White Lotus Season 1 Ending Explained, Who Dies In White Lotus Season 1?
by A Maria | Updated Feb 24, 2023
The White Lotus
Mike White's HBO series, The White Lotus, is a black comedy-drama anthology that delves into the dysfunctional behaviors of guests and employees at the fictional White Lotus resort chain. The first season takes place in Hawaii, while the second season is set in Sicily. Originally intended as a limited six-part series, The White Lotus premiered on July 11, 2021, and was met with critical acclaim and high ratings. Due to its success, HBO renewed the show as an anthology series, with the second season debuting on October 30, 2022. In November 2022, the series was renewed for a third season.
White Lotus Season 1 Ending Explained
The White Lotus season 1 finale provides an explanation for the changes that the guests undergo during their stay at the resort. Over the course of six episodes, the audience learns about the unique desires and needs of each character, including the Mossbacher family, Tanya McQuoid, newlyweds Shane and Rachel, and the hotel staff overseen by the manager Armond. As these characters interact, tensions rise, and the audience is left wondering who will be the one to die. Ultimately, Shane accidentally kills Armond, the Mossbachers come to a new understanding in their marriage, Olivia and Paula's friendship falls apart, Tanya abandons her commitment to Belinda, Quinn decides to join his Hawaiian friends in a rowing expedition, and Rachel chooses to stay with her unhappy husband Shane. The season 1 finale covers a lot of ground in one hour, but there are still underlying themes and complexities to explore.
Source: screenrant
Who Dies In White Lotus Season 1?
In the season one finale of "The White Lotus," viewers finally got an answer to the question posed in the show's opening minutes: who was killed? Shane, played by Jake Lacy, appeared visibly shaken in the opening scene after being questioned by two tourists about the murder. While viewers had many theories about the identity of the victim before the reveal, such as Shane's mother Kitty, or his wife Rachel, it was ultimately Armond, played by Murray Bartlett, who met his demise. The confrontation between Shane and Armond came to a head with this murder, stemming from Shane's accusation that they had been given the wrong room. Despite plenty of speculation and intrigue leading up to the finale, it was Armond who ultimately fell victim to the resort's dark underbelly.
Why Was Armond Killed In The White Lotus?
When asked about the decision to kill off Armond in the first season finale of The White Lotus, show creator Mike White explained that he had always known how the story would unfold from the beginning. He also expressed a desire to give Armond a memorable exit, highlighting his rebellious act of defecating in a guest's bag as a key moment. In regards to the infamous poop scene, White shared that it was created using a combination of practical and CGI effects. The season 1 finale also revealed the identity of the person in the coffin that Shane had been fixated on throughout the series, bringing the story full circle. Despite the happy ending for Shane and his new wife, Armond's fate was much less fortunate.
Did Shane Kill Armond?
Shane has an intense hatred for the White Lotus manager, but Armond's death is ultimately accidental. After Armond learns that Shane's animosity towards him caused him to be fired, he sneaks into Shane's room while high on cocaine. Once inside, Armond drops his pants, squats over Shane's open suitcase, and leaves an unpleasant surprise or two.
When Shane returns to his room and finds the repulsive gift, he picks up the knife he had placed next to his bed for protection against the rumored thief. As he turns a corner, he startles upon seeing Armond and instinctively stabs him in the chest, causing him to bleed out in the bathtub. Armond is a victim of the escalating conflict between him and Shane, but more significantly, he is a victim of the social inequities inherent in the world of the resort and its employees. To Shane and those like him, people such as Armond and his fellow cheerful staff members, Kai and Belinda, are disposable. It is not surprising that one of them ultimately sacrifices not only their dignity but their life.
Shane In The White Lotus
In the season finale, Shane is shown leaving Hawaii, shaking hands with police officers, and returning to his normal life. However, his unpleasant behavior towards other tourists implies that he remains just as rude and obnoxious as he was before he committed the murder. Even though his wife Rachel briefly leaves him, she eventually returns, appearing defeated and resigned. Despite voicing her opinion that their marriage was a mistake, Rachel lacks the strength to fight against societal expectations and the benefits that come with being married. It seems that Shane emerges from the ordeal unscathed, though he will have to live with the weight of Rachel's unhappiness, assuming he even notices it.
About White Lotus
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Genre
Created by
Mike White
Written by
Mike White
Directed by
Mike White
Music by
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of seasons
2
No. of episodes
13
Executive producers
Producers
Production locations
Cinematography
Editors
Production companies
Distributor
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Original network
HBO
Original release
July 11, 2021 – present
White Lotus Season 1 Ending Explained - FAQs
The White Lotus is a black comedy-drama anthology series that explores the dysfunctional behavior of guests and employees at the fictional White Lotus resort chain. Each season takes place in a different location and features a new cast of characters.
The series was created by Mike White, who also wrote and directed all six episodes of the first season.
The first season of The White Lotus premiered on HBO on July 11, 2021.
The series was met with critical acclaim and high ratings, leading to its renewal as an anthology series.
The first season takes place in Hawaii and follows several wealthy guests and employees at the White Lotus resort chain as their paths intersect and their lives unravel over the course of a week.