Are the brothers in The White Lotus related? Controversial Season 3 incest storyline, explored

The White Lotus never shies away from touching upon uncomfortable storylines that leave the audience thinking. The show has often sparked controversies for pushing the boundaries and being brutally honest in its exploration of the darkest human desires.

In the recently released third season, series creator Mike White has taken the ‘pushing the boundaries’ theme a notch higher as the show delves into full-blown incest. Brothers Saxon Ratliff, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Lochlan Ratliff, played by Sam Nivola, get way too close in episode 6, which has stirred up another controversy.

Meanwhile, audiences have one question in mind: are the brothers in The White Lotus related? As of now, the show has established Saxon and Lochlan as real brothers, and hence, they are very much related.

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Are the brothers in The White Lotus related?

Saxon and Lochlan are the sons of Victoria and Timothy Ratliff and, hence, are related by blood. However, some fans believe that The White Lotus season 3 could introduce a twist in the final episodes, revealing one of them to be an adopted son.

A similar plot was followed in the second season when Jack was caught in the act with his alleged uncle, but it was eventually revealed that they were only pretending to be related and creating a web of lies for Tanya McQuoid.

That being said, the HBO series is known for its unconventional plots, and hence, the makers would likely not follow the same storyline in season 3 as they did in the second chapter. Coming back to Saxon and Lochlan, the Ratliff siblings have given out incestuous vibes from the very beginning.

From calling his sister hot to almost touching himself in front of his brother, Saxon has always crossed boundaries with his siblings. At the same time, Lochlan has occasionally leered at his naked brother. The incestuous plot reached a peak in The White Lotus season 3 episodes 5 and 6.

In episode 5, the two brothers kissed while being high on drugs. While the scene created uproar, some fans hoped this would be the end of the controversial plot. However, the next episode delved further into incest as the brothers got involved in a threesome with Chloe, and Lochlan ended up jerking off his brother.

The scene is being touted as one of the biggest plot twists across all three seasons of the show. The development left a section of the audience uncomfortable, while others already saw it coming since season 3's inception.

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The incest plot in The White Lotus Season 3 goes deeper than expected

The series creators have already pointed out that they have not showcased intimacy between Lochlan and Saxon just for the shock value. Instead, it is part of a bigger narrative.

Throughout the third season, Saxon comes across as an alpha male who oversexualizes everything and tries to control his younger brother’s personal life. He forces Lochlan to drink up protein shakes, flirt with women, and lose his virginity.

His younger brother, meanwhile, struggles with an identity crisis and his place in the family. At the same time, he is fascinated by Saxon’s masculinity and often gives in to his demands. With their intimate moment in The White Lotus season 3 episode 6, the power dynamics between the brothers shift significantly.

Saxon’s beliefs about his own masculinity are shattered. On the other hand, Lochlan begins to explore a part of himself that he has never done before. This may finally help him realize who he really is, and he could finally take charge of his life.

The White Lotus season 3 airs new episodes on HBO and Max on Sundays.