Why Walton Goggins' Rick Makes THAT Decision With The Husband In The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 7

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The White Lotus season 3, episode 7!Fulfilling a moment he had waited 40 years for, Walton Goggins’ Rick finally confronts hotel co-owner Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn) in The White Lotus season 3, episode 7, which ends very differently from the violent expectations for their encounter. About halfway through the season, Rick revealed to Chelsea that Jim killed his father before he was born, and he now seeks some sort of retribution for ruining his life. Considering he brought a gun, it seemed like Rick was planning to kill Jim in Bangkok, but that isn’t how their long-awaited meeting ultimately went down.

While Frank watches Sritala’s movies, Jim and Rick leave to discuss other matters. Rick soon reveals that his mother, Gloria Hatchett, told him Jim killed his father over a land deal. As Rick accuses Jim of ruining his life, Jim’s confused reaction suggests he has no idea what Walton Goggins’ The White Lotus season 3 character is talking about. Eventually, Rick aims his gun at the older businessman, but he ends up simply putting it away, lunging at Jim a few times, and pushing over his chair before fleeing with Frank, leaving some big questions unanswered ahead of the finale.

Why Rick Doesn't Kill The Husband In The White Lotus Season 3

Rick Pushes Over Jim's Chair Instead Of Killing Him

The White Lotus season 3 has been building to Rick “doing something stupid” while trying to find the husband since he arrived in Thailand, yet the most violent that their confrontation gets in episode 7 is Rick pushing over his chair. Plus, to that end, Rick feels bad and silly about pushing over the old man. However, Rick wanted to at least instill some sort of fear into Jim while feeling like he took action against the man who he believes ruined his life. It just didn’t feel right to significantly harm or kill the man.

Since Jim was far from the person he had imagined him to be, Rick couldn’t bring himself to that darker level of violent vengeance that he had been preparing himself for.

When Rick reunites with Sam Rockwell’s Frank on the boat, he explains that he pictured that moment being so differently in his head. He built up this image of Jim as this intimidating, scary, violent figure. But, when he finally came face-to-face with him, all Rick saw was a frail, seemingly harmless, confused old man. Since Jim was far from the person he had imagined him to be, Rick couldn’t bring himself to that darker level of violent vengeance that he had been preparing himself for.

Additionally, Rick had never officially decided on killing Jim when he arrived in Bangkok in the stressful The White Lotus season 3, episode 5. He truly wasn’t sure what he was going to do when he confronted Jim, but Rick knew that he would never be able to move on from his father’s death until he told his killer how he had ruined his life. Rick wanted some sort of satisfaction from meeting Jim, but he wasn’t sure that killing him would do that.

Halfway Through The White Lotus Season 3 Every Victim Ranked

Now We're Halfway Through The White Lotus Season 3, Here's Every Possible Victim Ranked By Likelihood Of Dying

No characters have died yet at the midpoint of The White Lotus season 3 but that is certainly about to change in the latter half of the HBO series.

Posts

After seeing Jim and believing that he didn’t pose much of a threat anymore, Rick decided that killing him would just make matters worse. Still, Rick did what he came to do – he confronted Jim, told him how his actions ruined his life, and was able to instill some level of fear into the man during their interaction. It’s unclear whether this confrontation will really give Rick the satisfaction he needs to move forward, but at least he knows that killing Jim wouldn’t have solved his problems.

Did Jim Actually Kill Rick's Father In The White Lotus?

Jim Doesn't Confirm That He Was The Killer

Rick Hatchett stalking Sritala and her husband on the internet in The White Lotus Season 3 Ep 1

While Rick finally confronted Jim, he didn’t actually get a clear confirmation from Scott Glenn’s character that he killed Rick’s father. Rick was told this information when his mother was on her deathbed, but it doesn’t seem like he’s had any subsequent proof to corroborate that story. Jim is, indeed, a wealthy businessman who made land deals in Thailand, but he genuinely appeared to have no idea what Rick was talking about with his father’s murder. He did, however, seem to recognize Gloria Hatchett’s name.

According to the story Rick's mother told him, Rick's father was in Thailand trying to help the locals keep their land from being overtaken by greedy businessmen. However, one day he disappeared, with his body never being found.

Before Rick revealed that Jim killed his father, there was a popular The White Lotus fan theory that Jim actually is Rick’s father. Considering the body of Rick’s father was never found and Jim appears oblivious to being involved in that murder, it’s still possible that Jim could unknowingly be Rick’s father. Perhaps Rick’s mother was spurned by Jim or became appalled by changes in his behavior, so she deemed that his old “good” self was dead.

Walton Goggins Stars In 2 Of HBO's Biggest Shows On TV Right Now & His Characters Couldn't Be More Different

Actor & 2-time Emmy nominee Walton Goggins is currently starring in two of the biggest television series of 2025 that air back-to-back on HBO Sundays.

Posts

There’s always the possibility that Jim was involved and can’t remember, or is just pretending to be oblivious to his crimes. Considering Rick never even mentioned his father’s name, only his mother’s, Jim may not have had enough information to ensure which 50-year-old crime Rick was talking about.

There Has To Still Be More To Rick & Jim's Story In The White Lotus Season 3 Finale

The Finale Still Has Some Questions To Answer

With only one episode remaining, there are still plenty of loose ends for The White Lotus’ season 3 finale to tie up. As Rick returns to the resort to reunite with Chelsea, the popular HBO show still needs to clarify whether Jim killed Rick’s father or if he’ll get revenge on Rick for attacking him. Since Rick is returning to Jim and Sritala’s own hotel, they’ll have the advantage before he tries to leave the resort for good. If there’s another confrontation in store for the finale, it could connect to The White Lotus season 3’s teased shootout.