As a massive fan of the first two seasons of The White Lotus, I was eager to dive headfirst into season three. Mike White’s Emmy-winning series has always thrived on the delicate mix of satire, mystery, and simmering tension, and relocating the story to the lush backdrop of Thailand only heightens that formula. The DVD release now gives fans the chance to relive all eight episodes, plus bonus content, and it is well worth adding to the collection.
Season three introduces a sprawling cast, including Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Michelle Monaghan, and Walton Goggins. Goggins delivers one of the season’s most riveting performances as Rick, a claustrophobic and emotionally volatile guest whose spiraling isolation serves as one of the darker throughlines of the season. What makes his performance even more fascinating is the behind-the-scenes story: Goggins himself admitted on the official companion podcast that he was “miserable” during filming, unable to fully shake Rick’s negativity even when the cameras stopped rolling. Hearing him describe camping out on a boat, radiating “buckets of negativity” to keep fellow castmates at bay, adds an extra layer of intensity to his on-screen work.
That commitment clearly took a toll. While most of the cast described filming in Thailand as a kind of summer camp experience, Goggins wrestled with the role in a way that left him isolated from the group. Rumors of tension with co-star Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Chelsea, Rick’s doomed lover, only fueled speculation, especially after fans noticed he unfollowed her on Instagram after the finale. Both actors have since addressed the chatter in interviews, insisting there is no feud, with Goggins framing the distance as part of his process of saying goodbye to the characters. Whether viewers see that as eccentric or admirable, it undeniably underscores just how much weight he brought to the role.
Drama aside, the season itself is peak White Lotus: power plays, shifting alliances, sharp class satire, and shocking twists all set against the sun-soaked façade of paradise. If season one was a biting takedown of privilege and season two waded deeper into themes of desire and betrayal, season three thrives on psychological claustrophobia. After the second episode, you largely know what to expect in terms of tone and pacing, but the way the characters and relationships evolve keeps the story compelling. If you are wondering whether this installment measures up to the first two, you will have to watch and decide for yourself. What is certain is that Goggins’ raw, almost self-destructive commitment to Rick makes this season unforgettable and gives the third chapter of The White Lotus its edge.
The DVD release, arriving September 9, 2025, includes all eight episodes along with bonus features that pull back the curtain on the production. For fans who have followed the series since its Hawaiian debut, this set also pairs nicely with the newly available Seasons 1–3 digital bundle, making it easy to trace how Mike White’s creation has grown from quirky limited series to full-blown cultural phenomenon.
Jessie Hobson