Another Sunday night on HBO, another scene-stealing moment from Walton Goggins in The White Lotus. But this time, in the fifth episode of the show’s third season set in Thailand, it wasn’t Goggins’ brooding Rick who left audiences stunned. Instead, it was his old friend Frank—played in a surprise appearance by Sam Rockwell—who took center stage in Bangkok. Since their last meeting, Frank has undergone a radical transformation. Once a hard-partying expat, he is now 10 months sober and has embraced Buddhism. His journey of self-discovery, as he explains to Rick, began with an unexpected and surreal sexual odyssey.
A Unique Structure for The White Lotus
This episode stands out structurally from previous seasons. While most episodes typically follow a day’s arc from morning to night, this one breaks the mold. It picks up in the middle of the evening from Episode 4 and continues through the night, culminating at dawn—mirroring the energy of the Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Phangan. This setting becomes the perfect backdrop for a deep exploration of desire, temptation, and the concept of Buddhist non-attachment.
Frank’s Radical Confession
Rick is not the type to make casual social visits, and his reunion with Frank has a clear purpose. At a Bangkok hotel bar, Frank hands over a leather bag containing a gun—presumably requested by Rick, who is set on avenging his father’s murder. Now, two desperate men are roaming the city with firearms.
However, Frank’s monologue soon overshadows any revenge plot. His story reveals why Mike White cast Rockwell for what seems like a minor role. Frank recounts how he originally came to Thailand for the women, indulging in endless nights of pleasure. But after years of hedonism, he reached a breaking point. “I was out of control. I became insatiable. And after a thousand nights like that, you start to lose it. I began to wonder: Where am I going with this? Why do I feel the need to keep chasing this desire?”
Then, his story takes an unexpected turn. “Maybe what I really wanted,” Frank confesses, “was to be one of these Asian women.” His voice is steady, but Rick’s expression is one of shock. Frank explains how his exploration led him to dressing in women’s lingerie and seeking experiences from a different perspective. He even began hiring women to watch, attempting to understand his own desires by mirroring their experiences.
The Slippery Nature of Identity and Desire
Frank’s story isn’t about labels—it’s about the fluidity of identity and the mysteries of attraction. His journey raises the question: do we desire others because they are our opposites, or because we wish to become them? This theme resonates throughout the season, with doppelgängers and reflections appearing in multiple storylines. The season plays with the idea that desire is often entangled with the search for self-understanding.
Frank ultimately connects his sexual exploration to his spiritual awakening. Exhausted by his endless pursuit of pleasure, he turned to Buddhist teachings on detachment. “Spirit versus form, letting go of the self—getting off the never-ending carousel of lust and suffering,” he explains. Yet, he is far from reaching enlightenment. “I still miss that pussy,” he admits, with a smirk.
Rick, however, remains unmoved by Frank’s revelations. Lost in his own suffering, he clings to his desire for revenge, unable to grasp the deeper lessons Frank is offering. His fixation on avenging his father keeps him trapped in a cycle of anger and longing, a stark contrast to Frank’s attempt at transcendence.
The Episode’s Theme: Desire and Its Discontents
Frank isn’t the only character struggling with desire. Across the episode, from the Full Moon Party to wild escapades in Bangkok, characters chase after what they think they want—often to disappointing results.
A subplot reminiscent of The White Lotus’ second season follows Valentin as he takes Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Kate (Leslie Bibb), and Lori (Carrie Coon) out for a wild night with two of his Russian friends. Lori, the only single woman of the trio, makes a spectacle of herself—dancing wildly, taking off her top in the pool, and even boasting about her legal career, though it does little to impress the hyper-masculine crowd. She seems on the verge of a hookup but hesitates, ultimately letting the moment slip away. Later, as she snores in bed, the night takes an ironic twist—Valentin returns, but not for Lori. Instead, he whispers in Jaclyn’s ear, “Let’s f-ck,” making it clear who he was really drawn to all along.
This episode masterfully explores the tension between longing and fulfillment, the ways people chase desire without understanding what truly drives them. It’s an unsettling, provocative hour of television that cements The White Lotus’ status as a show unafraid to delve into the messiness of human nature.