Why Saxon Was Hiding Chelsea's Book From His Family In The White Lotus' Season 3 Finale

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from The White Lotus season 3 finale, "Amor Fati."

By the end of The White Lotus season 3, Patrick Schwarzenegger's Saxon Ratliff is one of the most changed characters (primarily thanks to Chelsea), but he hides his development from his family. The third season of the HBO satirical comedy-drama anthology series, created by Mike White, follows a new group of vacationers and employees at the White Lotus resort in Thailand, including the wealthy Ratliff family. Saxon is one of the three grown children, accompanied by his younger siblings, Piper and Lochlan, and his two parents, Tim and Victoria, in the White Lotus season 3 cast.

The White Lotus will return for a fourth season, likely featuring a different climate. Per TVLine, creator Mike White teased that he wanted "to get a little bit out of the 'crashing waves against rocks' vernacular" for season 4. White still promised, "There's always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels."

During the White Lotus season 3 premiere, Saxon comes off as a stereotypical nepo baby playboy. However, as the season goes on, it becomes clear that Schwarzenegger's character is much more complex than anyone initially thought, especially in the final few episodes. Chelsea is the one who truly gets through to Saxon. She calls him out on his BS and shows him what his future will be like if he continues going down this path of arrogance and ignorance. Chelsea opens Saxon's eyes and gives him books to help him explore his spirituality. Still, he hides them from his family.

Saxon Didn't Want His Family To Know About His Spiritual Explorations

Saxon Is Embarrassed

Lochlan, Piper, and Saxon in The White Lotus season 3 finale

Piper catches her older brother with one of Chelsea's books at the end of the White Lotus season 3 finale, but he brushes her off when she asks about it. Saxon is evidently a little embarrassed about his new journey of enlightenment and self-improvement. He also likely doesn't want to deal with his family's judgment or parade of questions about why he is reading books like Start Where You Are by Pema Chödrön, which certainly isn't in line with their interpretation of his character.

The White Lotus Season 3 Main Cast	Role
Leslie Bibb	Kate Bohr
Carrie Coon	Laurie Duffy
Walton Goggins	Rick Hatchett
Sarah Catherine Hook	Piper Ratliff
Jason Isaacs	Timothy Ratliff
Lalisa Manobal	Thidapon "Mook" Sornsin
Michelle Monaghan	Jaclyn Lemon
Sam Nivola	Lochlan Ratliff
Lek Patravadi	Sritala Hollinger
Parker Posey	Victoria Ratliff
Natasha Rothwell	Belinda Lindsey
Patrick Schwarzenegger	Saxon Ratliff
Tayme Thapthimthong	Gaitok
Aimee Lou Wood	Chelsea
Jon Gries	"Gary"/Greg Hunt
Sam Rockwell	Frank
Scott Glenn	Jim Hollinger

Saxon has built a reputation for himself where all he cares about is power, wealth, and sex. Lochlan even uses this as an excuse to explain his scandalous actions in The White Lotus season 3, episode 5. Saxon isn't supposed to care about things like spiritual growth or introspection. So, Patrick Schwarzenegger's White Lotus character doesn't tell his parents or siblings about his development until he fully goes through it and understands it himself. However, Saxon openly reads one of Chelsea's books on the boat while leaving the hotel, suggesting he's becoming more comfortable sharing his new self.

"I Think I Saw God": Lochlan's Vision In The White Lotus' Season 3 Finale Explained

Lochlan had a metaphysical vision that made him believe he "saw God" while he was appearing to drown in The White Lotus season 3 finale.

Posts

Chelsea Gave Saxon The Tools To Make It Through His Family's New Changes After The White Lotus Season 3's Ending

Saxon Is Arguably The Most Prepared For What Comes Next

Unfortunately, the White Lotus season 3 finale doesn't show the Ratliff family's reactions to the news that they're now poor and that Tim is likely going to prison. Nevertheless, viewers can interpret where their stories go next. And Saxon is likely the most prepared of them all for the future, even though he is about to lose everything because he works for his father's corrupt company.

Unfortunately, we won't get to see what happens next in Saxon's life (unless he returns for The White Lotus season 4), but because of Chelsea, he will likely be able to overcome this obstacle.

Thanks to his unexpected connection with Chelsea, Saxon is doing some profound self-reflection, which will help him during this next stage in his life. All the books she gifted him will teach the surviving White Lotus season 3 main character how to live without the things he previously valued (like wealth and power). Unfortunately, we won't get to see what happens next in Saxon's life (unless he returns for The White Lotus season 4), but because of Chelsea, he will likely be able to overcome this obstacle.