WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The White Lotus season 3, episode 3.
The White Lotusseason 3, episode 3, “The Meaning of Dreams”, debunks a popular fan theory that suggested the current season of the hit HBO series was actually in a previous timeline. After the first three episodes ofThe White Lotusseason 3, many fan-supported theories have predicted what could happen by the season’s end, which will include a shooting and a dead body of mysterious origins. One theory, unfortunately, cannot be true after developments inThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 3.
BeforeThe White Lotusseason 3 began, and even throughout the first two episodes of the new season, there were theories thatThe White Lotusseason 3 was secretly going to be a prequel to seasons 1 and 2, which could allow fan-favorite characters, particularlyJennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid, to return for the Thailand-based season 3. However, this intriguing theory was unfortunately proven to be impossible after the deaths of several season 1 characters were mentioned.
Belinda Debunks The Theory That The White Lotus Season 3 Is Secretly A Prequel
Belinda Speaks Of Armond’s Season 1 Death & Tanya’s Season 2 “Suicide”
Belinda talking about Tanya and Armond’s deathsinThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 3 debunks the theory that all of season 3 was quietly a prequel series toThe White Lotusseasons 1 and 2.
Tanya’s season 2 death was masked as a suicide after Greg tried to have her killed.
After Belinda recognizesGreg, who is going by Garyin season 3, she recallsArmond’s death, who was the former manager of The White Lotus Resort in Mauiwhere Belinda works. This also sparks memories of Tanya, who Belinda met in Hawaii in season 1 as well. Tanya’s season 2 death was masked as a suicide after Greg tried to have her killed.
Since Belinda spoke of Armond and Tanya in the past tense,there’s no way thatThe White Lotusseason 3 can be a prequel series, as some fans have speculated.
Why The White Lotus Season 1 Theme Song Plays In Season 3, Episode 3 & What It Sets Up
The White Lotus season 3, episode 3, briefly features a callback to season 1’s iconic theme song, which has major implications for Belinda and “Gary.”
While this would have been an incredible twist and clever narrative device, it would have also created some continuity issues for the series, including the use of modern technologies in season 3. What’s more, it would have meant that Greg and Belinda had met beforeThe White Lotusseason 1, which would make no sense.
Each Season Seems To Align With The Year In Which It’s Released
Image via Max
Chloe informs Chelsea that she and “Gary” have been living in a house in Thailand for at least a year, placing the events ofThe White Lotusseason 3 roughly 2–3 years before those ofThe White Lotusseason 2. Each season seems to take place in the years they were released, meaning that Tanya died in December 2022. It’s very possible thatThe White Lotusseason 3 is taking place “right now” in March 2025 or when it was filmed in early 2024.
