‘The White Lotus’ – ‘Killer Instincts’ – Review
The storm is nearly upon us, and in Episode Seven of The White Lotus Season Three, aptly titled ‘Killer Instincts’, we get one hell of a prelude to what promises to be a scorching finale. Mike White sharpens the blade of tension, and with each calculated stroke, he slices deeper into his characters’ souls, delivering an hour of television that is both spiritually searing and hilariously off-the-rails.
In Bangkok, Rick meets the man he thinks ruined his life. Meanwhile, a nervous Belinda brings Zion to Chloe’s expat party. Gaitok and Mook have their first date.
After weeks of cryptic glances, shattered relationships, and acid-tongued exchanges, ‘Killer Instincts’ puts the pedal to the floor. Leading the charge is Walton Goggins’ Rick Hatchett, the tortured and unpredictable enigma at the center of this season’s chaos. At long last, Rick confronts the ghost of his past, Scott Glenn’s chillingly serene Jim Hollinger, the man Rick blames for the life he’s lost. It’s a showdown brimming with barely-contained rage and simmering restraint. But instead of bloodshed, Rick chooses peace. Growth. Release. And that choice, so unexpected, so loaded, is one of the most powerful moments we’ve seen this season.
Of course, this is The White Lotus, so the high-minded zen doesn’t last long. Rick’s failed vengeance plan involves none other than Frank (a devilishly unhinged Sam Rockwell), who spirals into a frenzy of drug-fueled debauchery that feels like Hunter S. Thompson stumbled into a resort brochure. Rockwell is all coked-up charm and deranged swagger, and the impromptu celebratory rager that follows Rick’s revelation is a white-hot fever dream of sex, excess, and sweaty chaos. It’s classic White Lotus.
Meanwhile, back at Gary’s party, the Ratliff clan continues their deeply dysfunctional descent into enlightenment, or something like it. Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Saxon, once the poster child for vacuous frat boy nonsense, delivers a surprisingly grounded performance as he turns down the most messed-up sex proposition yet from Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon). A cuckold fantasy gone awry? Only in The White Lotus. But in that rejection, we see real growth. Saxon is finally trying, and his brief heart-to-heart with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), full of vulnerability and Buddhist wisdom, gives us a glimpse of a man clawing his way toward actual maturity. It’s… kinda beautiful. Parker Posey continues to steal scenes as the delightfully unfiltered Victoria, offering unsolicited life coaching to anyone within earshot. She’s outrageous, infuriating, and a total delight, never change, Victoria.
And then we’ve got the trio of Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Kate (Leslie Bibb), and Laurie (Carrie Coon), whose “bestie vacation” has devolved into a smoldering pile of resentment and passive-aggressive snark. The tension finally snaps, and Laurie bolts, right into the arms (and bed) of Aleksei (Julian Kostov) after a sweat-soaked Muay Thai fight match. It’s steamy, it’s raw, and it gives Laurie the rare chance to reclaim her own agency and pleasure. But this spicy little escapade isn’t just titillation — it also drops a major breadcrumb regarding the still unsolved robbery plot that’s been threading its way through the season.
Through all of this, ‘Killer Instincts’ leans hard into the spiritual backbone of Season Three. Buddhism, karma, death, rebirth — it’s all here. White’s juxtaposition of serene teachings and violent impulses is masterful. The Muay Thai ring becomes a perfect visual metaphor for inner conflict, with fists flying as our characters confront their demons. Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), especially, finds herself adrift when Lochlan (Sam Nivola) confesses his plan to stay at the retreat. Her reaction; haunted and unsure, suggests not all journeys toward the light are so easily made.
Mike White keeps the philosophical undercurrent flowing strong, and with the spectre of death still looming large over the resort, the notion of a “spiritual tsunami” gathers force. Choices are being made. Fates are being sealed. And not everyone is going to make it out unscathed.
‘Killer Instincts’ is a powder keg of drama, satire, and soul-searching chaos. With one episode left, it delivers enough revelations to satisfy, while still dangling just enough mystery to keep us perched on the edge of our sun-lounger, cocktail in hand, heart in throat. The end is nigh. And we’ll be there for every last spicy, twisted second.
The White Lotus is currently streaming on NEON and SKY TV.
Image: SKY TV
