Wellness is a scam. At least, that is what Mike White seems to be shouting from the rooftops of the latest Koh Samui-set installment. If the premiere was about the awkwardness of arrival, episode 2, titled "Special Treatments," is where the mask of luxury starts to slip, revealing some truly ugly, money-greased gears underneath.
Honestly, it’s impressive how quickly things went from "serene yoga poses" to "FBI raids and armed robberies."
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Most of us tuned in expecting more of the same "rich people behaving badly" tropes. We got that. But we also got a literal crime scene.
While the guests were busy being poked and prodded by the hotel’s "health mentors," a masked gunman decided to crash the party at the resort's high-end boutique. Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) was just trying to look at a snake choker—bless her heart—when she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun. Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) managed to hide in the changing rooms, but Chelsea was left to face the music alone.
This robbery wasn't just a random plot device. It served as the ultimate stress test for Gaitok, the sweet security guard played by Tayme Thapthimthong. He messed up. He let the SUV pass the barrier while he was distracted chatting with Valentin about Muay Thai.
He tried to be the hero, getting a gun butt to the head for his troubles, but the thieves still got away. The silver lining? Mook (Lalisa Manobal) actually looked impressed by his bruised face. Sometimes a concussion is the fastest way to a girl's heart in a Mike White production.
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The Ratliff Family is a Total Trainwreck
If you thought the Mossbachers from season 1 were tense, the Ratliffs are on a whole different level of dysfunction. Timothy (Jason Isaacs) spent most of the episode pretending to be a "puffed-up businessman," but the calls from reporters at the Wall Street Journal weren't about his success.
We finally find out what’s going on. Tim is deep in a money laundering and bribery scheme. He gets a frantic call from Kenny (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), who reveals the FBI has raided the office. Tim’s reaction? He’s mostly pissed that he’s going to "face ruin" over a measly $10 million.
"I only made $10 million out of your stupid fucking scheme!"
The entitlement is staggering. He tells Kenny to go kill himself and then proceeds to have a total meltdown because the hotel room doesn't have a blender. Priorities, right?
Meanwhile, the kids are... weird. Lochlan (Sam Nivola) is obsessed with whether his sister Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) is a virgin. He tells her that Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) has been mocking her lack of a sex life. It’s creepy. It’s invasive. It’s exactly the kind of "psychosexual dysfunction" we’ve come to expect from this show.
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Then there’s Victoria (Parker Posey). She’s popping Lorazepam like they're Tic Tacs and being casually cruel to everyone. When she meets Kate (Leslie Bibb), she pretends not to remember her from a baby shower ten years ago. It’s a masterclass in Southern-fried shade.
The Return of the Greg (And the Recognition)
The big elephant in the room is Greg Hunt (Jon Gries). He’s here under the name "Gary," hanging out with Chloe.
He’s acting like a retired guy who just happened to meet a beautiful French-Canadian woman through a "matchmaking service" in Dubai. But Rick (Walton Goggins) isn't buying it. Rick is a grifter himself, and he immediately pegs Chloe as a professional and Greg as a liar.
The most stressful moment of the night happened during the staff performance. As Sritala (Lek Patravadi) was singing, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) looked across the dining area and saw Greg.
You could see the gears turning. She recognizes him. Does she know Tanya is dead? Does she know Greg was behind it? The confrontation hasn't happened yet, but the fuse is lit. Belinda is already distracted by her growing crush on Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul)—and who can blame her after seeing him in his underwear?—but the Greg situation is a ticking time bomb.
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Friends or Frenemies? The Trio of Doom
The dynamic between Kate, Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) is painful to watch. It’s a rotating cycle of gossip.
- Night One: Jaclyn and Kate talk trash about Laurie's "acrimonious" divorce.
- Night Two: Kate and Laurie speculate that Jaclyn’s perfect life is a front and that she’s had way too much cosmetic work.
- The Twist: Jaclyn hears them. She’s standing right outside the window, listening to her best friends call her a narcissist.
It’s a perfect portrayal of how middle-aged friendships can sometimes be built on a foundation of mutual resentment. Laurie is struggling with alimony and a promotion she didn't get, and she's taking it out on the woman who seems to have it all.
Key Takeaways from Episode 2
- The Robbery: It wasn't just a side plot; it exposed the resort's lack of real security and gave Rick a chance to act like a "protector" to Chelsea.
- The Money: Timothy Ratliff is likely going to prison. The FBI is involved, and his lawyer, Chuck, isn't answering.
- The Past: Rick revealed some heavy trauma during his meditation with Amrita. His dad was murdered before he was born, and his mom died of an OD. This makes his hunt for Jim Hollinger feel way more personal.
- The Mystery: Who is "Gary" really? We know he's Greg, but what is his endgame with Chloe?
What to Watch for Next
The tension is ramping up in a way that suggests the "wellness" part of the vacation is officially over. With the FBI closing in on Timothy and Belinda spotting Greg, the social hierarchy of the hotel is about to collapse.
If you're following along, keep a close eye on Gaitok. He’s desperate to prove himself, and in a Mike White show, that usually leads to a fatal mistake. Also, watch Jaclyn. Now that she knows her friends are snakes, her behavior is going to shift from "perfect actress" to something much more volatile.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Re-watch the premiere to see if you can spot any clues about the robbers in the background.
- Pay attention to the background music during the Ratliff family scenes; the score often hints at who is losing their mind first.
- Keep a tally of who treats the staff the worst—usually, they're the ones who end up in the body bag.