White Lotus Greg Gay

Editor's note: The subsequent material includes spoilers for Season 2 of The White Lotus.

Season two of The White Lotus is wrapping up, and judging by Episode 5's monumental plot twist cliffhanger, it's poised to end dramatically. Circumstances are escalating to a critical juncture for everyone who we've come to know at The White Lotus, yet the most captivating narrative concerns Tanya McQuoid-Hunt&39;s (Jennifer Coolidge) predicament. Temporarily deserted by her spouse Greg Hunt (Jon Gries), Tanya finds herself stranded in Sicily with her aide, Portia (Haley Lu Richardson). Her isolation is short-lived, as she happens upon Quentin (Tom Hollander), a wealthy, gay English expat visiting his pals accompanied by his nephew, Jack. While Portia takes a quick liking to "naughty nephew" Jack (Leo Woodall), Tanya grows closer to Quentin. However, events take a dark turn, and as startling truths surface, it becomes apparent that things are not as they appear, as Tanya could be the target of a complex scheme.

What I am about to propose might seem far-fetched, but listen closely. At this juncture in the season, with the knowledge we now possess, it is completely plausible that Quentin could be collaborating with Greg to defraud Tanya of her assets (or worse - her life). You may be doubtful currently, but with the undeniable facts gleaned from previous episodes that I'm about to present, coupled with Mike White's cunningly sharp Emmy-winning writing, it's a difficult hypothesis to refute. But prior to delving further into Tanya's new acquaintances, I wish to revisit a narrative thread that's been untouched for a couple of episodes - Greg and his motivations.

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What's Up With Greg’s Sudden Exit From Sicily?

It becomes evident from the very beginning that Greg's intentions are less than honorable when he imparts the bombshell to Tanya that he needs to depart their vacation prematurely and return to Denver, but their true nature is only solidified by the enigmatic phone call he makes the previous evening before his departure. Remember that it was Greg's initiative to visit Sicily, not Tanya's. Tanya actually raises several valid points regarding why there's no reason for him to cut the trip short, even suggesting that somebody else could manage the situation. After all, Greg is not the only employee of the Bureau of Land Management. Greg attributes it to unfortunate timing, yet Tanya remains unconvinced. Despite his assurances, Tanya feels certain that Greg will not be back within two days.

Maybe the most revealing indication that Greg is after his new wife's (he's been married four times) money is actually another observation by Tanya herself. Greg's malady, characterized by a succession of coughing fits in Season 1, seems to have vanished, or at least subsided, as Tanya has invested substantially in his medical treatment. She senses she's been exploited, declaring, 'Ever since you realized you're going to have a lot more years, I feel like you just realized that you're going to be stuck living them with me.' It's a compelling motive, as Greg has spent the trip grumbling and complaining about Tanya's conduct so far.

In addition, we can further substantiate that Greg's scheme might have been premeditated since he is visibly enraged and disconcerted when he notices Tanya brought her assistant along. He doesn't want any witnesses to his actions or be linked to Tanya in any way that might incriminate him, and Portia introduces a significant complication to that plan. He also doesn't want to be photographed with Tanya when they take the Vespa out for a ride, a potentially insignificant fact to point out, and he does eventually pose for the photo, yet vacation photographs are a quite usual occurrence, so it's odd that he wouldn't cooperate unless he wanted to remain undetected.

Tanya’s New Friends Might Not Be a Coincidence

Soon after Greg's departure and following a curious encounter with a fortune-teller (who predicts her spouse is being unfaithful) Tanya runs into Quentin. As Tanya and Portia are walking back from breakfast, they pass Quentin and his acquaintance in the hallway. He stops her to compliment her on her attire, and they strike up a conversation. Quentin eventually invites her to join them at the Beach Club in the afternoon, insisting Tanya and Portia join, and hurrying off before they can delve into the matter any further. It's not an interaction you dwell on on first watch, but upon a second viewing, it seems excessively coincidental. If there's one characteristic we understand about Tanya, it's that she can't ignore a compliment about her appearance. She is vain, insecure, and presently upset over Greg's departure. Even the slightest comment in passing from a stranger calling her outfit "chic" is enough to ensnare Tanya, and it works.

Tanya meets the men at the Beach Club and later for dinner, where Quentin extends an invitation to their palazzo for a grand soirée. She requires some persuasion, yet they are insistent on her presence, and she ultimately accedes. Tanya acknowledges and expresses her gratitude for their amicable and welcoming demeanor, welcoming her into their circle - yet what she fails to grasp is how their affable behavior could camouflage ulterior motives.

Quentin’s Stories Could Reveal His True Plan

Despite his gracious, outgoing nature, the most unsettling aspect of Quentin's newfound friendship with Tanya is his somber narratives. At the Beach Club, Quentin recounts a tale of Isola Bella island to Tanya. The story revolves around a wealthy Swedish family that owned the island—a legacy continued by the oldest matriarch, who ultimately became the sole resident. She would reject any offers to sell the property, irrespective of the price, and as a result of her obstinacy, her corpse washed ashore days later, and the estate eventually became available to the public. Tanya is horrified by the story, but Quentin remains unfazed. In truth, he even insinuates that the homicide was "worth it" now that anyone can visit the island.

Now, if this hypothesis is accurate, Quentin could be sketching out his precise plan and conveying it in a cheeky, metaphorical manner that Tanya won't recognize until it's too late. Recall that the season commences with several bodies washing up on the shore. As of the conclusion of Episode 5, Tanya is located on an island distinct from the resort, so it wouldn't be far-fetched to posit she could be one of the corpses discovered in the ocean. Further, as Quentin narrates the Isola Bella story to Tanya, the dialogue is interwoven with shots of the violent Ionian waves crashing into the rocks. The foreshadowing of the dialogue coupled with the visuals is too precise to ignore.

Quentin shares his second story after their trip to the opera to view Madam Butterfly (even more foreshadowing), confessing that he has only ever loved one person, a cowboy he encountered in Wyoming while traversing the United States. Quentin acknowledges that he was youthful at the time, restless, and captivated by beat poetry, yet he still hopelessly fell for the man. He divulges that the cowboy was straight and desired nothing to do with him, an aspect that only escalated Quentin's affection. 30 years later, Quentin declares he'd still do anything for him. The most disturbing point in the story, however, is when Quentin informs Tanya that beauty is his weakness and that he's ready to die for it, querying if she shares the sentiment. Perhaps this enigmatic cowboy Quentin encountered could be Greg. Greg, as we're aware, works out of Denver, but it's entirely probable that his job may have taken him to Wyoming at some point, where he could have come across Quentin.

Quentin Might Not Be as Wealthy as He Lets On

Subsequent to a voyage on their yacht, Tanya and Portia find themselves at Quentin and his companions' opulent palazzo. Establishing shots depict its substantial size and amenities. Appreciating its beauty, Tanya remarks to Portia that it's a wonderful feeling knowing someone has wealth because you know they are not after yours. Tanya is obviously referring to the affluent Quentin, but the subsequent dialogue foreshadows that he might not be as well-off as he conveys.

Inside the main room, Tanya persists in gushing about the property to Quentin and mentions that they must have "dumped a fortune" to possess it. This seems to strike a chord with Quentin, and he mentions that he did, in fact, have to expend a small fortune. Then, he makes a mistake and divulges a bit too much. Tanya doesn't grasp the implication, but it's a significant clue as to why Quentin and Greg could be in cahoots. After a pause, Quentin informs Tanya that he's been striving to obtain a heritage subsidy from the government for the palazzo, yet has been rebuffed. The government desires the palazzo to be open to the public, something Quentin aggressively asserts "is not going to happen."

If Quentin is seeking heritage subsidies and other loopholes to cover the cost of his "small fortune" palazzo, perhaps he isn't as wealthy as he presents himself to be. Another piece of evidence supporting Quentin's manufactured wealth is a remark made by Cameron (Theo James) in an earlier episode. In "Italian Dream," Cameron, Daphne (Meghann Fahy), Harper (Aubrey Plaza), and Ethan (Will Sharpe) are discussing the allure of Sicily during breakfast. This prompts Cameron to mention the irony of the hefty price tag we invariably associate with Italian luxury, stating, "It's wild, though. These European aristocrats have no money... they have these palazzos, and they got no cash." This scenario directly aligns with what seems to be transpiring with Quentin. Perhaps this is the most concrete evidence that he is after Tanya's funds, and it's some impressive foreshadowing that may be missed in the show's episodic release schedule. Furthermore, Quentin's palazzo and his intransigence regarding public access bear a resemblance to the Isola Bella narrative that he shares with Tanya - but rather than being the one killed for the property, he might be the perpetrator to preserve it.

Portia Could Pose a Problem for Quentin and Greg

While it's reasonable to assume that Quentin's associates are party to the ruse, there's a single witness who imperils to undermine everything, and her name is Portia. Recall Greg's exasperation over Portia's presence. He became indignant with Tanya when he realized she brought her assistant along and instructed Tanya to keep her out of view. And when Tanya becomes acquainted with Quentin at the Beach Club, he makes it a point to inquire about her company (i.e., witnesses), "You're just here with your assistant, right?" As we can infer from Greg's reaction, having Portia around ruins his flawless crime, so what does he do? He contacts Quentin and informs him about the hiccup in their plan - enter Jack, the Essex heartthrob.

Although he's introduced as Quentin's nephew, the conclusion of Episode 5, in which Tanya gets a glimpse of the alleged uncle and nephew amid a sexual act, hopefully confirms that isn't the case. As it stands, this piece of information remains unknown to Portia, who has fallen head over heels for Jack. He's the ideal diversion for Portia, who is openly seeking adventure and cheap thrills. It seems as if Jack and Portia are just having fun with each other, but if you look closer, Jack consistently appears to whisk her away right before Quentin converses with Tanya. The next day at the palazzo, when Quentin is discussing his desire to keep the estate private, Portia starts to walk into the room, but Jack literally swoops in from the corner of the doorway to deter her. In the next shot, as Tanya continues speaking with Quentin, you can observe Jack departing through the door with Portia, away from the Palazzo in the reflection of the glass. They don't return to the property until the end of the episode, when he has to "go do something for his uncle."

So who precisely is Jack? He's undeniably in on the ruse, but how does he fit into the overall picture? Is he a sex worker engaged by Quentin to join him and his friends at the palazzo? Or was he recruited by Greg solely as a means to distract Portia? Regardless of his intentions, he clearly has no qualms about lending a hand to deceive Tanya and Portia, and it's working like a charm - for now.

Perhaps Quentin and Greg Are Tying Up Loose Ends

This entire theory is comparable to a massive puzzle where all the pieces are in sight, but it's yet to be put together. If we begin at the start, including every aforementioned theory, Quentin encountered Greg (the cowboy) approximately thirty-something years ago in Wyoming. Quentin falls in love with Greg, but it was unrequited. We remain unaware of their interaction or how well they became acquainted, but we are aware that Quentin was willing to do anything for him, even now. Fast forward to the present day, and Tanya and Greg are married. Tanya has had Greg sign a prenuptial agreement, but she has also allocated a significant portion of her wealth towards the best treatment money can buy, and he has made what appears to be a complete recovery. Understanding he has more years remaining in his life than he had initially imagined, Greg recognizes he doesn't desire to spend them stuck with the walking emotional wreckage, Tanya. He needs an exit but desires the money as well.

Therefore, Greg contacts an old acquaintance. Someone he recognizes will be willing to assist him, Quentin. Greg conveys his predicament to him, and Quentin, presently residing in Italy, reveals he has a predicament too. The kind of issue only money can resolve, which he no longer possesses. He wishes to preserve his luxurious palazzo for himself and his guests, inaccessible to the average person. The government will not provide him with any money, so he needs to find someone with deep pockets. The plan begins with Greg persuading his wife to vacation in Sicily and stay at her favorite hotel chain, The White Lotus. Financed by Tanya, the couple will journey to Sicily, where they've arranged to stay for a week. Upon their arrival, Greg is astonished to find Tanya has brought her assistant along and insists she keeps Portia separate from their holiday, so she cannot bear witness to anything.

Greg gives Tanya her "Italian Dream" of relishing exquisite cuisine and riding a Vespa along the coast, all while attempting, and failing, to remain out of any photographs. Later that night, believing he has cushioned himself adequately, he informs Tanya that he must depart for Denver to resolve a Bureau of Land Management matter, which he doesn't elaborate on. She confronts him, questioning why the matter is so pressing and reminding him that this vacation was entirely his idea, all while, as Greg mentions on his phone call, remaining utterly clueless. The phone call remains a mystery as he concludes the call by informing the individual on the receiving end that he loves them. While this is presumed to be a woman with whom he is having an affair, perhaps it's another red herring, and he is really conversing with Quentin.

Quentin prepares to intercept Tanya in the hall the morning Greg has left and initiates a conversation by praising her ensemble. Desperate for attention, Tanya commences a seemingly innocuous new friendship with a man who is already wealthy. In her perception, she doesn't need to be concerned about a dishonest relationship established solely to rob her of her assets, except that is precisely Quentin's plan, and tragically, Greg's intentions as well. With Portia distracted by Jack and Tanya secluded with Quentin and company on the island palazzo, the stage is set for turmoil. And with Greg out of the equation, he's ready to reap the benefits of whatever transpires to Tanya. How the ultimate phase of the plan will unfold remains anyone's guess, but the components are in motion, and with just two episodes left, anything can transpire on The White Lotus.

The White Lotus Season 2 broadcasts new episodes weekly every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.