We called it last week, but this season of The White Lotus really does keep getting gayer and gayer. And, after the shocking final moments of the latest episode, we can’t wait to see how Sicily tops *wink, wink* itself next.
Spoilers ahead!
As you surely remember, the previous season of the HBO satire ushered viewers into its final act with a truly eye-popping cliffhanger, in which off-the-wagon hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett) found himself face-first between employee Dillon’s cheeks—only to be interrupted by angry guest Shane (Jake Lacy). It sure had the internet talking!
Well, now series creator Mike White has outdone himself, delivering yet another moment of interrupted butt play—with a surprising twist. Let’s get into it…
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In “That’s Amore,” hapless heiress Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) and her put-upon assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) embark for Palermo at the request of their new gaggle of gay friends, led by the wily Quentin (Tom Hollander). Their gregarious host shows them around his stunning family estate, and—if you found yourself wondering how anyone affords such a lavish lifestyle, hold onto that thought because we have our suspicions.
While Quentin woos Tanya with a night at the opera, his “naughty nephew” Jack (Leo Woodall) takes Portia out on the town, conveniently “forgetting” his wallet so that the pair has to dine and dash. Again, something fishy is going on here! Back at the estate, Jack walks Portia to her room then tells her he has to do something for his uncle.
Cut to: Tanya waking up in the middle of the night and wandering the suddenly eerie halls, following a distant sound of… moaning? When she turns the corner, she spies Jack plowing his dear old uncle from behind. Excuse us, WHAT?!
Tanya manages to go unnoticed, but we imagine that scene will be etched in her memory for a long time—just like ours!
those last 15 seconds of White Lotus??? my jaw DROPPED pic.twitter.com/H4ePoO1rpr
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) November 28, 2022
Look, we’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that Quentin and Jack aren’t related, so let’s take a deep breath. We weren’t so sure what this East England smooth-talker was doing with all those gays anyway, and this seems to confirm our suspicion that Jack’s a rentboy, or at least some sort of hired hand not strictly on a family vacation. And, if Quentin was lying about his nephew, what else could he be lying about? Fan theories have been flying around, but the prevailing notion is that these gays aren’t quite as wealthy as they appear to be—and Tanya better watch her back!
As for that scene, White knew exactly what he was doing, looking to provoke plenty of pearl-clutching. “There’s a pleasure to me as a guy who is gay-ish to make gay sex transgressive again,” the queer showrunner tells Variety in a new interview. “It’s dirty… men are having sex and you have this Psycho music underneath. It just amuses me.”
“I just think transgressive sex is sexier,” White adds. “I guess I’m old school. There’s this Gothic vibe of walking through a haunted hotel or haunted house and people are having sex behind closed doors.” The vibes definitely were very Eyes Wide Shut!
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While White remains tight-lipped about whether Quentin and Jack are actually related (“Well, you’ll have to see”), the Variety piece does provide a few other insights into the scene from the actors themselves. Woodall says reading the script left him “speechless,” but admits he dove in with no reservations because he trusted White to tell the story perfectly.
And Hollander reveals what it was like to actually film the big moment—with an intimacy coordinator just out of frame. “It’s more technical than anything else when you’re actually doing it,” he says. “You know, ‘Is this the right angle? Does this look right?’ But there was a mutually respectful energy between us, too. And on the set, the production was very tender around those moments. It certainly was around that one. We just wanted to do it right.”
But the sex scene was just the capstone to another wild episode of The White Lotus: Sicily, one that included gratuitous butt shots for Jack and Albie (Adam DiMarco), and addressed hotel manager Valentina’s (Sabrina Impacciatore) sexuality pretty directly, with Mia (Beatrice Grannò) admitting she’s “a little gay, too” and propositioning her for a gig at the bar’s piano.
There’s also the matter of the increasingly tense dynamic between über-wealthy couples, Cam and Daphne (Theo James, Meghann Fahy) and Ethan and Harper (Will Sharpe, Aubrey Plaza). Now that the condom wrapper is out in the open, Ethan admits that something happened the night the women were away, but maintains his innocence. This inspires some all-out passive-aggressive warfare from Harper, who really pokes and prods at Cam’s shady history. Fans have been wondering about a potential couple-swap moment, and even pulling for the guys to go gay, but it looks like this romantic destination vacation is going south fast.
Brace yourselves, because there are only two episodes left—and we still have to figure out who winds up sleeping with the fishes! Read on for some of our favorite Twitter reactions, and share you theories in the comments section below.
#WhiteLotus episode 5 spoiler without context pic.twitter.com/ScdFkfLr0v
— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) November 28, 2022
I think the White Lotus season just keeps getting better and better! I love/hate them all.??
— Danny Pellegrino (@DannyPellegrino) November 28, 2022
Me watching the white lotus #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/CXRP74Ljjd
— ? (@theowjmes) November 28, 2022
at its heart, the white lotus really is a show about privilege and different kinds of gay sex
— David Mack (@davidmackau) November 28, 2022
jennifer coolidge at the end of this week’s white lotus pic.twitter.com/xdzdKdslcP
— chase. (@cfree94) November 28, 2022
The White Lotus Sicily said “when you’re here, you’re familydick”
— adam (@adamjmoussa) November 28, 2022
the last minute of tonight’s #WhiteLotus without context: pic.twitter.com/g8qugS9phu
— Jordan Shipowitz (@JordanShipo) November 28, 2022
Valentina when she was clocked by Mia #whitelotus #thewhitelotus pic.twitter.com/qpbPjLqPQy
— Tai ? (@SipMyTai) November 28, 2022
his legs. adam dimarco’s legs on the white lotus. pic.twitter.com/Mbc2tLQpAe
— uncle gworl (@_uncle_gworl) November 28, 2022
The gays waiting a whole week for a new episode of the White Lotus is the equivalent of straights waiting for a new Game of Thrones ep. Like how I am supposed to deal with that last 30 seconds. #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/RVc7vakk1G
— LachyW (@LachyW2) November 28, 2022
abfab
Yes, it was a great evening but it was NOT a shock. Again, the scenery and cinematography! Mama mia!
Just.my.opinion
The scenery and cinematography are the only good things about this show.
GayAndTired
Someone needs to address this show’s treatment of its queer characters (especially since it is created by a queer person).
In two seasons, both managers have been pursuing their employees who have not exhibited any mutual interest. There were NO other storylines they could have given Valentina? None?
Mike White may think “transgressive sex is sexier” but why then is it used to shock and horrify straight characters both times it happens?
abfab
Everyone seems to be underming each other’s ”perfect” relationships. Very fun!
BigJohnSF
I’m betting Tanya’s husband comes back and his infidelity is revealed – and she kills him.
Daphne was the one in episode one telling newcomers “you’ll die!” with a big grin, so we can assume her foursome survives. Valentina was the one receiving the news about dead bodies, so she’s OK. How would scammers come to be in possession of an enormous yacht and a villa? I can’t wait to find out, also to gaze once again upon Jack’s buttocks.
abfab
Mafia trades in the barter system. No one pays for much of anything. It’s mostly favors and payback. Chartering a boat is a piece of cake in the Med. It’s Sicily people. It’s suppose to be effed up!
abfab
EXTORTION!
ncman
Did I misunderstand uncle Quentin’s story about his cowboy from Wyoming 30 years ago? Isn’t Tanya’s husband from Wyoming? Didn’t Quentin say he would still do anything for his cowboy even though he got old?
abfab
He did. How perceptive! I bet you’re right. Stay tuned!
Gay Press
Could it be that “Greg” (Tanya’s husband) was talking to Quentin on the phone just before he leaves? This could be a set up.
Kangol2
Yes, I also thought Greg might be the cowboy!
brian6767
Absolutely love this show! And, even if I didn’t, Adam DiMarco’s thighs from front-to-back are orgasmic!!
abfab
LOVE this show. I think the 3rd season has been confirmed.
Biscuits
Oh look, another gay sex scene used for shock value on The White Lotus. YAWN! God forbid Mike White has a gay couple as the primary focus if there is a season 3. THAT would be shocking.
abfab
Oh God Biscuits, everything can’t be about us!
abfab
The opera scene….” is that the queen of Sicily?” I think this faggy little group of mobsters are going to drain her bank accounts. Non lo so.
toddlicious
Did no one really see this coming??? Hahaha. Amateurs.
JPDonahue
Ok… tell us what WILL happen in the next two episodes!
abfab
She can’t.
bachy
White Lotus casts a dark and mesmerizing spell. I find it all very enchanting, sexy and provocative. Every character on the show is f*cking like rabbits – but so far it’s always the gays that are the “scandal.” Not quite sure what to make of that.
But it is hottttt.
Paris in Santiago
The nephew is not a nephew. He’s a paid escort to be with all the men in some capacity. The nephew tag is to hide the fact he is a paid escort.
Kangol2
The acting and cinematography are very good but that gay sex scene was not the shocker it’s being made out to be. Clearly that chav guy wasn’t Quentin’s nephew, and they’re all clearly trying to scam Tanya, so I expected them to try almost anything. It’s also tiresome to yet again have graphic gay sex provide the supposed “shock.” In the first season it was Murray Bartlett rimming somebody–what a “shock.” Does Mike White think we’re back in 1922? Or 1982? I mean, come on!
abfab
Remember how shocking everyone thought Dynasty was? LOL
PubicHairus
The White Lotus has become one of my favorite shows. I do miss Murray Bartlett’s handsome mustached face, though.
JoshGL
The “uncle” trope for a gay sugar daddy usually paying his “nephew’s” college tuition or other legitimate expenses is as old as the steam engine. It is usually not an escort who is presented more as a professional assistant.
The uncle/nephew is a more lasting relationship until the uncle tires of the arrangement which, if they have half a brain, is terminated with a healthy one-time payment or life interest in an apartment.
JoshGL
And for those who think Tanya is some sort of dupe, take a look at the way she dumped Belinda and her business proposal in the first season.
She may have her ditzy moments but she dumps friends and employees without a second thought. She tells her husband she will revisit their prenup but that will never happen. Rich people do not part easily with their money. If she senses he’s in it for the big money, he’s toast.
The will is a wildcard. If her husband is her heir, I would not be at all surprised if someone will try to kill her.
But Coolidge is a huge fan favorite. Better to have her escape any predicament because she is a lot more savvy than she lets on.