In the latest episode of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” a raucous full moon party celebration at a Thailand nightclub sets off fireworks in the already-tense lives of three friends – corporate lawyer Laurie (Carrie Coon), TV actress Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), and socialite Kate (Leslie Bibb). The evening, fueled by alcohol, brings an uneasy détente to their Cold War of friendship.
Laurie, who had been flirting with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius), the resort’s wellness guru, seems to warm up to the idea as they dance together at his request. Meanwhile, Jaclyn has prodded Laurie into pursuing a relationship with Valentin for months. However, after a pool party that goes off the charts, things get complicated when it’s revealed that Valentin had secret plans to meet up with Jaclyn at her private villa.
The argument between Aleksei (Julian Kostov) and his girlfriend escalates quickly, with the Russian-speaking extras in the background lapping up the drama. Carrie Coon had no idea what was being said during the scene but knew it was intense from the reaction of the extras. Patrick Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Saxon Ratliff is also noteworthy, as he navigates a complicated fraternal relationship with his brother Lachlan (Sam Nivola).
The episode culminates in a toxic friend event when Laurie discovers Valentin’s tryst with Jaclyn. The tension between the three friends will likely have future repercussions.
“The White Lotus” airs Sundays (9 ET/PT) on HBO and streams on Max.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/03/16/white-lotus-episode-5-recap/82373049007