Summary

  • The White Lotus season 1 ending examines themes of wealth and colonialism, showcasing the consequences of the privileged class's careless behavior.
  • Armond's death in the season 1 ending represents the burden of working in hospitality and highlights the powerlessness of the working class in the face of wealth.
  • Rachel's decision to stay with Shane in the season 1 ending reflects the seduction of a wealthy lifestyle and the difficulties of breaking free from a toxic relationship.

Even following season 2 of the HBO show The White Lotus, there are still fans who need to understand The White Lotus season 1 ending. The first season of the satirical dramedy drops its audience into the eponymous Hawaiian resort, following several wealthy guests and the havoc they carelessly wreak. Themes of imperialism, classism, and a mercurial moral compass guide these characters through a sun-baked murder mystery. Season 2 took the show to Italy, but there are still aspects of The White Lotus season 1 ending that fans question.

The main aspect that fans question is the ending of The White Lotus season 1. The show highlights the central themes of wealth and colonialism, challenging how the privileged class can afford to behave carelessly, and the burden this places on marginalized groups and the working class. Though it provides no clear solutions to the dense and complex problems it targets, The White Lotus' season 1 ending follows its characters to their logical conclusions as if fated to their ends by mechanisms far beyond the understanding of the rich and the reach of the poor.

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What Happens In The White Lotus's Ending

Shane Unintentionally Kills Armond

The White Lotus season 1 ending explained how each of these guests changed in their time at the resort, and it often wasn't for the better. In a brief six episodes, the audience comes to understand the unique wants and needs of each member of the Mossbacher party (daughter Olivia's friend Paula included), the perpetually bewildered heiress Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), the newlyweds Shane (Jake Lacy) and Rachel (Alexandra Daddario), and a slew of hotel workers and other guests overseen by the delightful manager, Armond (Murray Bartlett).

As these characters jostle and crash into one another, their relationships move towards the ending with an increasingly claustrophobic sense of dread and wondering who at The White Lotus will die. In The White Lotus' season 1 ending, Shane kills his adversary Armond (albeit less intentionally than perhaps expected).

Among the remaining storylines, the Mossbachers reach an understanding within their marriage, while their daughter and her friend begin the end of their relationship. Tanya bows out of her commitment to spa manager Belinda to chase Greg to Colorado. Quinn Mossbacher self-actualizes, dipping the boarding queue to join his newfound Hawaiian friends as they train to row to the big island. Rachel decides to stay with her husband Shane in their nascent unhappy marriage. A lot of ground is covered in the one-hour finale, but there's even more lurking beneath the surface of The White Lotus' season 1 ending.

Why Armond Had To Die In The White Lotus

The Working Class Is Powerless When Up Against Wealthy Guests

Armond dying in a bath tub in The White Lotus

The White Lotus season 1 ending explained why Armond had to die, hammering home the themes of classism in the series. From the opening moments, White creates tension with the anonymous "human remains" box and the incessant voiceover, "where's your wife?" The audience spends the next six episodes wondering who will end up in that box and learns it's Armond, who represents the torment of working in hospitality, catering to the vapid whims of the carelessly rich. His fate begins with the double-booking of the Pineapple Suite, but it's sealed with his falling off the wagon.

Whether it was an accident or not, Shane is never charged with Armond's murder in The White Lotus' season 1 ending though this is fitting given the themes of the show. After the pressures and unnecessary stresses of his longtime job push Armond to the edge, and when suddenly presented with Olivia and Paula's stash, he turns to drugs to cope — which leads to his fatally reckless behavior. While Shane getting his comeuppance would have been the satisfying outcome in The White Lotus' season 1 ending, instead, the opposite occurs.

This supports one of the main themes in The White Lotus: the notion that the working class is powerless against the entrenched mechanisms that unequally distribute wealth. While The White Lotus season 2's winners offered a more upbeat end, season 1's bleak ending highlights the horrors of contemporary western class stratification. And White at least gives Armond some measure of bittersweet fulfillment: he nails dinner and he leaves Shane an odorous parting gift.

Why Does Rachel Stay with Shane at the End of The White Lotus?

Rachel's Situation Is Prohibitive And It's Easier For Her To Stay Married

Rachel Patton (Alexandra Daddario) tearfully hugging Shane (Jake Lacy) in The White Lotus

One of the biggest criticisms The White Lotus' season 1 ending is Rachel and Shane remaining together Rachel is no "Lotus-Eater," she's a writer with journalistic aspirations beyond the listicles she gets assigned. Unfortunately, she's just married one, and Shane shows his true colors on their honeymoon as a spoiled, hyper-masculine, self-indulgent man-child. Shane might be The White Lotus' worst character and Rachel is worn down by him throughout the series: Shane coveting her appearance over character, his incessant complaints and vendetta against the staff, his belittling of her career, and his mother's appearance.

When Rachel finally decides to stand up for her principles in White Lotus' season 1 ending, she's hardly even acknowledged by the unlikable Shane — but when she goes searching for advice, she finds Belinda has no wisdom to dispense. In her, Rachel sees the cost of living under the feet of the wealthy, physically and emotionally spent. Suddenly, sacrificing her principles in exchange for the carelessness wealth would afford seems a good option.

In response to the strong reaction to The White Lotus ending, the creator stated he wanted to create this dynamic from the onset, just as he knew it was Armond he wanted to put in that "human remains" box. White describes Rachel as "a woman who realizes what she’s really married to and what she’s giving up," but that he always knew she'd end up staying with him in The White Lotus' season 1 ending for three main reasons.

First, there's an element of "seduction of a lifestyle," that she's married into wealth and its advantages. Second, is similar to Daphne and Cameron in The White Lotus season 2 with their flawed marriage that still has some love there since White imbues Shane with a sense of pathos, insisting that Shane really does love Rachel, even if he falls short of supporting her when it inconveniences his childlike temperament. White cites the difficulty for Rachel as her situation is rather prohibitive — it's easier to stay the course than back out now, on their honeymoon of all places.

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What Does The White Lotus Say About Classism and Imperialism?

The Series' Contrasting Story Arcs Provokes Debate

The White Lotus staff waving in season 1

The White Lotus' season 1 ending dissects class divide, a scathing satire criticizing the carelessness of wealth. It's a complicated discussion that reflects the creator's own experiences. Mike White has had considerable success, both critically and commercially, and that informs the characters. He calls Armond the character he relates to the most, often finding himself in the role of being "a 'give the suits what they want' kind of person."

His experience as a white man informs his perspectives on Quinn Mossbacher (Fred Hechinger) and Steve Zahn's Mark in The White Lotus. In the latter, he places his struggles to atone for "the things he can't control." In the former, he taps into his experience on Survivor and his other world travels, citing a personal desire to escape a world that's "too much with us," and connect with these cultures. However, in the same breath, he places himself in Rachel's shoes, often sacrificing his principles to be a writer-for-hire

The White Lotus' season 1 ending is designed to create conflicted feelings in its audience. Because of White's vantage point on classism and imperialism, the series provokes debate. Whether it's Nicole's feminism versus Rachel's career aspirations, Olivia and Paula criticizing Mark and Nicole for fetishizing the fruits of imperialism, or Quinn choosing personal freedom over wealth in the end, the show functions as a clash of contemporary ideologies. The parable of Belinda and Tanya further illustrates the disparity between the classes, as the former's greatest career opportunity amounts to just another delirious whim in the life of the latter.

Which White Lotus Characters Return For Season 2?

Season 2 Premiered In October 2022

Tanya on the phone looking shocked in The White Lotus season 2

The White Lotus season 2 premiered at the end of October 2022 with a whole new storyline in the works. Season 2 follows a group of hotel guests at the White Lotus in Taormina, Sicily after discovering a group of patrons who died on the beach. Several cast members returned for the new installment, but it's mostly new faces. Each returning cast member retained the same character from season 1. Jennifer Coolidge was back for season 2 as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, and her husband Greg Hunt (Jon Gries) also shows up at the White Lotus in Sicily.

Among the new White Lotus season 2 characters are Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) is Dominic Di Grasso, a Hollywood producer looking into his Sicilian heritage. His father, Bert, is played by F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest), who is also a Hollywood producer on the show. Dominic's son Albie is with them as well, and is portrayed by Adam DiMarco (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). Italian actress Beatrice Grannò plays Mia, an aspiring singer. Theo James (Sanditon) is a businessman named Cameron, and his wife Daphne is played by Meghann Fahy (The Bold Type), who is a stay-at-home mom.

Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean) portrays a British ex-pat named Quentin, and Sabrina Impacciatore (The Passion of the Christ) plays Valentina, the manager of the White Lotus in Sicily. Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) is Harper Spiller and her husband Ethan is played by Will Sharpe (Sherlock). Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen) portrays Portia, a recent college graduate and Tanya's assistant. Finally, Italian actress Simona Tabasco plays Lucia, a Sicilian local trying to find work at the White Lotus.

The Real Meaning Of The White Lotus's Ending

The Ending Is Satirical In Its Depiction Of Hotel Workers & The Guests

Quinn rowing in The White Lotus

The show The White Lotus' season 1 ending is total satire. Lani disappears after episode 1 because, after she's unable to work, she ceases to exist to the patrons around which the show is centered. Kai is arrested for assault and attempted burglary because to the wealthy, that's just what "the help" does sometimes — but of course, the characters show no remorse for the pillaging of Hawaiian culture and resources by their colonial forefathers. Nicole and Mark repair their marriage since they're perfect for each other, as secure in their status as they are insecure in themselves.

Even The White Lotus' unanswered questions and uncertain futures of some characters can be guessed at with the themes of the show. Rachel rejoins Shane because the world is a scary place without the privileges (and protections) money affords. White Lotus character Belinda painstakingly puts on her smile again as a group of interchangeable helpers, ready to handle baggage (both material and emotional) prepares for new arrivals at the resort — the endless cycle still churning that defines the HBO show.

And to top it all off, the final shot of The White Lotus' season 1 ending bears the stain of utilizing marginalized characters for the straight white male to self-actualize — and it's arguably the most gratifying moment in the whole six episodes. Such is the intrinsic cognitive dissonance of The White Lotus' season 1 ending.

Some White Lotus Season 1 Characters May Return For Season 3

Natasha Rothwell Will Return As Belinda Lindsey

Connie Britton as Nicole with a gaped mouth in The White Lotus season 1

Fans are already looking to The White Lotus season 3, but The White Lotus season 1 ending explained that at least one fan-favorite character would likely not be returning. However, that doesn't mean that the third season couldn't see some familiar faces return. Connie Britton who played Nicole in season 1 addressed the fact that she originally planned to be part of season 2 only for those plans to fall through. However, she claims the idea could be used for season 3.

There is also a tease about one of the big-name stars of season 2 who didn't appear on-screen. Laura Dern provided the voice of Abby, the estranged wife of Michael Imperioli's Dominic. One theory from The White Lotus covers how Dern could return for season 3 and how it could even connect to Nicole's storyline. The fan theory suggests that Nicole and Abby are sisters which could mean they go vacationing together at a White Lotus resort in season 3, perhaps with Abby's newly reconciled husband.

The one confirmed returning cast member from The White Lotus season 1 is Natasha Rothwell, who played Belinda Lindsey, who was briefly going into business with Tanya. The extent of her role in season 3 is unknown. However, she could still have some communication with Tanya, and there's a possibility that Belinda could suspect something regarding Tanya's death in the White Lotus season 2 ending.

How The White Lotus Season 1 Ending Compares To Season 2

Season 2 Was More Of A Murder Mystery Plot Than A Misunderstanding

The staff led by Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina waving in The White Lotus season 2

The White Lotus season 1 ending set a high bar for The White Lotus season 2 ending to wrap up its multiple stories in a meaningful fitting way, but many people feel it succeeded. However, there are some notable differences in how Mike White decided to handle some of the storylines. In particular, the murder mystery at the center of The White Lotus season 2 was much more of an actual murder plot rather than a simple misunderstanding turned deadly. Tanya learns that the new friends she has met have actually been hired by Greg to kill her.

This is a much more dramatic plot than what The White Lotus season 1 featured, even featuring a shootout in which Tanya kills all of her would-be killers. However, season 2 does follow the darkly comedic answer about which main character dies as Tanya is killed in The White Lotus season 2 ending as she attempts to escape a yacht and clumsily falls overboard.

In terms of the other characters, White continues the trend of playing against expectations and concluding with a lot of unhappy endings. Harper and Ethan seem to be heading down a similar path as Cameron and Daphne, using infidelity as a way to keep their relationship alive. Dominic seems to have an opportunity to save his marriage despite not having changed. However, as a drastic difference from The White Lotus season 1, it is the locals and staff that get happy endings with Valentina embracing her sexuality, Mia getting a singing job with the resort, and Lucia tricking Albie out of a lot of money.

You can read Screen Rant's breakdown of The White Lotus season 2's ending here.

The White Lotus new season poster
The White Lotus
Comedy
Drama

The White Lotus is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week. As darker dynamics emerge each day, this series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself.​ Each season follows a new cast of characters with a greater mystery lying at the center of each new location.

Cast
Alexandra Daddario , Fred Hechinger , Connie Britton , Murray Bartlett , Sydney Sweeney , Brittany O'Grady , Natasha Rothwell , Jake Lacy , Jennifer Coolidge , Molly Shannon , Steve Zahn , Aubrey Plaza , Theo James , Haley Lu Richardson , Michael Imperioli , F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hollander , Meghann Fahy , Adam DiMarco , Will Sharpe , Leslie Bibb , Dom Hetrakul , Jason Isaacs , Michelle Monaghan , Parker Posey , Tayme Thapthimthong
Release Date
July 11, 2021
Seasons
2
Network
HBO Max
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu , HBO Max
Writers
Mike White
Directors
Mike White
Showrunner
Mike White