WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The White Lotus season 3, episode 5.
Sam Rockwell’s surprise cameo inThe White Lotusseason 3 offers one of the most important – and hilariously bizarre – moments in the latest installment of the hit HBO series. After Rick Hatchett takes a flight to Bangkok inThe White Lotusseason 3, episode 4, we find him meeting with an old friend and business associate in episode 5, “Full-Moon Party.“Rick, played by 2-time Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, arrives in Bangkok with a deadly agenda involving the owners of The White Lotus Thai Resort, Jim and Sritala Hollinger. Rick had initially hoped to encounter Jim at The White Lotus.
Rick is convinced that Jim, who has yet to appear in the series but will be played by Scott Glenn, killed his father years ago. NowRick wants revenge, which his girlfriend Chelsea is worried about when she tells him not to do anything stupid. Before Rick travels to Bangkok, little is known about his life and connections, particularly what he does for a living. Some clarity is offered when Sam Rockwell’sFrank shows up to give Rick an unmarked black bag, which ends up containing a handgun. Frank then reveals some strange details about what he’s been up to since Rick saw him last.
Rick & Frank’s Backstory & Connection In The White Lotus Season 3 Explained
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When Rick and Frank first encounter each other inThe White Lotus season 3, episode 5, it’s clear that they haven’t seen each other in quite some time. It’s evident that Rick reached out to Frank knowing he was in Bangkok. However,Frank is not the person who Rick is there to kill – that’s Jim Hollinger. Frank is certainly a friend who, as Rick discovers, has a problematic relationship with various forms of addiction, such as booze, drugs, and casual sex. Before Frank gets into all that, Rick learns that Frank’s been sober for 10 months, which is why he orders herbal tea while Rick orders scotch.
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Rick is stunned by the news of Frank’s sobriety, recalling that in all the time he’s known him, they have never hung out sober. Frank explains that his time in Thailand has opened up his spiritual side, which led him to give up his destructive and circular hedonistic lifestyle. AfterFrank gives Rick the black bag with a hidden gun, it’s implied that someone like him who has access to that type of weaponry is likely involved in some shady and potentially criminal activity. This is confirmed when Frank says that he “had to leave the States,” presumably evading police likeGary, aka Greg.
He’s Been In A Relationship With A Cast Member For Nearly 2 Decades
There are some behind-the-scenes reasons as to why Sam Rockwell showing up by surprise inThe White Lotusseason 3 makes sense. The Oscar-winning actor has been in arelationship with Leslie Bibb, who plays Kate Bohr inThe White Lotusseason 3, since 2007. Although Rockwell and Bibb don’t have any scenes together in the episode, there’s no denying that Bibb’s casting had something to do with the uncredited cameo inThe White Lotusseason 3. Although Rockwell and Bibb have been officially together for 18 years, the couple is not legally married and does not have any children.
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Rockwell, who had never appeared inThe White Lotusbefore season 3, episode 5, last appeared in the same project as Bibb in 2015’s crime comedy movieDon Verdean. The pair ware also both in 2010’s historicIron Man 2. Rockwell and Goggins have never worked on the same film or television series before The White Lotus season 3. However,Goggins posted several photos of himself with Rockwell on hisInstagram pageas far back as 2017, confirming that the two are good friends both in real life and in the series.
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Frank Represents Two Extremes Of The Human Condition – Excess & Abstinence
Frank’s extended monologue about his obsession with partying and sex takes an interesting turn when he confesses that he discovered an unforeseen truth about his own identity. After “a thousand nights” like this,Frank started to question his reality and purpose in life, asking philosophical questions about desireand Buddhist themes of detachment. Frank concludes that he wants to “be one of the Asian girls” that he became so transfixed with, which takes Rick by surprise. Rick listens carefully and respectfully to Franks’s experiences but seems ultimately perplexed and unable to believe what he’s hearing.
Frank got himself off the “never-ending carousel of lust and suffering”, which many ofThe White Lotusseason 3 guests appear to be on.
Frank’s explanation that he wanted to be one of the Asian girls blows Rick’s mind to the point where he appears numb. Frank continues to wax philosophical about gender identity and sex as a “poetic metaphor” for self-discovery. Rick looks like he’s about to fall out of his seat when Frank finally arrives at the point –he stopped taking drugs and got into Buddhism, which explains his sobriety at their hangout. Frank got himself off the “never-ending carousel of lust and suffering”, which many ofThe White Lotusseason 3 guests appear to be on.
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Frank Gives Rick A Weapon & May Be A Part Of Rick’s Escape Plan Or Alibi
Besides completely blowing Rick’s mind, Frank helps Rick out by giving him a weapon that Rick plans to use to kill Jim Hollinger. Frank is clearly living a spiritually inspired life after leaving behind his hedonistic lifestyle, which Rick doesn’t judge him for, but apparently, his view on violence hasn’t changed. Before Frank leaves, Rick asks him for one more favor, which ironically, is a bit of “role-play.” What Rick means is thathe wants Frank to be available to give an alibi for Rick if necessary, perhaps lying and saying that he was with Rick if the police came asking him questions.
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Therecould be more to Frank’s “role-play”, such as Rick getting more involved in the murderor the getaway itself, but viewers will have to wait and see in future episodes ofThe White Lotusseason 3. Rick and Frank speak cryptically about Rick’s business, which is hilariously contrasted by Frank’s open-book vulnerability about his spiritual journey.
Frank knows not to ask questions, which implies that the two of them have previously worked together on similar types of criminal endeavors.
Frank knows not to ask questions, which implies that the two of them have previously worked together on similar types of criminal endeavors. Whatever the case, Rick is planning to kill Jim the following night. The reason why Frank had to leave the United States remains unclear but could be explored further by the end ofThe White Lotusseason 3.
