What The Hell Is Going On With The Ratliff Family's Kids In The White Lotus Season 3?

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The White Lotus season 3, episode 1.The weird dynamic between the three Ratliff kids in The White Lotusseason 3 is alarmingly strange. The Ratliffs have proven themselves to be a dysfunctional family unit from top to bottom, starting with the shady business schemes of Timothy (Jason Isaacs) and the drug-dependent Victoria (Parker Posey). Timothy and Victoria's three adult children – Lochlan (Sam Novola), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) – are well off financially but appear to have major issues in terms of boundaries and privilege.

It's impossible not to notice the bizarre sexual tension between Lochlan, Piper, and Saxon in The White Lotus season 3 premiere. While it's mostly introduced by Saxon, a red-flag machine and a walking embodiment of "the ick", Lochlan is somewhat receptive to it, while Piper appears to wish she could shoot into outer space after her older brother tickles her. Series creator Mike White surely has a satirical reason for including this type of weirdness in the Ratliff family, which should unfold in future episodes of The White Lotus.

The Ratliff Siblings' Sexual Tension & Behavior Is Super Weird In The White Lotus Season 3

Saxon Makes Several Outrageously Inappropriate Comments About His Younger Sister

Saxon makes several sexual comments about Piper, going so far as to call his sister "hot" to his younger brother, and speculates whether she's ever had sex. Saxon also gaslights his siblings and makes it seem weird that Piper and Lochlan were going to share a room at the White Lotus Thai Resort when her offer seemed plain and innocent.

In the final scene of the premiere episode, Lochlan stares at Saxon's nude body as he stands in their bathroom preparing to masturbate. These not-so-subtle hints suggest some incestuous vibes are coming from Saxon and some strange urges rising out of Lochlan. Piper mostly seems like a victim of her older brother's creepiness. Meanwhile, his mom views everything Saxon does with a golden halo and his dad is far too preoccupied with work to take notice.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Nivola and Hook dive into these unsettling Ratliff sibling dynamics. Nivola notes that Lochlan "just wants someone in the world to love him. And he will do anything to make that happen." Hook reveals she "still has the ick" from shooting those scenes and suspects Piper is "looking for peace, and she's like, I've been with this kooky family long enough." Parker Posey said to Screen Rant of the Ratliff dynamic, "It's all love. It's just really dysfunctional. It's all care. It's all love. It's all drama."

The White Lotus Season 3 Is Setting Up A Big Fallout For Lochlan With His Siblings & Parents

He's Being Pressured By Saxon, Timothy, & Victoria On How To Live His Life

Between Saxon and his negligent parents, Lochlan could be heading toward a major fallout with his family in The White Lotus season 3. Lochlan is already being pulled between Saxon and Piper, mostly because Saxon keeps wanting Lachlan all to himself and tries to push him away from Piper.

Why The White Lotus Season 3 Changed The Intro Music

Viewers who tuned in for the season 3 premiere of The White Lotus may have noticed a change to the popular club-inspired theme song from season 2.

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Lochlan's also in the middle of his parents' arguments about whether he'll go to Duke or UNC for college. All signs point to either Lochlan, Piper, or both emerging as the black sheep in The White Lotus season 3, which should culminate in a big blowup within the dysfunctional Ratliff family.