The ‘best piece of TV acting this year’ has been overshadowed by Adolescence
'One of the craziest scenes in TV history.'
In a year of astonishing TV from Severance to Adolescence, one scene from the latest episode of The White Lotus may just have landed the top spot.
This weekend the TV show on everyone’s lips was Netflix’s Adolescence – the chart-topping, one-take limited series that has been praised for its timely themes and outstanding acting from stars Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty.
From the intense exchange between 13-year-old accused murderer Jamie and psychologist Briony in episode three to dad Eddie’s heartwrenching breakdown as the show came to a close – there’s no shortage of impactful moments that stay with you long after the episode ends.
But as the world processes this powerful show, The White Lotus has been going viral for its powerhouse acting for very, very different reasons.
And no, it’s not the incest subplot.
In season three episode five, Full Moon Party, we meet Rick’s (Walton Goggin) old buddy Frank who, in a shocking turn of events, was played by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell (who just so happens to be married to this season’s star, Leslie Bibb).
Sam Rockwell made a surprise cameo in The White Lotus (Picture: HBO)When Rick and Frank are talking, things quickly take a strange turn as Frank recounts his deep desire to be an Asian girl and the sexual lengths he went to to make it happen, to a completely blindsided Frank.
The daring, boundary-pushing, monologue – quintessential of White Lotus’ outrageous nature – has been showered with praise by viewers who have dubbed it one of the best (and most insane) monologues in TV history.
‘Sam Rockwell delivers one of the most iconic television monologues ever written in tonight’s episode of White Lotus,’ @dan_sickles wrote on X.
‘This exchange between Sam Rockwell and Walton Goggins has sent me to another dimension,’ @ciaomegan_ added.
‘This Sam Rockwell cameo and monologue in the latest ep just single-handedly elevated the whole episode to unseen heights for this show. It’s insane how great he is in everything,’ Enganche19 shared.
‘Oooohh sam rockwell is winning an Emmy for this episode of The White Lotus. that monologue was a masterclass,’ @karl_delo_ predicted.
Walton Goggin’s astonished reactions completed the epic scene (Picture: HBO)‘Sam Rockwell really showed up out of nowhere tonight and delivered one of the most insane monologues in television history,’ @joey echoed.
‘Sam Rockwell’s cameo on The White Lotus was one of the craziest scenes in TV history. Walton Goggins face did all the talking,’ @TheSkoo agreed.
‘In all seriousness, the Sam Rockwell monologue is unequivocally one of the most astounding/haunting/wild/daring (I don’t even think of any of those words are right) moments in TV history,’ @trannawintour declared.
‘I’m still processing the Sam Rockwell monologue in The White Lotus but it might end up as one of my favorite pieces of TV acting this year,’ @BrandonLewis said.
‘Sam Rockwell’s surprise cameo on tonight’s episode of The White Lotus has officially gone to the history books. It being a perfect example of stealing a scene by chewing dialogue and landing every bit,’ @bismark posted.
‘Between that monologue by Sam Rockwell and the cut scenes to Walton Goggins, just an all-time television moment,’ @RGF commented.
‘Sam Rockwell’s monologue on White Lotus tonight (coupled with Walton Goggins’s reactions) may have been the best thing I’ve seen on TV in years,’ Daniel Hammond concluded.
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Previous Page Next PageLeslie, who plays Kate, recently told Jimmy Fallon just how difficult it was to keep Sam’s bonkers cameo a secret.
‘I had to lie about it and I’m a terrible liar. When I lie I do this, I just start looking down. But yeah we couldn’t tell anybody.
She then re-enacted while looking to the ground: ‘Then we come back and everyone’s like “did Sam come” and I was like “uh-huh, yeah he came for a couple days.’
And co-star Walton opened up about his absolutely brilliant experience working with the Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri star on this already iconic scene.
‘I think initially there was someone else that was going to play this, and so when that didn’t work out for whatever reason, it was really only one person – and that was Sam Rockwell,’ he told Vanity Fair.
The 53-year-old actor continued: ‘We did [the scene] a number of times, like seven or eight times, and everything was different every single time. The only thing that I can say is that I had no judgment.
‘It took me a moment to wrap my head around this particular life experience, so it was like, “wow, wow, okay.” But without judgment – I think that’s so beautiful about it.’
Two brothers also locked lips in the episode (Picture: HBO)And added it ‘was really one of the greatest opportunities and privilege’ to do this scene with Sam.
It wasn’t the only discourse-sparking moment from the episode. In another scene, brothers Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) kissed on a yacht in front of their friends.
It comes after viewers shared concern over an early scene where Lochlan longingly gazes at his brother in the bathroom as he strips off to masturbate before the door swings closed.
The White Lotus is available to stream on Now in the UK.
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