The White Lotus Producer Reveals the ‘Specific Reason’ Why That Incest Kiss Happened
Warning: Minor The White Lotus Season 3 spoilers ahead. The White Lotus seems to give people something different and shocking to talk about every week. Sometimes it’s something silly and kind of absurd that dominates the discussions—like people’s teeth and other body parts, and sometimes it’s actual plot points like who is dead or who the killer is. That makes sense. But in the show’s latest episode, the conversation has fallen on a plot point a little on the Game of Thrones side, and that involves a Season 3 favorite, Patrick Schwarzenegger.
The White Lotus is a black comedy anthology series following the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain. The first season of the show was filmed in Hawaii and Season 2 in Sicily, while Season 3 was filmed in Thailand. A fourth season has already been confirmed.
Related: Who is the cast of The White Lotus Season 3?
Among the cast of Season 3 of The White Lotus are Sam Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger, who play brothers Lochlan and Saxon Ratliff. Schwarzenegger already made headlines for a nude scene early in the season, and though the moment that has people talking in the last episode doesn’t involve nudity, it does involve a romantic moment. And his brother. Yes, you read that right. A romantic moment, and his brother. So, what exactly happened between the brothers in the last episode of The White Lotus? Why did the brothers kiss?
Why did the brothers kiss in The White Lotus?
The two brothers kissed while they were partying with fellow White Lotus guests Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and her new friend Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon). The foursome took a mystery pill, and then ended up partying on Chloe’s yacht, with everyone dancing and Chloe and Chelsea making out and Lochlan then making out with Chloe. Saxton seemed determined to help his little brother lose his virginity before they went home, but things soon turned as the women suggested the brothers kiss.
Lochlan agrees and gives Saxon a quick peck, before leaning back, grabbing his brother’s neck, and going in for a full kiss. We don’t see anything else other than the girls looking very much amused at the boys making out. It’s definitely not the first time we’ve seen something like this on HBO. This is the home of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, after all. Incest isn’t exactly taboo. Except this isn’t period drama.
Viewers had been calling the relationship between the brothers weird since the first episode when it seemed like Lochlan lingered a little too much on Saxon as he walked to the bathroom naked.
Schwarzenegger spoke about the relationship during an interview with The Radio Times in February, saying, “I think that the relationship with his brother — although it’s very odd and weird, which is what [creator] Mike [White] wanted — it’s still very loving at the same time. I mean, it’s just that Saxon has this false perception and idea of what he thinks makes a man and who he thinks he is, and he’s trying to groom his younger brother to become that.”
But executive producer David Bernard told The New York Post the kiss was “not just for shock” and there was more to the story. “There’s a specific reason in terms of the narrative storytelling, and the larger thematic idea Mike is trying to get across,” adding that we would find out more. “As the season wraps up, you’ll see the purpose of that story turn. The show goes there for a larger thematic idea. I love that family storyline, especially the brother story — and, it culminates in a very satisfying way.”
