Fans of HBO’s The White Lotus have been shocked, delighted, and more than a little confused by Mike White’s latest creative move: an unexpected redemption arc for the notoriously insufferable character of Greg, played by actor Jon Gries. In the show’s third season, Greg—a character who has previously been known for his general incompetence, sleaziness, and unconvincing attempts at charm—undergoes a surprisingly touching transformation. According to White, “Eventually, there’s so much to love about Greg. You just have to wait for it.”
Season three sees Greg, who once seemed to exist solely to make us cringe at his clumsy efforts to climb the social ladder while stepping on everyone along the way, actually start to make some strides toward becoming a “better” person. Whether it’s helping an old lady find her lost cat or offering a sincere apology to a bellhop for stiffing him on a tip in season two (a small, but significant act), Greg’s evolution is slow, but it’s happening—maybe. Sort of.
Fans are split on whether they can even buy into Greg’s newfound morality. “Look, I’ve been watching Greg for three seasons now, and I still can’t fully believe he’s capable of anything resembling goodness,” said Sarah Tinsley, an avid fan of the show. “But Mike White has this way of pulling you in. You start to think, ‘Okay, maybe Greg’s not all bad.’ Then he steals a towel and flirts with a waitress, and you’re like, ‘Oh, never mind. Classic Greg.’”
Mike White, who has always been known for weaving deeply complex and sometimes ambiguous character arcs into his writing, says this shift in Greg’s narrative was intentional. “Greg is a person, and people can change. He’s not a villain in the traditional sense, more like a man constantly navigating his own mediocrity. I wanted to explore that, show that even the most annoying characters have potential,” White explained during a recent interview. “But, you know, it’s still Greg. So, we’re not making him a saint. He’s just… trying.”
Indeed, Greg’s journey toward goodness is an odd one, full of missteps and awkward moments. In one scene, Greg attempts to donate to a charity only to realize he’s accidentally bought an entire crate of stuffed animals, none of which are actually going to the children in need. In another, he tries to redeem himself with a heartfelt toast at a family dinner, only to awkwardly stumble over his words and reveal he thought the event was a potluck.
“I think Greg’s redemption plot is a bit like a used car,” said Dr. Linda Ferguson, a TV critic and pop culture psychologist. “It’s not really about the destination—it’s about the journey. Every now and then, you think, ‘Maybe it’s a lemon,’ and then it surprises you by starting up again. It’s deeply human to want to believe in redemption, even if Greg is still making every mistake possible.”
In an unexpected twist, Greg’s redemption comes in the form of an unlikely friendship with none other than Tanya’s widow, played by Jennifer Coolidge. The two bond over their shared awkwardness and inability to relate to normal human beings. In one particularly cringe-worthy scene, Greg attempts to teach Tanya’s widow how to properly enjoy a glass of wine, only for the two of them to end up spilling it all over each other. It’s a disaster—but it feels oddly touching. Sort of.
“Honestly, I never thought I’d say this, but Greg’s growth has made me want to root for him,” said Monica Reyes, an entertainment journalist. “He’s so bad at being good that it’s kind of endearing. Maybe in the end, that’s what we all need. A little more Greg in our lives. A little more failure, a little more trying.”
Of course, there’s still some skepticism about whether Greg will ever fully shed his old habits. In the season finale, Greg is seen attempting to make amends with his estranged father, only to accidentally get the wrong guy’s name tattooed on his wrist. White insists this misstep is just another part of the character’s growth, a reminder that not everything is going to be wrapped up neatly by the end of the season.
“Look, Greg will never be perfect,” White acknowledged. “But that’s the beauty of it. He’s a person. He’s flawed. He’s trying, and that’s what matters. Eventually, there’s so much to love about him.”
For now, viewers will have to decide if they, too, can eventually love Greg—awkward apologies and all. But as White reminds us, “It’s a long road to redemption. Just keep watching. He’ll get there, eventually.”
In the meantime, fans are keeping their eyes peeled for any other possible transformations. “Maybe next season, they’ll give Greg a pet hamster,” said Tinsley. “That’ll really show he’s come full circle.”
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