Although Laurie may be on vacation with “The White Lotus,” she is barely relaxed. In fact, heading towards Sunday’s finale, actress Carrie Kuhn says that Raleigh’s official “hit the rock bottom,” but in a good way.
In season 3 of the HBO series, Kuhn’s character (a New York lawyer fresh from his divorce) spends a Thai holiday with longtime best friends Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan). But under the luxury, tension simmers. Especially when Jaclyn dares to connect with Laurie to Valentine (Arnas fedaravicius), he then sleeps with him.
The betrayal causes a drunken showdown, leading to Laurie sleeping with Alexei (Julian Kostoff), one of Valentin’s sketchy friends, who is circling the resort. In the classic “White Lotus” method, things go in order when he casually asks for $10,000 after connecting. Laurie’s reaction? His enraged girlfriend screams out of the door and quickly escapes through the window.
For Kuhn, Laurie’s choice is more than just fun and impulse, as explained in the latest episode of The Wrap’s “unwrapped” podcast.
“Jaclyn tells her, ‘Your life is a shame. Why don’t you try to change it?” She has something to prove,” Kuhn said. “Now she has this young man who appears to be attracted to her. Finally, it’s a bit of a turn.
Still, Kuhn sees a small victory for her character.
“She’s having sex. She’s going through divorce, good for her,” she said. But in White’s job, victory is by no means a victory. “There’s always something on the other side. Comedy, despair, it’s all there.”
But Alexei isn’t the only rock bottom in Raleigh, Koon added. What’s no longer present is chasing a version of yourself.
“She’s drunk too,” Kuhn admitted. “She’s trying to get her youthful Cancun back. Maybe she’s got so much that she’s not making a great decision.”
At the heart of the demolition of Raleigh? Comparison – a young woman, her previous self, and the life she thought she had.
“In AA and Al-Anon, we’re talking about the rock bottom. How much is your bottom?” Koon said. “And this trip where she lives constantly comparing herself and that “compare the mind” – a Buddhist concept that must be uprooted because it is just pain and suffering – this is her rock bottom. A dark night for the soul.
“The White Lotus” season 3 finale, “Amor Fati,” will be streaming on HBO on Sunday, April 6th on Max at 9pm on EST/PST.
About Unwrap
“Unwrap” is a podcast produced by Rapwamen and is dedicated to empowering the next generation of women through media and entertainment. Each episode “unwrap” topics ranging from entertainment news and industry trends to career advice and Hollywood headlines.
Special guests include industry leaders, actors, producers and studio executives. The purpose of this series is to bring together those looking for knowledge and access to those with knowledge and access, providing the Rapwamen community with the tools to successfully live their personal and professional lives.
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Star Carry Coon from “White Lotus” says that although Lowry has “a rock bottom,” it’s “good for her.” The video first appeared in The Wrap.
