“I’m Not a Good Little Boy”: Why is There a Sibling Romance Plotline in The White Lotus Season 3?

HBO’s The White Lotus has never shied away from controversy, but season three has pushed boundaries even further with its unsettling intimate sibling storyline between the Ratliff brothers, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). 

What began as an undercurrent of inappropriate sibling dynamics—watching each other sleep, speculating about each other’s private lives—has now escalated into a disturbing revelation. So, what happened? And why did White Lotus decide to go ahead with this shocking storyline?

Mike White Reveals Why He Went Forward with the Taboo Storyline

In The White Lotus season 3 episode six, Saxon, struggling with hazy memories of a drunken night, realizes that Lochlan had touched him intimately while they were in bed together. The show doesn’t leave much room for ambiguity—Lochlan himself recalls the incident while meditating at a Buddhist retreat, confirming what happened.

The scene is undeniably shocking, but for creator Mike White, exploring taboos has always been central to his storytelling. In a recent New Yorker profile, White spoke about growing up as the son of a well-known pastor who came out as gay. He said:

"My dad suffered a lot from wanting to appear good. It was so important for him to say, ‘Gays are just like you, we’re good little boys,’" And ‘Chuck & Buck’ is me being, like, ‘I don't want to be making that argument for my career or my life. I'm not a good little boy."

This perspective has shaped The White Lotus, which has consistently featured transgressive queer storylines. In season one, the gay hotel manager Armond harassed an employee and defecated in a guest's suitcase. 

Season two’s now-iconic line, “These gays, they’re trying to murder me,” came from a plotline in which a group of gay men conspired to kill Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya. Back then, before season 3 had premiered, White told The New Yorker that his next queer storyline would be “truly Satanic”—an ominous promise that seems to have been fulfilled with the Ratliff brothers.

A Family Built on Blurred Boundaries

From the beginning of the season, the Ratliff siblings’ relationship felt uncomfortably intimate. Saxon masturbates in a room without a door while Lochlan watches. The siblings discuss intimate details in ways that cross normal boundaries. Their mother, Victoria, nonchalantly shares a childhood story about her own brother pinning her down and dangling spit over her mouth—suggesting that such behavior has been normalized in the family.

Tanya Rawal and Sona Kaur, two consultants from the R*pe, Abuse & In*est National Network (RAINN) weighed in on the storyline. Tanya Rawal noted that The White Lotus introduced the Ratliff siblings as the three wise monkeys—Saxon with sunglasses covering his eyes, Piper with headphones over her ears, and Lochlan sipping soda—suggesting that avoidance defines their family. (via TIME)

She added, “There are several opportunities for the parents to have a stronger response to interrupt harmful behaviors—for example, when Saxon is making inappropriate comments about Piper’s private life, something she is obviously very uncomfortable with. Timothy and Victoria in general appear to look the other way when it comes to their children crossing each other’s boundaries.” 

Sona Kaur, another RAINN consultant, pointed out that this lack of accountability creates an environment where boundary violations become normalized. “Victoria also seems to have an ‘everything is fine’ mindset where inappropriate comments by Saxon are laughed off and minimized, preventing any productive conversation that could be used to address feelings of discomfort amongst family members,” Kaur said.

Power, Control, and the Fallout

The intimate storyline between the brothers also serves to shift the power dynamic between the brothers. Throughout the season, Saxon has relentlessly bullied Lochlan, pushing him to bulk up, lose his virginity, and embrace aggressive masculinity. 

But in episode five, when the two are drunk and high, it is Lochlan who initiates. It is Lochlan who, as the night progresses, touches Saxon intimately. “One day, I’m going to take you down,” Lochlan tells Saxon earlier in the evening—a foreshadowing of how he will later use their physical relationship to assert dominance over his older brother. 

Kaur explained that in real-life cases, victims often struggle with betrayal trauma. “When abuse occurs within a familial relationship—one that is supposed to be characterized by safety and trust—victims can experience high betrayal trauma. In order to cope with and reconcile the dissonance, victims may experience denial, confusion, and have inconsistent or suppressed memories about the abuse,” she said. 

In Saxon’s case, this confusion is clear. At first, he only remembers making out with Lochlan. But as more memories surface, his horror grows, culminating in a chilling confirmation from Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), who witnessed the act.

Why is The White Lotus Season 3 Doing such a Plotline?

Intimate sibling relationships are rarely depicted in contemporary TV, and when it is—such as in Game of Thrones or Rome—it’s usually within a historical or fantastical setting that creates emotional distance for the audience. But The White Lotus forces viewers to grapple with the horror of the act in a modern, privileged, seemingly “perfect” family. (via TIME)

White Lotus has always relished pushing social boundaries, particularly when it comes to physical intimacy and power. With season three, he’s taken that to the extreme, weaving a storyline that is as provocative as it is unsettling. How far the show will go in unpacking the consequences for Saxon and Lochlan remains to be seen—but The White Lotus has already ensured that this will be one of the most talked-about TV moments of the year.

Where can you Stream The White Lotus Season 3?

The White Lotus season three is now streaming on HBO and Max, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays. The seventh episode, titled "Killer Instincts," will premiere on March 30, 2025.

You can also check out episode seven preview below.

If you want to refresh your memory, we have recaps of season 3 Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6.