Belinda, The White Lotus Season 3's Returning Character, Explained & What Happened To Her After Season 1

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The White Lotus season 3, episode 1.

Belinda Lindsey, the only announced returning character in The White Lotus season 3, makes her first appearance on the acclaimed HBO series since season 1. Belinda's son, Zion Lindsey (Nicholas Duvernay), makes his debut in The White Lotus season 3 premiere in the unsettling flash-forward teaser scene at the start of the episode. Although Belinda and Zion have yet to meet in the series, both characters reveal they have similar reasons for coming to the Thailand resort. Both note how difficult the past few years have been and how thankful they are for the opportunity to escape for a while.

Belinda doesn't have the biggest role in The White Lotus season 3 premiere episode. Still, she offers a welcome and familiar face that connects the current season to past seasons in an otherwise anthological show. Belinda, played by Natasha Rothwell (Wonka, Saturday Night Live), formed a close but problematic relationship with Jennifer Coolidge's legendary Tanya, who tragically died in The White Lotus season 2 finale. Tanya promised Belinda in The White Lotus season 1 that she would fund her wellness center but later reneged on her offer to help Greg. Belinda was an emotional guide for Tanya throughout season 1.

Belinda Was The Resort Spa Manager At The White Lotus Hawaii In Season 1

She Became An Emotional Support System For Tanya

Belinda looks on with a concerned look on her face in The White Lotus — Belinda from The White Lotus, looking upset, a flower in her hair.

While Tanya is a fan-favorite character in The White Lotus seasons 1 and 2, she is very much part of the running joke satirically rooted at the core of the HBO show. Belinda, on the other hand, is nothing but a pure, kind-hearted, and empathetic person who constantly puts the needs of others first, which is part of what makes her so good at her job. In The White Lotus season 1, she was the resort spa manager at the Hawaii resort where the season takes place. A native of Hawaii, Belinda is also skilled at relaxation and massage techniques.

Belinda becomes an emotional caregiver to Tanya in The White Lotus season 1, often going outside her duties as a spa manager to act as a friend and therapist to Tanya when she needs it most. Belinda also had run-ins with other White Lotus season 1 characters, such as Alexandra Daddario's Rachel Patton, who treats Belinda with an edge of privilege and underlying racism.

Belinda stood as a victim of various injustices regarding status, race, and wealth throughout The White Lotus season 1.

Belinda stood as a victim of various injustices regarding status, race, and wealth throughout The White Lotus season 1. She was an afterthought to Tanya in season 2 but has her own spotlight in season 3.

What Happened To Belinda After The White Lotus Season 1's Ending

Belinda Continued Working At The White Lotus Maui Resort

Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) looking apprehensive in White Lotus season 3, episode 1.

Not much is known about what happened to Belinda after The White Lotus season 1 since she was not featured and hardly mentioned in The White Lotus season 2. It's safe to say that Belinda still works for The White Lotus Resort in Hawaii and is visiting Thailand as part of a company exchange program to learn more about health and wellness. Belinda vaguely mentions that it's been a tough couple of years when she was greeted by the Thailand spa staff, which could just mean the looming effects of the pandemic or more specifically, the tragic 2023 Maui wildfires.

Belinda's sadness that she alludes to in The White Lotus season 3 has got to be directly related to Tanya's betrayal, which erased her hopes and dreams in the blink of an eye.

Tanya pulling the rug out from under Belinda's wellness spa aspirations will likely still be felt in her character in The White Lotus season 3. While Belinda is not the vindictive type, the sadness that she alludes to in The White Lotus season 3 has got to be directly related to Tanya's betrayal, which erased Belinda's hopes and dreams in the blink of an eye. Belinda's, and Zion's, experiences in Thailand should be purely educational and healing, making them the only two characters who appear to be aware of what they signed up for by coming to the Thai resort.

Why Belinda Is At The White Lotus' Thailand Location In Season 3

She's Part Of A Training Program Offered By The White Lotus

Belinda smiling in The White Lotus season 3

Belinda is on an exchange training program through The White Lotus company where she will learn some of the Thai-inspired relaxation techniques used at The White Lotus Thailand. She will also be treated as a guest, having many of the methods done to her so she can understand how to perform them on others. In an interview with EW, Rothwell revealed that Belinda is "staying at the hotel, which is something that she hasn't done before, and so we get to see her really dip her toe in the other side of life of the upstairs/downstairs of White Lotus."

The Thailand exchange program marks the first time that Belinda has taken a chance on herself professionally since Tanya's betrayal. Rothwell continues, "She thinks she's going to throw herself into the deep end and learn more about herself and hopefully be ignited to dream again." Rothwell also hints that Belinda will learn much more than just new practices for work, but also a lot about herself and the process of life and death. "That's a really beautiful thing that we see this season with Belinda — her eyes are being opened in new ways." Expect Belinda to evolve in future episodes.

Belinda & Greg Both Being At The White Lotus Thailand Sets Up A Brutal Reunion

They Were Both Part Of Tanya's Story In Season 1

The White Lotus season 3 premiere reveals that Belinda is not the only returning character from previous seasons to make an appearance. Tanya's ex-boyfriend Greg, who plotted to kill her and inherit her wealth in season 2, shockingly returns as a Thai resident. Greg's season 3 girlfriend, Chlow, reveals that she and Greg have been living in a house close to The White Lotus Thai Resort for a year, meaning that Greg is likely on the run and living off Tanya's wealth. Since everyone who knew about Greg's conspiracy in season 2 died, it appears he made it out scot-free.

Since Belinda and Greg were both involved in Tanya's story in Hawaii in The White Lotus season 1, a confrontation between the two characters is bound to happen.

Since Belinda and Greg were both involved in Tanya's story in Hawaii in The White Lotus season 1, a confrontation between the two characters is bound to happen. Tanya abandoned her plans with Belinda in favor of funding Greg's pursuits instead, which means that Belinda will likely have a few questions for Greg if she spots him at the resort. Even though Greg and Belinda haven't seen each other since season 1, Belinda should ask about Tanya, unaware she's dead. Belinda will also continue to act as an observer of race and class issues throughout The White Lotus season 3.

Source: EW