White Lotus season 3: Guess who's back?

The White Lotus, Mike White’s satire about what people do to get money and what money does to them once they’ve got it, has returned for a third season. The first episode aired on 16 February and contained a huge surprise when a character from a previous season reappeared.

As we expected, episode one also introduced us to three groups of VIP guests, new staff members – and a returning face in the form of Maui spa manager Belinda Lindsay. You can find introductions to all the characters below. We’ll be updating this article as more characters are introduced in each episode, so don’t forget to check back.

Spoilers for The White Lotus season 3 below

How to watch The White Lotus Season 3

In the US, Mike White’s series is available on Max. A basic, ad-supported subscription costs $9.99 per month – there are ad-free options available as well. It’ll also be on HBO channels.

In the UK you can watch The White Lotus via the Now website. An Entertainment Membership costs £9.99 a month.

Alternatively, UK-based fans may be able to catch up on the series on Sky Atlantic.

The White Lotus season 3 character guide

The surprise returning character – Greg Hunt is back

After being abandoned by Rick (Walton Goggins) at dinner, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) goes alone to the bar where she strikes up a conversation with another young woman, Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon). Chloe explains that she’s not staying in the hotel. She lives in a house nearby with her boyfriend, and the two women bond over the subject of their much older and grumpier partners.

That’s when Chloe points out her boyfriend, who’s sitting at a table alone. In a shocking twist, it’s Greg Hunt (John Gries), who was implicated in the death of his wealthy wife Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge). He disappeared before the authorities could speak to him and has now turned up, living in anonymous luxury and going by the name of Gary.

The big question for fans to consider is how long it’ll be before Belinda crosses paths with him. Belinda and Tanya were in discussions to set up a spa of their own together before Greg romanced Tanya away. Will Belinda wind up playing detective and solving Tanya’s murder? Or could she be persuaded to keep quiet in return for an investment in the spa she hoped to open?

The VIP guests

1. The ‘normal’ family

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Tim Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) has made an unqualified success of his career in finance without compromising his principles – at least, that’s what his family and friends believe. But if that’s the case, why has an unexpected phone call from the Wall Street Journal got him so worried?

His wife Victoria (Parker Posey) is a typical Southern matriarch who leans heavily on her traditional values, a little internalised misogyny, and a handbag full of pills.

Son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) is the eldest child, an uncomplicated alpha bro with a fixation on protein shakes – and perhaps a little too much interest in his siblings’ personal lives. He works with his father and wants to be just like him, or at least to make as much money as he does.

Daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) is openly disgusted by her brother, uninterested in her family’s way of life and focused on her thesis on Buddhism, which is why the Ratliffs have come to Thailand for their trip.

Younger son Lochlan (Sam Nivola) is stuck between his siblings and their battling beliefs and has made trying to appease them both his whole personality.  

As Victoria says, by way of introduction: “We’re a normal family, you’ll see”.

2. The very best of friends

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Jaclyn Lemon (Michelle Monaghan) is a TV star who’s treating her two childhood besties to a week of sun loungers, cocktails and girl time.

Friends Laurie (Carrie Coon), a divorced New York lawyer, and Kate (Lesie Bibb), a pillar of her Texan community, couldn’t be happier for her success – and a relaxing trip filled with uncomplicated bonding time surely lies ahead.   

3. The odd couple

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Rick (Walton Goggins) gets into his first argument with the other guests before he even arrives at the resort. The chain-smoking, scowling figure will undoubtedly be a popular figure at the resort. He’s come to Thailand to relax and certainly has no other agenda for the trip.

Along for the ride is his much-younger, astrology-loving girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), who’s as sunny as he is saturnine.

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4. The visiting manager

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Belinda Lindsay (Natasha Rothwell, who fans will remember from season 1, is the spa manager of The White Lotus in Maui. She’s visiting Thailand to exchange knowledge with the spa employees but is staying as a guest. Her son is coming to visit while she’s working but she’ll also have a chance to get to know the locals – some of them extremely well.

The staff

Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) is a sweet-natured security guard who might need to toughen up and focus on a promotion if he’s going to get a date with the girl of his dreams…

…that’s Mook (Lalisa Manobel, better known as Blackpink’s Lisa), one of the resort’s health mentors, who works alongside…

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…Valentin (Arnas Fedaravic), a popular health mentor with washboard abs, who’s assigned to take care of Jaclyn and her friends.  

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Meanwhile, spa manager Porchai is there to greet Belinda and swap massage techniques.

They all work under the watchful eye of Hotel Manager Fabian, who might be somewhat distracted from the wellbeing of his staff by the chance to make his singing debut, inspired by the talents of…   

… Sritala (Lek Patravadi), one of the hotel’s owners, who had a successful career as a singer and actor and may have a larger part to play as the season continues.