SEASON 3 SPOILERS
Season Three of Max’s “The White Lotus” just finished, and the most unlikely character to be a fan-favorite won everyone over by the end. Saxon Ratliff, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, undergoes the best character arc this show has seen since Fred Hechinger’s character in season one.
Early in the season, Saxon is an arrogant jerk who only cares about looking fit and getting with women. He even tries to push his habits on his younger brother along the way. He makes weird comments about his sister’s appearance and love life, and flirts with women who clearly have partners. Very early on, it already seems like all hope is lost to root for him because he is that much of a jerk.
Saxon undergoes his dramatic character arc thanks to Chelsea. She gets the ball rolling by saying that hooking up with him would be an empty experience because he is soulless. Saxon does not want Chelsea to have that impression of him, so she teaches him to meditate and recommends him spiritual books to read. To Chelsea’s surprise, he actually reads them.
Chelsea is a close second for best character, but she is self-destructive, which leads to her death. Her spiritual connection with her boyfriend, Rick, is a blessing and a curse. His grumpy nature and disregard for Chelsea has her constantly getting hurt around him. He loves her, but he is too focused on other things to pay attention to her. Even Chelsea’s actress, Aimee Lou Wood, has called Chelsea crazy. She is in love, but she is crazy. She practically takes a bullet for him, and they die side by side in an emotional end to their lives and the season.
In the season finale, Chelsea runs to Rick, and they look completely in love. Saxon looks at them longingly with tears in his eyes. Schwarzenegger explained the emotional moment in an interview with Evie magazine. He said, “[Chelsea’s] really in love and Saxon doesn’t understand that. He’s always laughing or scoffing at those things … They have this moment, forehead to forehead, and he thinks, ‘Wow, maybe this is what I want.’”
Great acting from Schwarzenegger brings this scene to life. It is the moment where Saxon’s arc is complete, and his life is changed.
Saxon’s family does not undergo much change and, if they did, it was for the worst. His father plotted a murder-suicide almost the entire week because a legal problem at work could cost the family their privileged life, and his mom says she cannot live uncomfortably at this point in her life, fueling his dad’s plan. His sister started their trip on an enlightened, Buddhist journey, but realized she cannot live without her cushioned life, and his brother is a chronic people pleaser which proves to be an issue for him earlier in the season.
Saxon’s arc is drilled in up until the last frame. He does not have sunglasses on (he wears them when we first meet him) and he is reading a book Chelsea gave him. His eyes have been opened to a whole new world. It is rare to see a complete jerk become completely enlightened. Saxon’s transformation is unpredictable, genuine and refreshing. It is also nice to think that sweet Chelsea will live on through Saxon.
