5 Things We Did Not Expect From The White Lotus Season 3
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from The White Lotus Season 3, it’s that paradise always comes at a price—and we’re addicted to the bill
Words Mika Reyes
Photos courtesy of HBO Max
April 12, 2025
It’s official, The White Lotus Season 3 has taken over the internet, our group chats, and quite literally, our closets. Since the first episode aired, the series has erupted into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Memes have infiltrated every corner of social media—Mook’s side-eye now has its own fan cam—and brand collaborations are everywhere, from skincare to swimwear. More than just watercooler TV, The White Lotus has revived careers, launched fresh icons, and dominated every algorithm it’s touched.
As the sun sets on another scandal-soaked stay, and with tonight’s extended finale promising to tie up (or tangle) the threads we've obsessed over for weeks, we’re looking back at the moments that had us gasping, Googling, and texting “Did that really just happen?”
Here, five things we absolutely did not expect from The White Lotus Season 3.
1. Lisa of BLACKPINK Is Now a White Lotus Girl
We’ve seen chart-toppers dip their toes into television, but this one hits different. Lisa—yes, that Lisa of BLACKPINK—isn’t just cameo-ing, she’s acting. As “Mook,” a soft-spoken hotel staffer with razor-sharp instincts, Lisa brings a sense of quiet intensity that cuts through the otherwise chaotic ensemble. Her role feels more than just a celebrity stunt—it’s emotionally tuned and chillingly enigmatic. And yes, she wears Dior at the premiere.
2. Tanya Lives On (Sort Of)
After her operatic end in Season 2 (may we never forget that accidental death by yacht), most of us assumed Tanya McQuoid had taken her last bow. But Mike White had other plans. This season doesn’t just nod to her memory—it revives her legacy through an unexpected character: Belinda, the spa manager Tanya ghosted in Season 1. As if that wasn't twisty enough, Greg (Tanya’s slippery husband) is back, with a new name—Gary—and a slightly more… self-aware wardrobe. The karma is rich, and we’re seated.
3. That Incest Plotline
We’ve long accepted that The White Lotus traffics in the uncomfortable, but nothing could have prepared us for the fraternal entanglement between Patrick Schwarzenegger’s and Sam Nivola’s characters. Yes, the internet is on fire. The whispers that became Reddit threads that became memes are, in fact, true. Let’s just say, HBO pushed the envelope, tore it open, and set it ablaze. It’s risky, it’s perverse—and in true White Lotus fashion, you can’t look away.
4. A Fashion Powerhouse Disguised as a Drama
We were not expecting The White Lotus to double as a full-blown luxury-lifestyle marketing machine, but here we are. From A&F linen sets on seaside strolls to Banana Republic’s return to resortwear relevance, this season feels like a covert Fashion Week. Kiehl’s skincare makes a prominent cameo in a wellness retreat gone wrong. H&M collaborated on capsule wardrobes for key characters. Even CB2 furnishings have become plot devices. And Acqua Monkey Print? Let’s just say the viral swim trunks have already sold out. Emily in Paris, take notes.
5. A Feature-Length Finale? Yes, Please.
Typically, we’d expect to wrap our White Lotus stay in just under an hour. Not this time. The Season 3 finale clocks in at a cinematic 90 minutes—a full-length film packed with enough loose ends to fill another season. Will justice find Gary? Will Mook reveal her true allegiance? Will the brothers be exposed? All we know is, spa music has never sounded more ominous, and we’re bracing for a body count.
