Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Rick (Walton Goggins) were one of the most compelling parts ofHBO’sThe White LotusSeason 3, thanks to the incredible chemistry between the actors. Their deaths in the season finale were tragic, but didn’t hit as hard as they could’ve because something about their arc felt rushed. The finale never quite went as far as it could’ve in showing how, just before it was tragically cut short, their relationship had blossomed into its most mature form. Their arc seemed to be missing one final step, which was confirmed inan interview withVariety. Goggins and Woods explained that an intimate sex scene between Chelsea and Rick was cut from the finale.
‘The White Lotus’ Finale Needed To Show That Rick Evolved
In theVarietyinterview, Goggins stated, “It was this very long, suspended moment of these two people looking at each other. It was so powerful.” He went on to explain that the cut sex scene inThe White LotusSeason 3 finalewould have paralleled Rick and Chelsea’sfirst intimate scene, to show how their relationship has involved and deepened.Rick and Chelsea needed that extra beatfor the audience to see real change in their dynamic. Their deaths were so tragic because their relationship was cut short just when it had found harmony and peace. For that to hit, the viewer needed to see that growth.
In Chelsea and Rick’s brief scenes having dinner and then breakfast together in the finale,Rick seems agitated and distractedin the same way that he didwhen the couple first arrived at the White Lotus. Yes, there’s a beautiful moment when Rick confirms he plans to spend the rest of his life with Chelsea. But people make false promises all the time. The finale lacked a “show, don’t tell” scene, truly demonstrating that Rick would have treated Chelsea differently going forward, if only the couple had gotten the chance.
Every ‘The White Lotus’ Finale, Ranked Worst to Best
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Rick and Chelsea’s Reunion Scene Focused on Saxon
Rick and Chelsea’s most intimate scene in the finale was their reunion scene on the beach. As they embraced, Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger) watched them sadly, reflecting on how much he wants a relationship with that kind of real connection. It’s powerful to see the kind of envy that Rick and Chelsea produce, and the scene is a wonderful moment forSchwarzenegger, demonstrating his acting chops. But, the beat is more about Saxon’s arc than Rick and Chelsea’s.It’s damning that the most loving scene between the couple in the entire finale is focused on someone else’s arc, especially when Rick and Chelsea werethe big deaths of the season.
Writer/directorMike Whitehad to pack a lot of story intoThe White LotusSeason 3 finale. Even without the cut Rick and Chelsea scene, it came in at a whopping 90 minutes. It’s understandable that some things needed to be cut. But, because Rick and Chelsea were the characters who died,their arc should’ve been given priority. Those deaths would have hit even harder if the episode had properly demonstrated their growth and what a beautiful relationship this really was. It’s still a beautiful love story, but Goggins and Wood are absolutely right that it’s missing something. As Goggins toldVariety: we want a director’s cut, Mike White!
Watch all episodes ofThe White Lotuson HBO Max in the U.S.
The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a television series that explores the interactions of guests and staff at an upscale tropical resort. Premiering in 2021, the narrative unfolds over a week, revealing underlying complexities and tensions among the resort’s seemingly ideal travelers and employees.
