I firmly believe The White Lotus Season 3 carries more thriller elements than the previous chapters 

While many believed that HBO's The White Lotus Season 3 was a frustratingly slow season, the increasing viewer ratings for the last few episodes prove that Mike White's strategic pacing and setting eventually worked in favor of the new season.

I truly believe the new season was more thrilling than the previous seasons. Opening strong with a mass shooting, the opening scene was a testament to how this season was positioned differently from others, and the stakes were generally increased. While the previous seasons showed a dead body, it was accompanied by chaos and loud shooting noises, adding to the new season's thrill.

Most importantly, the surprise reveal of Greg, who changes his name to Gary, created a moment of surprise for all fans. His addition to the new season, with Belinda eventually recognizing him, also increases the stakes, creating visual tension and thrill in each frame.

Here's how The White Lotus Season 3 had more thriller elements than previous seasons.

*Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.*

The White Lotus Season 3 had many thrilling sub-plots that added to the overall suspense of the show

Let's be honest here: Mike White is a master of building tension and suspense in all seasons of The White Lotus, but Season 3 felt particularly thrilling because of the many sub-plots and character backstories included in the current season. From Rick's revenge to the Ratliff's secret, all elements were brilliantly tied together to create a thrilling atmosphere, building anticipation for the finale.

The White Lotus' current chapter is built on exciting stories and is set up for each character. They were not just rich, vacationing in Thailand for a week, but had ulterior motives and secrets of their own, enriching the season's thrill.

Rick's vendetta against his father's killer built much suspense and thrill, fans were eager to know how it would culminate in the finale. The will-he-will-he-not for Rick's character kept audiences on their toes, as they were eager to know: will he finally kill Jim Hollinger?

Secondly, the Ratliff's bankruptcy also added much thrill to The White Lotus Season 3 as Timothy was plagued by nightmares over how his family would react to their new reality. His visions about killing himself and his whole family added a layer of spookiness to the show, and the final culmination, with Lochlan having his near-death experience, added excitement to the story.

Thirdly, while the three friends had nothing sinister going on with them, the equation White created of this female friendship was enough to add thrill to the new season. Almost all of their conversations were teetering on edge, a volcano waiting to erupt, culminating with Laurie's big monologue in the finale.

Incest, an armed robbery, chittering monkeys, and a poisonous tree- The White Lotus Season 3 was a thrilling ride through and through

While the individual backstories of each character/group added thrill to Season 3, the setting of the new season was itself more thrilling than previous seasons.

The Ratliff brothers' teetering on an incestual vibe through the initial episodes, with loud monkeys chittering in the background, created a holistically thrilling atmosphere. The monkeys were so heavily featured in the initial episodes that many fan theories believed they were responsible for the shooting, but in reality, Mike used them as an excellent plot device to create tension.

In addition to the suspenseful mass shooting of the opening scene, The White Lotus Season 3 also had an armed robbery during the initial episodes, confirming that something bad would happen to Chelsea, as she also pointed out to Rick.

Finally, the poisonous pong-pong tree introduced in The White Lotus Season 3 premiere set the tone of the season: Death looms large in the resort. The tree had its full circle moment, with Timothy grinding its seeds to make venomous pina coladas for his family, but he eventually did not go through with it.

While the previous seasons were more stark in their commentary on the rich, the latest season gave them enriching back stories, adding the stakes for the whole season.

Also Read: How did Lochlan survive the poisoned shake in The White Lotus Season 3?

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