Everyone has heard the narrative principle of Chekhov’s gun — that a weapon shown in a story must eventually be used.
Well, the latest episode of HBO’s White Lotus finally fired its Chekhov’s incest kiss.
The Emmy-winning drama anthology introduced the idea of an incest storyline in its third season premiere when Lochlan (Sam Nivola) ogled his nude older brother Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger).
Sunday’s fifth episode set in Thailand showed Lochlan making out (clip below) with a confused-looking Saxon while the brothers were partying with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) on a yacht. Their intimacy was teased at several points during the episode, as Lochlan and Saxon grew more affectionate as they drank and took a street drug.
The reaction among fans has been volcanic: “OH MY GOD, did The White Lotus just go THERE? … Incest vibes, drugs, and a full-moon party from hell. My jaw is on the floor. Watch this scene and tell me you’re not screaming,” wrote one on X. “That was the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen on HBO,” wrote another on Reddit. Wrote another: “That episode was disturbing and I’m not even sure I want to watch the next one.”
Though some were upset by a section of fans apparently shipping the brothers (“today I discovered there’s an incest fetish corner of twitter that’s going wild over this season of the white lotus”), while another noted, “maybe i spent too much time in frat houses in college but i didn’t think the gay incest in last night’s episode of white lotus was that shocking.”
Executive producer David Bernad explained to The New York Post that the scene wasn’t just for shock value, and the storyline will pay off in later episodes. [Creator Mike White] is brilliant, and I think those big story turns are not just for shock. There’s a specific reason in terms of the narrative storytelling, and the larger thematic idea Mike is trying to get across … as the season wraps up, you’ll see the purpose of that story turn. The show goes there for a larger thematic idea. I love that family storyline, especially the brother story — and, it culminates in a very satisfying way.”
Here’s a clip of the scene:
The actors who play the brothers spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the episode and shared insight into their characters, teasing that the storyline will continue to develop.
Schwarzenegger hinted, “If you watch the other seasons, you have an idea of what Mike White’s looking for. I remember the first time he told me what he was looking for with this role, how he wanted him to be this kind of douchebag that was so ridiculous, so without a filter. But also really funny and charismatic — that you loved to hate him, but you also kind of love him.”
Nivola described Lochlan as being incredibly insecure people pleaser and someone who “needs love and support from the people around him in his life, and I think he’s willing to go to all the lengths to find the people he loves. I don’t think Lochlan really gives a shit which path he goes down. I think it’s more that he’s going to choose whichever path feels like it’s with the person who loves him the most.”
When speaking after his first episode’s nudity, Schwarzenegger also told THR, “Mike [White] and I worked on the physicality of [Saxon], and this guy leads with his private parts — like, that’s how he walks. He thinks he’s good-looking and has a great body and that all the girls are looking at him. He has no regard for the other people in the room.”