In the latest episode of The White Lotus, titled "Denials," the characters face the aftermath of their wild night following the Full Moon Party, setting the stage for subsequent drama. The episode centers on the Ratliff family, who are experiencing significant emotional turmoil, particularly Timothy, who grapples with dark thoughts regarding his life and family's future.
Timothy (Jason Isaacs) opens the episode with a shocking hallucination where he imagines committing suicide in front of his wife Victoria (Parker Posey) and daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook). However, it becomes clear that this is simply a daydream, and he continues to navigate the chaotic reality of their lives. Victoria's insistence that she’d rather die than face a life of poverty exacerbates Timothy's struggles, leaving him caught between suicidal thoughts and a desperate desire to maintain their lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the Ratliff brothers, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), confront their own scandal from the previous night when they engaged in sexual activities with the same woman. As memories of their drug-fueled night begin to surface, Saxon attempts to brush it off, claiming he was blacked out, but he is haunted by the implications of their actions. Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), who witnesses the fallout, delivers a sharp critique, asserting, “I don’t think there’s a drug in my world that would make me get with my brother,” prompting Saxon to defensively deflect blame.
Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), the woman involved, brings the boys back to reality as she reminds them of the events of the night before, leaving Saxon sick from anxiety over their shared experience. The family is set to attend a dinner party hosted by the wealthy and potentially dangerous Gary (Jon Gries), adding another layer of tension.
Piper, on the other hand, seeks to prove herself to her family by committing to a more spiritual path, despite their skeptical views. Victoria challenges her to spend a night at a Buddhist monastery, believing that the discomfort will dissuade Piper from her plans to live a year there. During Piper's meditation session at the temple, accompanied by Lochlan who wants to make amends with his sister, they receive insights from Luang Por Teera (Suthichai Yoon), who emphasizes the inescapability of pain and the journey of life.
In another corner of the White Lotus, tensions rise among the female friends as Kate (Leslie Bibb) reports her suspicions about Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) having a romantic encounter with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius). Laurie (Carrie Coon) reacts negatively, criticizing Jaclyn’s behavior and highlighting the superficiality that seems to permeate their relationships. This gossip exchange reveals deeper feelings of jealousy and insecurity among the three women.
Lastly, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) is offered a glimmer of hope for a new path by Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul), who suggests they could open a spa together, although the ghosts of her past relationship with Tanya still linger, threatening her budding confidence.
The episode, while less action-packed than its predecessors, effectively sets the groundwork for impending crises as characters grapple with the consequences of their choices. Each arc converges toward a dinner party that promises to reveal more than just culinary delights, as the characters' secrets and tensions threaten to unravel.
