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The ‘White Lotus’ Finale Is Sunday—We Polled Our Editors & These Were the Most Credible Theories

Who lives, who dies, who drinks a poisoned smoothie

white lotus season three finale theories universal
Fabio Lovino/HBO

Ah, the rush of watching a series finale at the same time as the rest of the world—in modern times, there’s nothing quite like it. (Parker Posey describes it as “coffee-o-clock” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter—a “‘did you see last night’s episode?’ moment”—such a thrill.) That’s exactly why we couldn’t wait to get the conversation rolling amongst our White Lotus-loving PureWow editors about their predictions ahead of the 90-minute(!) finale on Sunday night. (It drops at 9 p.m. ET on MAX, set your alarms.)

Will someone eat a poisonous smoothie? Will Jaclyn, Laurie & Kate leave and still be friends? Will Gary/Greg get found out? Speaking of Gary/Greg (played by Jon Gries), he had this to say to THR about the finale and the rampant theories: “Whatever you think you know, you’re going to get wrong.” (Mike White, the series creator, also chimed in: “My hope is that [the finale will] feel like a cathartic sad or a satisfying sad and not a “What the fuck?” sad, but people are going to have a million different opinions. You just hope you stick the landing.”) On that note, here are our top 18 most “credible” theories.

I Have a Wild Theory About the White Lotus Killer & Victim (And It’s Been Right in Front of Us All Along)


jaclyn laurie and kate white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn will be brought together by immediate trauma bonding after the shooting and leave without addressing any of their bigger issues.”

belinda white lotus season 3 theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“The body floating in the water is entirely unrelated to the gunshots. Those were a red herring. Those shots are likely a shoot-out between the adorable security guard and the three bad guys OR a monkey got hold of a gun. Not sure which option will be more fun to watch.”

tim white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“I think Tim will fully abandon his fam on the way to the airport to join the monastery.”

papa jim white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Chelsea and Rick will inherit the resort from Papa Jim and live happily ever after in Thailand.”

mook white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Gaitok ends as a hero—the whole time he’s been the nice guy, so I see a world where he takes a bullet, gets a promotion to the hotel owner’s bodyguard and gets the girl.”

mook white lotus season 3 theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Mook is the mastermind behind everything.”

leslie bibb parkery posey white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Leslie Bibb knew Parker Posey. That can’t be a coincidence that doesn’t come back.”

hotel manager singing white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Fabian shoots the hotel owner lady for missing his performance.”

chelsea white lotus season 3 theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“There will be three deaths in a ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ theme. Chelsea because she only wants to see the potential for good in people, Mook because she won't listen to Gaitok’s pleas for peace and Timothy because he refuses to speak the truth about what he’s done.”

rick and chelsea white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Call me optimistic, but I think Rick is going to get a happy ending. He’s been so full of rage and disappointment, I think Chelsea’s hopeful mindset wins him over and he lets the anger go. Otherwise there would be no reason for him to not have hurt Jim more seriously.”

belinda gary white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“In the very opening scene, Belinda’s son is praying that the victim isn’t his mom (obviously it won’t be), but it makes me think he’s expecting Belinda and Gary to have some kind of showdown—either she’s meeting with him to turn down the money, telling him she’s going to turn him in, etc. Something has to be happening between those two on the White Lotus property otherwise why would he think the gunshots would be at his mom?”

laurie jill stein white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Laurie admits she voted for Jill Stein.”

greg gary white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Gary is the only constant between all three seasons...so maybe he does get away.”

piper and lochlan white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Lachlan and Piper sleep together—or do something weird and sexual.”

parker posey benzo theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Victoria shoots Tim for stealing her benzos.”

pam fbi agent white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Pam is an undercover FBI agent and she’s been going through all the Ratliff electronics for evidence.”

jennifer coolidge season 3 white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“Tanya didn’t actually die and has been training an army of monkeys to shoot Gary.”

smoothie white lotus theory
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“I think there's no way the poison fruit doesn't come into play. Someone is drinking a poisoned smoothie in that damn finale.”



rachel bowie christine han photography 100

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College

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