The conclusion was as tragic as any Greek tragedy.
In the White Lotus season finale on April 6, Rick (Walton Goggins) shot and appeared to murder Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn) in a fit of wrath, only to discover that Jim was actually his father. As a result, Rick lost both his life and the life of his love, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), in a gunfight.
Filming and then witnessing her character’s destiny unfold took a toll on Aimee.
During the American Express-sponsored post-finale panel for White Lotus at Four Seasons, she remarked, “It is weird.” Because I felt really strange for approximately two weeks before to the shoot. Something strange and menacing seemed to be hovering over us. It had not felt that way for so long previously, which surprised me. I know what is going to happen to Chelsea, but she doesn’t. Thus, it is this strange thing.
The 31-year-old went on to say of the conclusion, “It looked exactly how it felt, which was really strange.” I thought, “Yeah, that is exactly what it felt like,” throughout that entire segment.
Aimee also discussed how the characters’ varied outcomes are juxtaposed and how some victories, like Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) finally receiving $5 million, feel bittersweet in addition to the film’s tragic conclusion.
“That episode had a lot of things that made me f–king cry a lot right from the start,” the Sex Education actress remarked. It is quite ingenious since you want to retain the happiness of the victory at the end. However, it is still there, so you can just end up sitting in that incredibly painful spot. I am hence achy.
However, after seeing the conclusion, Aimee was not the only member who felt this way. Seeing the conclusion was quite the roller coaster for Patrick Schwarzenegger, whose character Saxon was one of the most contentious of the season, particularly since he had no idea what would happen.
Patrick clarified, “I knew something happened with Chelsea, but I did not know the full scope of everything.” Spending so much time with all of these cast members and then witnessing someone die is such an odd sensation at the moment. I am not sure how to explain it. You get the impression that something actually happened.
“From Saxon’s perspective, I have a lot of love for Chelsea and Aimee as she is,” he went on. I broke down in tears at the theater when it happened with Chelsea. I turned to face Charlotte [Le Bon], and both she and I were. It was a poignant moment.
Indeed, the whole 90-minute finale was full of pulse-racing, emotional moments.
When Timothy (Jason Isaacs) almost kills his family with poisoned piña coladas, only for Lochlan (Sam Nivola) to accidentally concoct a smoothie for himself the next morning using the poisoned remnants, the Ratliff family’s season almost ended tragically. Fortunately, the youngest Ratliff recovers in his father’s arms, allowing the family to return home and confront the consequences of Timothy’s career transgressions.
Just when it looks like the three friends—Kate (Leslie Bibb), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan)—are about to forget the difficulties they have encountered, Laurie’s heartfelt confession serves as a reminder that what counts most is each other.
What about Belinda? In a way, Tanya’s (Jennifer Coolidge) pledge from season one is fulfilled when her widower Gary/Greg (Jon Gries) sends Belinda $5 million in exchange for her silence over the unexplained circumstances of Tanya’s death.
The conclusion was an immense work of love for Mike White, the creator and writer of the show.
“As a filmmaker, it is probably the piece of work that I am like, ‘I can not believe I did that,'” he said to The Hollywood Reporter.
