The Meaning of The Monkey In Season 3 Of ‘The White Lotus’

The third season of The White Lotus, which premiered on February 16, 2025, transports viewers to a luxurious resort in Thailand, continuing the series’ tradition of satirical exploration of affluent guests and the complexities of their interactions. This season delves into themes of spirituality, cultural clashes, and the dark undercurrents that surface in paradise.

While there are numerous fan theories circulating around, one thing is crystal clear… the monkeys in Season 3 of The White Lotus are very important.

Here are the key three reasons why we know we should be keeping a close eye on the monkeys (spoilers ahead):

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil

Among the guests in this season, we will take a closer look at the Ratliff family from North Carolina, comprising Timothy (Jason Isaacs), his wife Victoria (Parker Posey), and their three children: Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). Their family dynamics and individual pursuits set the stage for unfolding drama.

From the start, we see a reference to The Three Wise Monkeys in a quick shot of the Ratliff family on the boat to the White Lotus resort.

The Three Wise Monkeys, often depicted as See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, are a famous pictorial maxim originating from Japan, symbolizing different approaches to wisdom and morality. While some view the saying as wise advice to avoid negativity, others criticize it as promoting willful ignorance and turning a blind eye to injustice or corruption.

How this will play out in Season 3 is yet to be seen, but surely creator, writer, and director of The White Lotus, Mike White, did this intentionally.

Monkeys In The Trees And Monkey Statutes Galore

This just feels intentional, but going back to Episode 2 “Special Treatments” of Season 3, I was shocked how many times the camera cut to monkeys on the trees or statutes of monkeys at the resort. It felt like every shot between scenes was some image of a monkey! At this point, we know enough about Mike White to know that everything is intentional. There are no accidents when it comes to The White Lotus.

We will surely have to keep an eye on these furry creatures as Season 3 progresses.

Monkey Sounds

Okay, yes I know Season 3 is set in the jungle and there will always be animal sounds… but there was something about the last few seconds of Episode 2 when the camera pulls away for a full shot of the resort and jungle. We don’t see much, but we hear the wildlife and the monkeys… The jungle is alive and we can hear the chatter within it.

Additionally, another relevant group in Season 3 is a trio of longtime friends, Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Kate (Leslie Bibb), who reunite for a girls’ trip, bringing with them palpable underlying tensions.

The opening scene of Episode 2 referenced monkeys when Jaclyn and Kate were secretly talking about Laurie and then Laurie made a sudden bang on the glass, scaring them both.

Kate replied to Jaclyn after Laurie left saying, “I thought it was a monkey.”

Again, this level of intentionality is to be expected for The White Lotus and we are excited to see what happens next!