I Think I've Figured Out Why Walton Goggins' Rick Really Wants To Find The Husband In The White Lotus Season 3

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The White Lotus season 3, episode 2!After the premiere introduced the mystery about Rick’s interest in Sritala’s husband, Jim, The White Lotus season 3, episode 2 drops an interesting detail about his backstory that I’m certain must be connected. Among the puzzling new characters in The White Lotus season 3 is Walton Goggins’ Rick, an American who arrives at the Thailand resort with his much younger English girlfriend, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). Not much is known about their relationship or lives, with the real reason for their trip to Thailand also being kept secret by Rick.

His mysterious motivation for coming to Thailand has something to do with Rick’s interest in Khun Jim, the American husband of hotel co-owner Khun Sritala. When Sritala comes around at dinner time in the premiere, Rick glances at her while appearing physically uncomfortable, and later searches for pictures of her and Jim in his hotel room. In The White Lotus season 3, episode 2’s ending, Rick decides he’s going to Bangkok, where Jim is recovering from a stroke. While his intentions are still unclear, I’m convinced Rick’s reason for seeking out Jim relates to his family’s tragic backstory.

I'm Pretty Sure Sritala's Husband Jim Is The Man Who Killed Rick's Father

Rick Mentioning His Father's Murder Feels Like It Has A Greater Purpose

As The White Lotus’ new guests begin their wellness treatment plans in season 3, episode 2, more details about their families and lives back home are revealed. Some of the most interesting revelations come from Walton Goggins’ Rick, who reveals that his mother was a drug addict who overdosed when he was ten years old and his father was murdered before he was even born. Rick doesn’t elaborate on the details of his parents’ deaths, but it’s clear in his wellness session that these tragedies still impact his sense of lacking identity and peace.

At first, there were some The White Lotus season 3 fan theories speculating that Jim was Rick’s real father, and that’s why he was secretly looking for him at the hotel. However, now that it’s been confirmed Rick’s father was murdered, that can’t be the case. Still, the dark reveal that Rick’s father was murdered suggests that it’ll play into his motivations and story in The White Lotus season 3. If Jim isn’t Rick’s father, then I think the next most logical conclusion after episode 2 is that Jim was involved in killing Rick’s father.

The White Lotus season 3’s themes generally connect to spirituality, crime, and death, and Rick’s “spiritual journey” at the resort seems to be revenge for the crime of his father’s death.

The idea that Rick is so vague when talking about his father’s murder in his wellness session seems purposeful, as it’s likely The White Lotus creator Mike White’s way of still keeping audiences in the dark about a potential link to Jim and Sritala. We don’t know enough about Jim to speculate why he would have killed Rick’s father, but the sensitivity with which Rick approaches discussions about him and Sritala indicates his interest is deeply personal.

Jim Hollinger will be portrayed by Scott Glenn in The White Lotus season 3.

Though there are theories that Rick is a hitman trying to kill Jim, this doesn’t just seem like business as usual. The White Lotus season 3’s themes generally connect to spirituality, crime, and death, and Rick’s “spiritual journey” at the resort seems to be revenge for the crime of his father’s death.

Rick Trying To Get Revenge On Jim Could Explain The White Lotus Season 3's Opening Scene Shootout

Does Rick Try To Kill Jim?

Rick Hatchett stalking Sritala and her husband on the internet in The White Lotus Season 3 Ep 1

As has been the case with each season so far, The White Lotus season 3 begins a week into the future, showing the moment when a dead body is found at the resort. In this case, Belinda’s son, Zion, is at a wellness session when he and his instructor hear a series of gunshots, which is followed by shots being fired toward them and Zion finding a dead body floating in the water. While The White Lotus season 3’s victim isn’t revealed, the shootout associated with the revelation teases connections to larger criminal schemes.

It’s unclear whether Rick has a gun in The White Lotus season 3, but it’s hard to believe that he wouldn’t bring one to his confrontation with Jim. Even if there’s no weapons-based conflict between the two in Bangkok, their story is likely to be brought back to the hotel, which could culminate in the shootout overheard in the opening scene.

What Rick Going To Bangkok Means For The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 3

The White Lotus Season 3 Will Finally Provide Some Much-Needed Answers

After plenty of cryptic build-up for the Rick/Jim story in The White Lotus season 3 episodes 1 and 2, it seems matters will finally come to a head when Walton Goggins’ character goes to Bangkok in episode 3. Rick only decides to go to Bangkok after overhearing Sritala tell another guest she’s going there to visit her recovering husband, so he might try to find a way to follow Sritala or arrange to join her on her travels. If so, Sritala and Rick might have a big confrontation with each other before he even gets to see Jim.

The White Lotus Season 3's Remaining Episode Schedule
Episode #	Release Date
3	March 2
4	March 9
5	March 16
6	March 23
7	March 30
8	April 6

Regardless, Rick’s trip to Bangkok is expected to finally reveal the truth about why he’s seeking out Jim in The White Lotus season 3. Whether it’s that Jim was involved in the murder of Rick’s father or he’s after him for “business” purposes, his journey to Bangkok will finally bring some much-needed answers. However, Rick will almost certainly have more problems to deal with upon his return to the resort, as Chelsea will be left to spend more time with Chloe and the villainous returning character Greg.