The White Lotus: Season 3 Episode 5 – Recap/ Review

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Episode 5 “Full Moon Party” Details

Air Date	March 16, 2025
Network	HBO Max
Director	Mike White
Writer	Mike White

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Recap

Let’s Have Some Fun: Jaclyn, Kate, Laurie, Valentin, Aleksei, Vlad, Chelsea, Chloe, Saxon, Lochlan, Rick

Jaclyn gets her wish and gets to have the kind of fun that could push the idea she is going through something. Maybe Harrison is not validating her as she likes, her eternal competition with her friends, or a mid-life crisis. It’s hard to say, but she has Kate and Laurie join her as Valentin and his friends Aleksei and Vlad take them to a club, and they dance as long as they can. Now, between Kate and some drama Aleksei has, their night out ends early, but then they go to the hotel and continue.

There, Laurie takes off her top and acts wild in the pool, and Kate, being the only one potentially happily married, just watches as Laurie lets loose and gets uninhibited, and Jaclyn watches. But, don’t think Jaclyn got her fill for after everyone goes to bed, Aleksei returns and makes Jaclyn a cheater.

In many ways, it seemed like she wouldn’t be alone. Chelsea, dismayed by Rick’s ambivalence, and Chloe, lacking the attention she craves, decide to spend the day and evening with Saxon and Lochlan. Chloe even fancies the idea of sleeping with Lochlan, expecting and hoping his youth will take in her body to the point he is shivering with delight and anxiety.

We don’t see that. We do see Chloe and Chelsea kiss, and Lochlan kisses his brother in ways that remind you of his elongated stare when his brother was naked earlier in the season. But, as for what Chloe or Saxon planned for himself and Lochlan, that doesn’t come to pass.

Nerve Wrecking Conversations: Fabian, Gaitok, Belinda, Pornchai, Piper, Tim, Victoria

Despite her brother not being there for support, Piper reveals to her parents she not only wishes to stay in Thailand after graduating but also there was no thesis project to justify the trip. Tim, who is contemplating ending his life, even writes a note, is too out of it to react as Victoria does, or wants him to. But, her residual anger affecting her sleep might be the only thing which stopped him from ending his life.

I can tell you right now, it wasn’t Gaitok. Him being meek makes it so that even when he confronts Tim, he doesn’t get his gun back, but in his defense, it isn’t like he can get any backup. Fabian is not his ally, or probably anyone’s, and even when Belinda brings up Gary/Greg and her worries, he plays down her feelings, and only Pornchai takes her side, and perhaps feeling seen, heard, and protected, leads to the perfect storm for them to spend the night together.

Nothing To Hold Me Back: Rick, Frank, Chelsea

In Chelsea’s mind, Rick is a hot head who she doses the fire of. However, she isn’t with him in Bangkok; Rick’s old friend Frank is, and while Frank has calmed down immensely from partying and debauchery, he is still someone willing to aid or partake in violence. Hence, he gives Rick a gun for what he feels like he needs to do.

Cast and Characters

Previously Introduced Character(s)	Actor
Rick	Walton Goggins
Chloe	Charlotte Le Bon
Jaclyn	Michelle Monaghan
Kate	Leslie Bibb
Laurie	Carrie Coon
Valentin	Arnas Fedaravicius
Chelsea	Aimee Lou Wood
Lochlan	Sam Nivola
Fabian	Christian Friedel
Gaitok	Tayme Thapthimthong
Belinda	Natasha Rothwell
Pornchai	Dom Hetrakul
Piper	Sarah Catherine Hook
Tim	Jason Isaacs
Victoria	Parker Posey
Saxon	Patrick Schwarzenegger

Frank (Sam Rockwell)

Frank might be as troubled as Rick, who is unable to return to the United States in many ways. However, while Rick is forever mourning his father and the life he could have had, Frank decided to party, get into compromising situations, and lead that life until he burnt out and decided to find faith – Buddhism, to be specific. Now, while willing to help Rick complete his story, it seems in terms of drinking and becoming the man Rick knew, he isn’t willing to do so and break his sobriety or celibacy.

Aleksei (Julian Kostov)

Aleksei is one of Valentin’s friends who has his eyes on Jaclyn, despite seemingly having someone who he has an intense relationship with.

Vlad (Yuri Kolokolnikov)

Vlad, who is an orphan with a lot of childhood trauma, finds himself stuck with and partly latching onto Kate since everyone else is taken.

Other Noteworthy Information

Collected Quote(s)

• What if this life is just a test to see if we can become better people? — Lochlan

Predictions

1. Wouldn’t it be sad if Mook ends up being the one who dies?

Review

Trajectory (75/100): Decline, Plateau, Climbing

A part of me enjoys seeing the majority of characters let their inhibitions go and get a bit wild. Whether it is Belinda and Pornchai having a night together, Jaclyn and Laurie getting wild, or even Saxon and Lochlan partying with Chelsea and Chloe. But, I got to say, all the teasing of something bad potentially happening makes me want them to hasten the pace a bit and actually have something happen.

Now, if you were to call me impatient, I would take that comment and agree. But, in my defense, there isn’t much to hold us over until the big reveal of who dies comes about. For one, the Timothy, Victoria, and Piper storyline sucked the life out of the episode, and I found myself as aggravated as Piper whenever Victoria spoke. Add in the frustration of Gaitok, no different from Fabian, being a little punk? It may have been nice to see a lot of characters let loose, but the things we really needed, I don’t think we got.

Heck, even in terms of Lochlan maybe hooking up with Chloe. Yes, shame on Chloe for cheating and taking advantage of a barely 18-year-old man-boy. But, she is cheating on Gary/Greg and Lochlan, while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, and Saxon, is still a good kid and you want him to have some kind of fun. I would even say, this episode made Saxon the most tolerable he has ever been.

But, maybe it is because he didn’t push or interfere with what Chelsea was going through? Her feelings for Rick, even if they often seem one-sided, do give this season of “The White Lotus” something. Add in that, despite how cold he is towards her, she has become a moral compass of sorts for him, and it makes their relationship cute. Especially after hearing Frank talk about his life before celibacy and sobriety because, what in the heck was that?

Overall though, I feel like “The White Lotus” is better at providing distractions than substance and I’m starting to believe that it may have peaked in season 2 and is now living off the fumes of what it once was.

Highlights

• How Ominous So Many Lines Felt [83]
• Rick and Chelsea [84]
• Belinda Getting Her Groove Back [81]

Low Points

• Timothy, Piper, and Victoria [64]
• Fabian and Gaitok [67]

On The Fence

• Feeling Like We’re Being Placated [75]
• Jaclyn and Her Friends [74]

“The White Lotus” Guide