In Season 3, Episode 7 of The White Lotus, the tensions escalate dramatically as Rick Hatchett (portrayed by Walton Goggins) confronts Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), whom he believes is to blame for his father’s demise. However, the meeting takes an unforeseen twist — one that tests everything we assumed about Rick’s history.

Throughout the season, Rick has been relentless, tracking Jim to the White Lotus resort in Thailand. He even concocts a faux movie pitch with his friend Frank (Sam Rockwell) to gain entry to Jim and his wife, Sritala (Lek Patravadi), at their opulent estate in Bangkok. The deception succeeds, and Rick finally secures a private moment with Jim.

During a fraught conversation in Jim’s office, Rick expresses the anguish that has plagued him since he was a child. “I’ve imagined this moment a thousand times,” he shares, recalling how his mother, Gloria Hatchett, revealed on her deathbed that Jim was responsible for his father’s death over a land dispute. Overcome with emotion, Rick aims a gun at Jim — yet ultimately refrains from pulling the trigger. Instead, he knocks Jim off balance in his seat and walks away, at last feeling a sense of resolution.

Or does he?

What We Understand About Rick’s Father

Rick states that his father went missing in Thailand while attempting to aid local communities in defending their land against exploitation. “He was trying to do the right thing,” Rick mentions in Episode 4. “And one day he vanished. They never found him.” Rick never got to meet his father, who passed away before he was born, and his only information about him comes from his mother, who alleged that Jim Hollinger was the culprit.

But is that the complete story?

A New Hypothesis: Could Jim Actually Be Rick’s Father?

Here’s where it gets intriguing. What if Jim Hollinger didn’t murder Rick’s father… because he is Rick’s father?

Think about it: Rick possesses no solid proof regarding his father’s identity — no name, no photographs, only his mother’s claims. What if Gloria, filled with sorrow and wrath after being forsaken by Jim, told her son he was a murderer as a final act of revenge? This would clarify why Jim appears perplexed yet not entirely dismissive during their encounter. When Rick utters his mother’s name, Jim hesitates — not out of confusion, but in recognition.

Scott Glenn’s performance is intentionally ambiguous. A flicker of recognition passes through his eyes when Rick mentions “Gloria Hatchett.” Could it be that Jim recalls her — and realizes, in that moment, that Rick is actually his son?

If this theory holds true, it would reshape the entire season. Rick’s journey wasn’t solely about vengeance — it was about unwittingly searching for the father he never knew. It would also pose new questions: Does Sritala know the truth? Are Jim’s daughters possibly Rick’s half-sisters? And what truly transpired between Jim and Gloria all those years ago?

The Finale Beckons

As we approach the season finale, it’s evident that the narrative is not yet concluded. Whether Jim is a murderer, a long-lost dad, or something else entirely, the truth remains to be discovered. One thing is certain — Rick’s quest has only just begun.

The White Lotus Season 3 is currently streaming on Max, with new episodes debuting Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.