional resort is set is meant be Koh Samui. In Episode 3, we get confirmation from Mook (Lalisa Manobal) that it is Samui, as she chats to Gaitok about his leaving the island, should he get a promotion. Interestingly, in the Thai language dialogue, Mook says “Samui,” even though the English language subtitles still read “island.”
Why is this important? When Lochlan talks about the tsunami, there is a factual inaccuracy. The Ratliff’s youngest son mentions that the tsunami “happened here, like, the next beach over.” Assuming that he is referring to the tsunami tragedy of 2004, this would have been impossible. Due to its location in the Gulf of Thailand, Samui was not affected by the tsunami. While the disaster killed over 5000 people in Thailand, including tourists and foreigners in Phuket, Samui was not affected in the same way.
Snakes have a deeper meaning in Thai culture, especially if you dream about them
The snake theme is multi-faceted in this episode, and we have a feeling it could develop further in the show. Both the snakes that Rick and Chelsea encounter at the snake farm are real snakes that exist in the wildlife of Thailand. In fact, what the guide says is true: they really do come up in the toilet of our bathrooms, and we really do call services to help remove them. This is how some of these snakes end up at snake farms.
Furthermore, the connection between snakes and dreams is an interesting one. In Thai culture, dreaming of a snake can have several meanings, often related to wealth or marriage. In fact, one of the most common beliefs is that if you dream of a snake, you will meet your soulmate. Somehow, we have a feeling Chelsea would have loved that.
Along a more religious tangent, the Naga is a mythical snake that is highly revered in Thailand, especially amongst the Buddhist community. It is often depicted at temples, gliding along the stairs, as can be seen on the show at Wat Phu Khao Thong when Piper visits. The Naga is a symbol for protection, power, and water, and is believed to bring blessings.
In some communities, specifically the King Cobra is worshipped, and is believed to be a kind of forest god or spirit. The snake that Rick holds is a Burmese Python, which while not venomous, can kill you by wrapping itself tightly around you. As mentioned in the show, it can even kill a cow.
There are no tuk-tuks on Koh Samui
While we loved the use of a classic Thai wedding song for the scene in which Rick and Chelsea head to town, we were shocked to spot a tuk-tuk as their vehicle of choice. While this mode of transportation is common in Bangkok, especially amongst tourists, it is a rare (almost impossible) sight in Samui. Pick-up autos, or songthaews, are far more common on the island, as well as regular cars, motorbikes, or vans.
Nonetheless, the license plate on the tuk-tuk reads ‘Surat Thani,’ and this is the province in which Koh Samui lies. Perhaps the tuk-tuk driver took the ferry across from the mainland when he heard Rick needed him?
The guards and the bodyguards have an interesting back story
We had identified the two bodyguards in our Episode 1 review as Thanapat ‘Oat’ Noitawee and Pree ‘Wan’ Asvaraksha, however, a third guard with an interesting back story enters the chat for Episode 3.
In the scene where Gaitok is approached by his superior at the guard house, he is seen chatting to a fellow colleague. Charmingly, this colleague is played by Phansak Yuthong, an actual security manager at the real Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. While the scene is shot at the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, this was a sweet Easter egg.
Additionally, we see a third bodyguard surrounding Sritala, whom we have previously identified as Thai TV host Woody Milintachinda. Just last weekend, Woody shared a new interview with Lalisa, where they chat a little about The White Lotus. Lalisa admits to watching him say a daunting line on set, so we know that there will be more scenes with the bodyguards to come.
The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3: Local’s Verdict
Just imagine, this entire episode was written and filmed over a year ago, and yet its political commentary rings more painfully relevant now than ever. There is a dark beauty about the writing on The White Lotus, and this third episode brings this element back into the forefront.
For a local, the blurry lines between dream, belief, spirituality, and reality resonate deeply. Even though Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) argues that “we all dream of fire and snakes because we’re afraid of fire and snakes,” and “it’s not that deep,” those who are watching through an Asian or a Buddhist lens may feel differently. There is a lot to unpack, and a lot of symbolism even beyond the characters’ dialogue around astrology, energies, and visiting a house of god.
While the tsunami storyline sees some factual loopholes and feels a little forced onto the location, we respect the acknowledgement of this great tragedy, and know it plays a role in Mike White’s style of nothing-is-accidental story-telling. As Rick hints to flying to Bangkok in the next episode, and the rest of the gang have a big boat day planned, we are waiting with bated breath.
The White Lotus is now streaming on Max. New episodes will be released in Malaysia every Monday at 9am. Check back here weekly as we dissect The White Lotus Season 3 through a local lens.
