Saxon is not so bad

I feel like the predominant attitude on this sub is that Saxon is awful - like worse than Cam, full on rapist, etc.

This episode really humanized him for me. He’s sex-crazed, yes, but he didn’t cross a line with any of the girls and Chloe was totally the one in control. His whole thing about not taking drugs was endearing to me, and he seems to really care about Lochlan and is expressing that through the only way he knows how - wanting to help make him more of a “man” since that’s what Saxon was taught to value.

I think he’s just an insecure rich kid who overcompensates through peacocking. I currently do not see him to be the type to drug and rape a girl (the way people implied from Ep 1). He idolizes his dad - who in his eyes is a straight arrow in a committed marriage. Unless Saxon takes a turn, I honestly think Cam is shaping up to be the worst of the three “frat bros.”

Edit: To those of you who keep harping on his comments about letting the girls get messy - consider this. I think interpreting that line as creepy and a little rape-y is valid, but you’re removing that line from its greater context.

There is a VERY big difference between “let the girls get messy” and “let’s get the girls messy.” The women in this episode are getting exactly as fucked up as they want to get. Saxon isn’t feeding them drinks or handing them pills. All he’s advising Lochlan to do is pace himself which is, like, very reasonable advice to give an 18 year old in this situation.

A lot of people see this as him hoping to “take advantage” of the girls - except Chloe was more than down! She pretty explicitly told Lochlan she was interested in having sex later. There was nothing to take advantage of there. Even Chelsea had warmed up to him by then.

And finally, digging a little deeper - to Saxon, the Ratliff men are meant to be buttoned up - getting messy drunk or doing drugs is not in their repertoire. Think of the model he grew up with. His mom, constantly on pills and drinking alcohol, while his dad stays sharp and takes care of her. This is the dynamic Saxon is used to.

When it comes to the White Lotus, actions speak a lot louder than words. Saxon has not crossed any lines with the women in this season so far, even if he talks the talk. And while what he says is shitty - and I’m not absolving him of that - I think it’s an overly simplistic read to see him as unequivocally “bad” and not at all what Mike White is going for here.