Whether you watch the show or not, you’ve likely seen headlines or found yourself stumbling into conversations about the latest episode ofThe White Lotus. Now, word is spreading like wildfire about the sixth episode of the third season, which featured an incredibly uncomfortable and jaw-dropping incest scene that would give Jaime and Cersei Lannister a run for their money. But, there’s no such thing as bad press, and that word of mouth — no matter how disgusting it might be — has helped the series hit a new milestone. Following the arrival of the installment, titled “Denials,” theMike White-created series saw record viewership numbers, clocking a whopping 4.2 million on Sunday. Taken by Nielsen, the recording captured data from those who turned to HBO’s linear channel as well as Warner Bros. Discovery’s uber-popular streamer, Max.
If there’s anything thatThe White Lotushas proved, it’s thatsex sells, as the record-breaking stat follows in the footsteps of 2022’s second season, which saw a boom in numbers following a steamy sex scene in the fifth episode. At the time, the installment broke the previously held record, garnering 2.3 million viewers, which ultimately rose to 4.1 million by the time theSeason 2 finalerolled around. In the case of Season 3, it’s already blown past the previous bragging rights, and, with two episodes to go and a lot of unanswered questions, there’s a solid chance that we’ll see another milestone passed by the time everything is said and done.
A Speedy Recap
For those not in the know, the latest episode ofThe White Lotuscemented a plot point thataudiences had known was comingsince the debut installment. While on vacation with their family, brothers, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), left their parents and sister behind to embark on a yacht trip to a full moon party alongside some of the season’s other new faces. After drinking and taking some drugs, the siblings ended up back on the ship, where they engaged in sexual acts with one of the women they were with as well as … each other.
It was a shocking scene, for sure, but anyone who has been feeling the weird vibes between Lochlan and his siblings has known thatsomething like this was on the way. Now, we’ll just need to wait until the final two episodes to find out where the fallout lands. And, of course, this isn’t the only storyline that will be tied up over the next two weeks, as characters played by the likes ofWalton Goggins,Natasha Rothwell, andJason Isaacsall have their own complications going on as well.
The White Lotusis now streaming on Max.
The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a television series that explores the interactions of guests and staff at an upscale tropical resort. Premiering in 2021, the narrative unfolds over a week, revealing underlying complexities and tensions among the resort’s seemingly ideal travelers and employees.
