Last night, March 23, 2025, HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3 rolled out its sixth episode, “Denials,” at 9 p.m. ET, plunging viewers deeper into the unraveling drama at a luxurious Thailand resort. Penned and helmed by series creator Mike White, this installment—broadcast just after midnight in +04 time—follows the chaotic boat party from Episode 5, delivering a cocktail of remorse, shocking confessions, and a chilling dream sequence that’s already fueling fan frenzy. As the sixth chapter in an eight-episode run, “Denials” proves paradise is crumbling fast.
Hungover Hearts and Harsh Truths
The episode opens with the Ratliff brothers, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochy (Sam Nivola), waking up to the wreckage of their Full Moon Party night. Bleary-eyed from a blur of shots, pills, and a yacht, Saxon’s hit with a nauseating memory: Lochy, in a drugged haze, crossed a boundary with a physical act—described as a hand job—that leaves him reeling. “No drug could trick me into that with my own brother,” Saxon protests later, a sentiment echoed in X buzz today. Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), unfazed, drops a casual bombshell: “I slept with both of them,” she admits, stirring the pot. Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) piles on, dismissing Saxon as “soulless” by the pool after spurning his advances, deepening his disgust while Lochy brushes it off.
Elsewhere, Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) grapples with her own test. Urged by her mother, Victoria (Parker Posey), to stay overnight at a Buddhist retreat to prove her commitment to staying in Thailand, Piper’s resolve wavers. It’s a quiet rebellion against her family’s elite dysfunction, but Victoria’s skepticism shines through—she quizzes a monk about “mind control,” unconvinced by her daughter’s quest.
Timothy’s Brush with Darkness
At the resort, Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) teeters on the edge. Having snatched security guard Gaitok’s (Tayme Thapthimthong) gun in Episode 5, he’s flirting with self-destruction. “Denials” starts with a jolt: in a dream, Timothy drafts a suicide note and pulls the trigger, blood soaking the scene as Victoria and Piper discover him—only to snap awake. The gun’s no dream, though; he fiddles with it until Gaitok, tipped off by camera footage, confronts him at a shooting range. “I believe it’s yours,” Gaitok says calmly in a tense bathroom moment, reclaiming the weapon and leaving Timothy to fester in guilt—possibly tied to financial misdeeds, as clues suggest.
Victoria, meanwhile, leans on Lorazepam, missing the signs. A raw scream shared with Piper—now a viral GIF—hints at her fraying grip, though AV Club suggests Timothy’s turmoil is mostly internal, a ticking time bomb for the Ratliffs.
Bangkok Schemes and Family Ties
Rick (Walton Goggins) and Frank (Sam Rockwell) push their Bangkok agenda forward. After stashing a gun in a duffle bag last week, Rick’s now playing Hollywood producer to charm Sritala (Lek Patravadi) into a dinner invite. The episode closes with them at her door, her husband’s voice breaking the silence. Rick’s after revenge—convinced this man killed his father—but Forbes speculates he might be the dad himself, flipping the script. The gun’s stowed for now, but trouble’s simmering.
Back at the resort, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) faces a curveball: her son Zion arrives. It’s a lousy moment—she’s managing Greg/Gary (Jon Gries), who’s hosting a bash after Chloe’s antics. “He’s aware of you,” Chloe warns Saxon, hinting at a Season 1 tie-in that’s brewing.
Friends on the Brink
The gal pals—Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Kate (Leslie Bibb)—keep their clique intact, but tension’s rising. Laurie’s steamed over Jaclyn’s tryst with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius), per Reddit chatter, while Kate fans the flames. “A blowout’s coming,” a fan posted at 5:26 a.m. +04 today, signaling their petty drama’s about to boil over.
Chaos in Couture
“Denials” nails White Lotus’s signature blend—cringe, gloom, and biting wit. Chloe’s Maggie Simpson necklace, noted by AV Club, adds a quirky jab to the mess. With two episodes left, weapons—Gaitok’s, the robbers’, maybe Greg’s—set the stage for a Season 1-linked showdown. “It’s primed for fireworks,” AV Club predicts, mirrored by an X post at 6:00 a.m. +04: “Nonstop edge-of-your-seat vibes.”
Stream it on Max now—Episode 7, “Killer Instincts,” lands March 30. “Denials” leaves us guessing: who’s hiding the truth, and who’s next to crack?