The White Lotus Season 3 Finale Summary: Who Passed Away, Who Lived, and What Lies Ahead

Following Duke’s intense exit from the NCAA Final Four and Timothy Ratliff’s (Jason Isaacs) nearly deadly family scheme, it has been a tumultuous weekend for The White Lotus’ fictional depiction of Duke. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the Season 3 finale provided a blend of surprising deaths, unforeseen survivals, and a couple of moments that came full circle.

Spoilers are ahead, naturally.

Who Passed Away in The White Lotus Season 3?

Rick, Chelsea, and Jim Hollinger Meet Their Fate

In the concluding episode, Rick (Walton Goggins) confronts Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), whom he suspects of having murdered his father. Although Rick initially holds back, their tense encounter at the resort the following day turns fatal. Jim’s harsh remarks about Rick’s mother push Rick to his breaking point — and in a shock twist, Jim discloses that he is, in fact, Rick’s father. However, the revelation is made too late. Rick seizes Jim’s gun and shoots him, sparking the shootout that has been anticipated throughout the season.

Amid the chaos, Chelsea becomes a casualty in the crossfire and perishes — validating her foreboding belief that calamities occur in threes (after she survived a robbery and a snake bite). Rick soon meets his end as well, shot by Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) with the hotel’s firearm. The couple’s last moments in the river reflect Chelsea’s earlier saying: “If something bad happens to you, it also happens to me.” Their destinies were indeed intertwined.

Timothy’s Poison Scheme Fizzles — Just Barely

Meanwhile, Timothy Ratliff descends into turmoil. Aware that his family will lose everything upon leaving the resort, he chooses to take desperate measures. He concocts lethal piña coladas using seeds from the toxic pong pong tree — locally dubbed the “suicide tree” — and serves them to his wife Victoria (Parker Posey), and children Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook). Only Lochlan (Sam Nivola) is spared, under the guise of being underage, though the true reason is Lochlan’s previous claim that he could thrive without wealth.

Timothy experiences a change of heart and halts the poisoning just in time. Yet the narrow escape — along with the numerous dream sequences of the season — contributes to the Ratliffs’ extensive list of near-death incidents.

Later, Lochlan inadvertently incorporates the leftover poison into a smoothie and nearly dies. In an unusual vision, he sees monks instead of his family, hinting at a spiritual awakening. Upon regaining consciousness, he tells Timothy, “I think I just saw God.”

The Ratliffs depart the resort with their phones — and reality — awaiting them. Timothy reassures them they’ll confront it together, but it’s uncertain how long that optimism will endure once they return to North Carolina.

Belinda Secures Her Spa — as Well as Her Silence

Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) eludes Greg’s (Jon Gries) malicious intentions and walks away with $5 million. She and her son Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) negotiate the payout in exchange for her silence regarding Greg’s misdeeds. Although she had once planned to alert the authorities, Belinda opts for discretion — and ultimately claims the spa that Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) once vowed to provide her.

Nonetheless, she decides to leave Thailand at once, anxious about Greg’s potential vengeance. This means parting ways with Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) and giving up on their shared vision of constructing a wellness center together. In a bittersweet twist, Belinda ends up doing to Pornchai what Tanya once inflicted upon her — making promises she fails to fulfill. One can only hope Pornchai finds his own chance for redemption in a future season.

Additional Resolutions in The White Lotus Season 3

Elsewhere at the resort, several characters find closure — and fresh starts:

– Laurie (Carrie Coon), Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), and Kate (Leslie Bibb) strengthen their friendship after a heartfelt dinner and the trauma of witnessing Jim’s demise. Their connection is now sturdier than ever — although the gossip is likely to persist.

– Gaitok, now a murderer, is elevated to Sritala’s (Lek Patravadi) bodyguard. This new position could signify a pivotal change in his relationship with Mook (Lalisa Manobal).

– Valentin (Arnas Fedaravicius) and his companions evade arrest after Gaitok opts not to report their robbery, thanks to Valentin’s emotional appeal.

What Lies Ahead?

Season 3 of The White Lotus concludes with a mix of tragedy, irony, and poetic justice. As always, the show leaves us pondering: Who will check into the next White Lotus resort? And who won’t emerge unscathed?

The White Lotus Season 3 is now streaming on