‘White Lotus’ feuds, tie-ins, loose ends and other business

Therese Odell

1 year ago

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

It’s been almost a week since The White Lotus concluded, and I have a ton of related stories that I’ve been saving up for you. Again, spoilers ahead so scroll on down if you haven’t watched yet.

The season finale was the most-watched episode of the season and beat season two by 51%, and season three by 158%. (And if you are one of the new viewers, you definitely need to check out the first two seasons.)

There are some lingering questions about the finale. Many people are hung up on the idea that Lochlan didn’t rinse out the blender before making a protein shake, but I have a different take. The night before, Lachlan asked for a pina colada, but his father told him he was too young. He might have, in his teenage brain, thought that he might get a taste of that alcohol if he didn’t rinse out the blender first. The actor himself says that his character thought it was the remains of a protein shake his brother had made that morning, but either or makes sense to me. The bigger question I have is how everyone could be so nonchalant after seeing a bunch of people get shot to death in front of them.

Sam Nivola (Lochlan) says that those of you who picked up the “rules of three” line were right.

There is also a lot of anger for the “fake-out” with Lochlan’s death, and I get it. But I also appreciated this TikTok take on Lochlan serving as a Siddhartha character on the series:

@jackgallowayproductions
This was crazy clever of #mikewhite He told the story of Siddhartha Guatama (The Buddha) through the realities of a privileged family in the modern world. . Lochlan’s story IS the story of The Buddha! 😮🙏🏼 . #whitelotus #whitelotusseason3 #whitelotusfinale #whitelotusbuddhism #ratlifffamily #amorfati #thewhitelotus

♬ Renaissance (Main Title Theme) [from “The White Lotus: Season 2”] – Cristobal Tapia De Veer

There is a lot of speculation that Walton Goggins and Amiee Lou Wood had some sort of falling out because they unfollowed each other on social media. Jason Isaacs isn’t out here tamping down any of the talk.

Jessica Capshaw very much wants you to know she nearly was cast in the Leslie Bibb role. OK.

Some fans were disappointed by the pacing of this season, which creator Mike White took exception to via an explicit metaphor:

“There was complaining about how there’s no plot. That part I find weird. It never did… part of me is just like bro, this is the vibe. I’m world-building. If you don’t want to go to bed with me then get out of my bed. I’m edging you! Enjoy the edging. If you don’t want to be edged, then get out of my bed. Do you know what I mean? Don’t be a bossy bottom. Get the fuck out of my bed. Don’t come home with me. Don’t get naked in my bed. Get the fuck out of my bed. Obviously something is going to happen.”

Mike White also had some choice words for that composer who quit:

“I don’t think he respected me. He wants people to know that he’s edgy and dark and I’m, I don’t know, like I watch reality TV. We never really even fought. He says we feuded. I don’t think I ever had a fight with him — except for maybe some emails. It was basically me giving him notes. I don’t think he liked to go through the process of getting notes from me, or wanting revisions, because he didn’t respect me. I knew he wasn’t a team player and that he wanted to do it his way. I was thrown that he would go to The New York Times to shit on me and the show three days before the finale. It was kind of a bitch move.”

There continues to be a lot of talk about where the next season should be set. Don’t hold your breath for a ski resort season, though, Mike White hates the cold.

The White Lotus had a bunch of tie-ins with brands like CB2 and Bloomingdale’s and Nest and Coffeemate who, as it turns out, was the most surprised by that finale.

David Tenant nearly didn’t take the role of Doctor Who thanks to some shitty advice from his agent. I wonder if she was the same agent who forbade Val Kilmer and Will Forte from being on The Amazing Race together.

Some Love is Blind couples have apparently swapped.

Ghost Adventures has a connection to Jillian Shriner, the wife of the Weezer bassist who shot at the cops the other day? Of course it does.

Stunt artists will finally get their due at the Oscars.

Eric Dane has been diagnosed with ALS. He intends to continue acting and will appear in the third season of Euphoria. My heart goes out to him and his family. My father died of ALS one year and one week ago today, and I can definitively say that it is simply the cruelest disease. I hope Dane has many healthy years with his family and that they find peace with the diagnosis.

In Development

A Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon series is in the works at Prime Video.
Bad Summer People is being adapted for TV, produced by and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Just One Day is being adapted into a series, produced by and starring Kathryn Newton, at Prime Video.

Casting News

Kyle Richards, Jason Butler Harner, and Scott Lawrence have joined The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix.
Brittany Snow has been added to the cast of the Murdaugh Murders limited series at Hulu.
Graham Norton will guest star on Doctor Who on Disney+ and BBC.
Mo Collins is joining the voice cast of The Simpsons.
Amy Pietz is joining Elle on Prime Video.
Steve Guttenberg, Jana Kramer, and Rachel Stubington will star in Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story on Lifetime.
Sherry Cola and Isabella Gomez are joining Shrinking on Apple TV+.
Michael McGrady and Timothy Omundson are joining the cast of Paradise on Hulu.
Jack Wagner is returning to The Bold and the Beautiful on CBS.
Daniel Goddard is joining General Hospital on ABC.
Hugh Hewitt is joining Fox News as a contributor.

Mark Your Calendar

Conan O’Brien Must Go will return on Max on

He’s lost in translation.

A new season of #ConanOBrienMustGo premieres May 8 on Max. pic.twitter.com/k0dnOzZ4Gh

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 10, 2025

Nautilus debuts on AMC/AMC+ on June 29.

Forever will premiere on Netflix on May 8.

Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service will debut on Fox on May 21.

Harry Wild returns on Acorn on May 5.

The Judd Family: Truth Be Told will premiere on Lifetime on May 10.

Southern Fried Lies debuts on Oxygen on April 27.

Jessica Kirson: I’m the Man premieres on Hulu on April 25.

Superboys of Malegaon will debut on Prime Video on April 25.

Companion will debut on HBO on April 12 and on Max on April 18.
Vacation House Rules premieres on HGTV on April 26.
Summer of 69 debuts on Hulu on May 9.
Bad Boy will premiere on Netflix on May 2.
Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story will premiere on Lifetime on June 7.

R.I.P.

Lucy Markovic, Australia’s Next Top Model star

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Your Friends and Neighbors: Jon Hamm stars as a fired hedge fund manager who begins stealing from his neighbors, only to discover their dangerous secrets. Series premiere. Apple TV+

Got to Get Out: Simu Liu hosts this new game show that locks people in a house — the longer they stay, the bigger the prize grows, but if someone manages to get out, they can take the money with them. (Basically, Hulu is looking for their Traitors.) Series premiere. Hulu

Yellowjackets: Season finale. Paramount+

SATURDAY

Saturday Night Live: Jon Hamm & Lizzo 10:30 p.m., NBC