The White Lotus incest storyline isn’t even remotely interesting or entertaining
It takes a lot to shock someone who writes about television for a living but The White Lotus is trying its very best.
After six episodes of ‘will they won’t they?’ between brothers Lochlan and Saxon, The White Lotus has gone there.
It takes a lot to shock someone who writes about television for a living but The White Lotus is trying its very best with… incest.
From the get-go of the third season of Mike White’s ludicrously camp whodunnit, the sexual tension has been palpable – between brothers Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan Ratliff (Sam Nivola).
Saxon is a hypersexual, hyper-masculine ‘finance bro’ determined to rid his sheepish younger brother of his virginity during their family trip to Thailand, specifically with some girls they’ve spotted at their resort, The White Lotus.
During their first night sharing a room, Saxon is horny. He can’t stop talking about how horny he is. In fact he’s so unbearable horny that, mid-conversation with his brother, he has to masturbate immediately.
He dashes to the bathroom, leaving the door suspiciously ajar to jerk off in front of Lochlan who is transfixed, staring at his brother’s penis for much longer than could possibly be an accident.
The latest episode, on the way back from Thailand’s infamous Full Moon Party, the brothers got drunk and took part in a threesome with a girl called Chloe on her boyfriend’s luxury yacht.
The next morning, battling the worst hangovers, hazy memories of the night began to break through the cobwebs.
It happened. Lochlan had given his older brother a hand job while making out with Chloe.
Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsAppWith thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.
Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!
Since the episode’s release, viewers have threatened to boycott and said the storyline has gone ‘too far’.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next PageThe White Lotus has never been a wallflower – and I don’t really have an issue with tackling incest. But does it have to be done with gay undertones?
Incest is having its moment. Jaime and Cersei Lannister set the trend in Game of Thrones and just last year Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: Eric and Lyle Menendez showed the titular homoerotic killer brothers showering together.
For better or worse, television is there to cover taboo issues – and to be clear, I am thoroughly enjoying The White Lotus season 3. It’s debaucherously mischievous and if it’s the most fun we’ll have on television this year then great – I’ll go into 2026 toasting another satisfying year of TV.
