REVIEW: ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 4 — “Hide Or Seek”

The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4, “Hide or Seek,” is a culmination of the trouble brewing since Season 1. Creator Mike White continues to cunningly flex his writing muscles, allowing die-hard fans to dig deep and think about this third round of luxurious resort debauchery. It all comes down to the subtle dialogue of each cast member, the editing and camera focal points, and the musical elements that push the narrative themes to the forefront.

This episode is silently provocative for casual viewers but provides tons of theorizing fodder for The White Lotus fans. White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4 emphasizes the philosophy of the three wise monkeys: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” White stresses this concept with each of the Ratliff kids representing one of the three wise monkeys.

Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger) represents “see no evil” since he thinks about the world from his own perspective, whether he’s right or wrong. He also blindly follows in his father’s footsteps by working with his dad. Piper Ratliff (Sarah Catherine Hook) exhibits “hear no evil” as she ignores what her family says and does what she wants. She disregards the fact that she has the opportunity to talk to the Buddhist monk who inspired her studies because her family is well-off enough to fly her to Thailand. Lochlan Ratliff (Sam Nivola) symbolizes “speak no evil” because he lacks the agency to say anything for himself or to protect anyone he cares about.

The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4 is focused on seeing, hearing, and speaking no evil.

White’s smart writing and intentional camera focal points harken back to the shot of the three children who are sitting in the order of the philosophical phrase back in the premiere of this season. In this episode, there’s a little figure of the three wise monkeys, similar to the one back in The White Lotus Season 1. Cinematographer Ben Kutchins deserves praise for his shots depicting the Ratliff kids to have multiple shots throughout this season where they’re intentionally seated in order.

The composition is always executed to perfectly reflect the three siblings in the style of the three wise monkeys. Kutchins uses the rule of thirds to add more depth and not make it feel like the three characters are static. In this episode, they are still aligned in the same order but are at different focal points. By doing this, it adds to the storytelling of the show.

It supports evidence that no matter how much the three siblings squabble, they will somehow end up in their same three-person positions. Having each of them at different focal points in this episode also shows which child is starving for attention by order of who’s standing in the foreground, middle and background.

The editing of The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4 doesn’t shy away the concept of bad omens happening in threes. After the camera shows the three wise monkeys figure, it cuts to Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), who warns Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) that bad stuff happens in threes. This is a smart editing choice to cut from the Ratliff family over to Rick and Chelsea because it’s a clever way to relate the theme of bad things occurring in threes from two separate sets of characters.

The score continues to set the tone in The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4.

Chilean-born Canadian film and television score composer Juan Cristóbal Tapia de Veer deserves significant credit for dictating the different moods of music for each group of guests. The moment Rick placates Chelsea at breakfast, there’s the sound of a child’s wind-up musical box playing child-like instrumental music—a non-verbal cue that Rick treats Chelsea like a child.

In a different mood, Tapia de Veer remixes the series’ musical theme into a spine-chilling melody when Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) is finding out the truth behind Greg Hunt’s (Jon Gries) true identity. Then, parts of the original Season 1 opening theme play when Belinda and Greg walk past each other after Belinda learns the truth about Greg. The use of this audio spotlights how these two characters from Season 1 are tying everything happening this season back to its roots.

By the end of The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4, it is littered with various film techniques revolving around the ideology of the three wise monkeys and the rule of three. It hammers its point across, both audibly and visually. The episode has almost every element focusing on this concept of threes: the film techniques, the dialogue of things happening in threes, and the conversations between groups of three are all utilized intentionally.

This perfect episode pays homage to what made The White Lotus a deeper, thought-provoking show and why White’s clever storytelling is applauded throughout the series. The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4 reveals its characters’ truths stealthily and loudly. It encapsulates the essence of intrigue, fun, and danger that keeps fans coming back to watch every one of these characters make questionable choices while on vacation.

The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 4 is streaming now, exclusively on MAX, formerly HBO Max.

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