The White Lotus Season 3 Premiere: Greg Huntsman's Mysterious Return

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the first episode of The White Lotus Season 3.

Who would have guessed that in The White Lotus’ Season 3 premiere, a character making the biggest impact would appear only briefly, without uttering a single word? Jon Gries’ surprise return as Greg Hunt, the villainous widower of the late Tanya McQuoid, undoubtedly left audiences gasping. Yet, we shouldn’t be entirely surprised by his reappearance—Greg’s story has a lot left unresolved.

Greg boasts the unique distinction of being the only character to appear across all three seasons. Despite his mysterious aura, Greg emerged at the end of Season 1 and vanished early in Season 2, leaving his companion Quentin to orchestrate Tanya’s demise. With Quentin now deceased by Tanya’s hand, Greg seems positioned to inherit a vast fortune of $500 million. His enduring presence makes him a pivotal character—the key to unlocking creator Mike White’s themes around wealth, love, death, and more.

Greg’s Dramatic Entrance in The White Lotus Season 3 Premiere

We see Greg for the first time around the 48-minute mark, in the picturesque new season set in Thailand. At a bar, a young woman named Chloe befriends Aimee Lou Wood’s Chelsea. As they bond over their shared experiences with moody older boyfriends, Chloe points out Greg sitting alone, staring into his drink—an image of desolation amongst other sullen middle-aged men, labeled by locals as “losers back home” or LBHs.

Greg’s Past: Seasons 1 and 2 Recap

In Season 1, Greg arrives at the White Lotus in Hawaii, bumping into Tanya in what seemed to be a serendipitous encounter. Claiming to be in Hawaii for a fishing trip and employed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Greg wooed Tanya, redirecting her attention away from funding a wellness center for spa manager Belinda. His persistent coughing hinted at a terminal illness. Yet, in Season 2, Greg appears alive and well in Sicily, married to Tanya. Surprisingly, he claims her medical connections saved him. But tension brewed as Tanya’s assistant Portia joined them against his wishes. After an idyllic Italian escapade, Greg departed abruptly, presumably on business in Denver, never to reunite with Tanya. Anna’s picture of a young Greg at Quentin’s villa fueled speculation about a shadowy past involving another lover.

With strong hints of Greg and Quentin conspiring against Tanya for her money, their relationship dynamics were cast in a different light. Was their first encounter mere coincidence? Did Greg ever serve a legitimate organization, or did he fabricate his terminal illness to deplete Tanya’s fortune? Could Quentin have lied about Greg’s sexuality, raising questions about Greg’s phone call confession of love? Or was Greg simply playing Quentin for a fool? His mysterious boat presence during Tanya’s tragic demise continued to stoke conspiracy theories, while Chloe’s appearance added fresh intrigue: How does she fit into Greg’s narrative?

Creator Insights on Greg’s Comeback

Fans well-versed in The White Lotus saga might not find Greg’s return too shocking, especially as whispers of his comeback surfaced post-Season 2 finale in 2022. Mike White hinted at Greg’s enduring role, suggesting the plot might circle back to him. “There’s got to be a trail that leads back to Greg,” White mused, offering more insights into Greg’s future role and emphasizing his relationship with Tanya as crucial to the narrative arc. In a feature interview, White observed Greg’s lonely existence in Thailand, commenting on the emptiness of his life despite securing Tanya’s wealth, hinting at the emotional void these “LBH” expats fill.

Implications of Greg’s Return

Greg’s return to Thailand might resolve the unfinished saga of Tanya McQuoid, the show’s tragicomic heiress. Could Portia uncover Greg’s betrayal? Additionally, one wonders whether Belinda was informed about Tanya’s demise and if she recognizes Greg as a key player in derailing her dream business.

Ultimately, how Greg’s story concludes will shape the series’ overarching thematic statement. Can wealth gained through deception lead to happiness? This moral quandary peaks interest—not solely in Greg’s case, but in the arcs of other characters, like those portrayed by Walton Goggins and Jason Isaacs. Might the money Tanya left behind be a blessing or a blight for Greg? Resonating with White’s exploration of identity, society, and justice, the season challenges viewers to ponder the possibility of karmic justice in The White Lotus universe—where the lines between victimizers and victims are blurred.