Warning! This article contains spoilers for The White Lotus season 3, episode 7.
The many Muay Thai fight scenes spliced throughoutThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 7 actually have deeper meaning than first thought. Theending ofThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 7does feature the Muay Thai sequence in more detail, given that Laurie, Valentin, Gaitok, and Mook are in attendance. However, snippets of the fight are sprinkled throughout the episode, seemingly before the fight takes place, which are symbolic of the journeys ofThe White Lotusseason 3’s castmembers.
Since the HBO show began,The White Lotushas used symbolic imagery to link to its character arcs. This was true in bothThe White Lotusseason 1and season 2 and is continuing into the third installment. This was evident by thedance scenes inThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 5which visually represented the characters cutting loose and embracing their freer sides. Now,The White Lotusseason 3, episode 7 substitutes dance scenes for violent fight scenes between two Muay Thai fighters, epitomizing another core theme of the show.
Violence Permeates Episode 7
Image via Max
InThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 7,the Muay Thai fight scenes represent the exploration of violence. Violence has not been too big a focus inThe White Lotusseason 3 thus far, but episode 7 delves into the concept much closer, hence the fight sequences being nestled between various scenes. Be it Rick’s view that violence was not the answer when faced with the old and frail Jim Hollinger or Gaitok’s unwillingness to give in to violence, the show explored the concept to the fullest.
Timothy’s visions of death are also getting more violent, linking to the overall exploration of the concept throughout the episode.
This even extends to the monk who leads the monastery where Piper and Lochlan are staying. The monk is shown explaining that violence and anger are not the answer to problems in life.The White Lotusseason 3’s characters have been shown to ignore this at points, especially with murder, betrayal, and major fallout brewing for the show’s finale. This explains why the Muay Thai fight scenes were utilized: to symbolize that violence, no matter how people feel about it, is permeating the lives of these characters.
The Muay Thai Fight Scenes Parallel The Characters' Metaphoric Punches & Pain
The Characters Are Going Through The Wringer
More than just representing the violence of the entry, the fight scenes inThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 7 link to the metaphorical fights that many of the characters are experiencing. The fight scenes are often cut between character scenes, be it the arguments between Jaclyn, Laurie, and Kate or the back-and-forth between Greg and Belinda. The former dynamic saw the characters hurting each other with their words, as personified by the Muay Thai fighters doing the same with their fists.
Greg and Belinda are also navigating a potentially violent situation and receiving metaphoric gut punches themselves. Greg’s offer to pay Belinda off being seemingly denied is sure to feel like a gut punch to him, given that he may now have to resort to more violent means - again linking back to the cuts of the fight - to keep her quiet, which he would likely rather avoid. Overall, the Muay Thai fight scenes inThe White Lotusseason 3 are highly symbolic, and promise a violent finale.
