So far, at the end of episode seven, we know that Gaitok is the only person within the resort currently in possession of a gun, Valentin and his friends are behind the robbery (Laurie knows their secret, as does Gaitok), Greg/Gary (or Gregary as he’s fondly referred to in the office) is trying to pay off Belinda to keep quiet about Tanya’s murder, and Rick has well and truly rocked the boat with the hotel owners. Also, this season is running with a very strong theme of threes, which we’re certain will filter through into the concluding episode. So, with all of this information, where does that leave us? We map out our best (and final) theories below. But really, quite literally anyone could be face down in that water come next week, and anyone from this complex cast is capable of murder.
*Contains spoilers.
Gaitok, Valentin, Vlad, Aleksei, Fabian & Mook
As tensions peak at The White Lotus, Gaitok knows too much. After uncovering that Valentin and his friends / accomplices Vlad and Aleksei were behind the robbery, where does he go from here? Desperate to prove himself, especially to Mook, who has made clear the type of man she’s seeking, he faces a choice: expose the thieves to Fabian, confront the trio, or take matters into his own hands with the gun meant to protect the resort. But Valentin and his friends won’t go down without a fight. If he finds the courage to confront them, will Mook be caught in the crossfire? Our bet is on yes. One thing is certain, if Fabian survives, he’ll be writing a song about it.
The Ratliff Family & Pam
As secrets unravel, is it finally time for the poisonous fruit Pam (aka our Autumn Issue cover star) pointed out early on in the season to shine? You may recall that Kate remembered Victoria early on in the season from a mutual friend’s party…. what if she checks out early, fed up with her friends, and regains her phone, stumbling upon the FBI investigation into Tim — unwittingly revealing his downfall to Victoria? Following which, is it Victoria, not Tim, who sees only one way out, taking her family with her to escape ‘poverty’? Does Pam discover them, or does she prepare a final smoothie, laced with the fruit from their villa’s tree? Tim always seemed like the obvious suspect — but was that too easy? The real tragedy may come from where we least expect it, and there always has been something amiss with the enigmatic Victoria Ratliff.
Kate, Jaclyn, Laurie & Valentin
The jealous trio — Kate, Jaclyn, and Laurie — thrive on gossip, but this time, it could get them killed. We know that Laurie, eager to prove herself, hooked up with one of Valentin’s shady friends — only to discover stolen goods from the resort robbery in his bedroom. And, of course, she won’t keep it to herself. As the robbers realise their secret is out, does Valentin come for Laurie? Do her so-called friends finally stand by her, or does someone unexpected take the fall? Gunshots ring out in the finale — but who ends up in the crosshairs?
Chelsea, Rick, Frank & Sritala + Jim
Ah, sweet, complicated Rick — finally free from his lifelong burden after confronting Sritala’s husband Jim Hollinger, his father’s killer. But in his quest for justice, did he ever consider Chelsea, left alone at the villa while he’s out painting the town red in Bangkok with Frank? The owners won’t take his invasion and threats lightly (they are powerful people capable of murder, after all), and as Chelsea ominously warned, bad things come in threes — she’s still one shy. Her ‘stay gold’ necklace also has been rumoured to hint at Robert Frost’s poem Nothing Gold Can Stay. Eek. Could Rick, the love of her life, unwittingly be behind her demise? The season has dropped hints all along… was Chelsea’s fate sealed the moment Rick sought revenge?
Belinda + Pornchai & Gary + Chloe
Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one. Will Gary/Greg continue his killing streak, murdering Belinda after she rejects his generous payoff, determined to do the ‘right thing’ (classic Belinda move). Could Chloe, who was more than willing to play along with Gary’s twisted fantasy in episode seven, help him pull it off? And could sweet-natured Pornchai, trying to protect Belinda, be caught in the crossfire? Last season, a returning character met their watery demise — will this season follow suit? We certainly can’t rule it out.
