With the return of The White Lotus, viewers are reintroduced to the infamous chain of resorts, witnessing new and old faces congregate at the White Lotus in Ko Samui, Thailand. From the omnipresence of the monkeys at the resort, the seedy personalities surfacing on vacation, and the simmering tension, the HBO anthology drama continues to stun audiences only two episodes in.
Between theories of who is responsible for the gunshots in the opening scene, the motivations of characters like Rick (Walton Goggins), Timothy (Jason Isaacs), and Mook (Lalisa Manobal), and the fractured relationships between various groups on the resort, another promising discussion arose surrounding a particular fruit.

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While the Pong-Pong Fruit can be found in the majority of scenes, Pam, portrayed by Morgana O’Reilly, is the first to explain the fruit’s fatal properties when welcoming the Ratliff family to their abode. Much like prior seasons, fans have theorized that the fruit itself is another example of symbolism for the doom that has yet to occur.
The Pong-Pong Fruit, At a Glance

“Cerbera odollam,” or the pong-pong tree, is commonly found in India and Southeast Asia. Despite its bright green skin and its large size, the fruit that grows on its branches is anything but sweet and savory. Colloquially known as the “suicide tree,” the fruit itself, known as “othalanga,” produces a powerful poison that can cause hyperkalemia, a condition that causes irregular heart beats and even heart attacks.
The fruit extract, especially the kernel of the fruit, has been used for biopesticides, insect repellents, and rat poison. The fruit also serves as ornaments for gardens found in the region, as well as Hawaii. On a more somber note, the fruit has also been used for poisonings, executions, and suicides.
The Tangible Impact of the Pong-Pong Fruit, Explored

Moreover, the binomial name is derived from the infamous three-headed hound of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. From mythology to history, the fruit has been used as an arbiter of morality. In Madacasgar, during the 18th and 19th centuries, for example, the fruit was used to rid communities of witches. The belief was that the after effects of ingestion would prove whether the accused party was in fact a witch or not.
Closely mirroring other witch hunts around the globe, the fruit was the centerpiece of a test of purity. Given the influence of implicit bias and demonization that enables and defines said witch hunts, one can not help but think if said themes will appear in the current season of The White Lotus.

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The Fruit Appears as an Omen in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

In the premiere of the season, audiences are introduced to the various guests at the White Lotus in Ko Samui. While guests like Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) appear to be optimistic about their time spent at the resort, others, like the wealthy Texan Ratliff clan and Chelsea’s older boyfriend Rick (Goggins), clearly have frustrations about the trip that will surely rise to the surface as the season persists. When ushering the Ratliff family to their guest home, the polite Pam goes over the expectations, which includes a highly-encouraged break from technology. When Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) picks up an idle green fruit, Pam warns him of its lethal properties with a sense of alarm and urgency.
Getting Into The Seeds of This Unforgettable Vacation

After the episode “Same Spirits, New Forms” aired, many fans were quick to highlight the importance of Pam’s warning. In the beginning, audiences hear gunshots and panic ensues. Following Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) through the resort in search of his mother, the opening scene concludes with what appears to be his discovery of a dead body floating in the water. While the strong presence of guns in the first two episodes incriminates a wide range of people, some fans have pointed to another source of the fated death.
Viewers took to Reddit to discuss the possibility of the fruit being used as an example of “Chekhov’s Gun,” or a narrative tool that is introduced, subtly or otherwise, with a guaranteed payoff. Following up on the theory leads to even more stimulating discussions about who uses the fruit and for what purposes. Ranging from a silent murder to an accidental digestion, the possibilities conjured up by fans of the series line up with prior finale reveals.

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Red Herring or Real Warning for Trouble Ahead?

While there has been much fixation on the Pong-Pong fruit, other popular theories about the calamity that awaits, as well as the parties responsible, have also continued to dominate contemporary discussions about the series. From the native monkeys perusing around the resort, to the increasing number of firearms present, whose to say that the Pong-Pong fruit will be the literal cause of death for one of the visitors.
Limited Possibilities, Ostensibly Endless Results

There have also been fans who have noted that the pong-pong fruit could be another symbol. User u/sourthernfirefly13 shared their interpretation of the Pong-Pong fruit as the physical manifestation of the forbidden fruit present in Abrahamic religions. For those watching the show, Saxon’s voyeuristic and predatory behavior is shaping up to be a central, chaotic force within the Ratliff family. Could his transgressions play a pivotal role in the demise of one of the guests teased in the opening scene? While the appearance of the fruit and Saxon’s intrigue in said fruit suggests so.
The fruit could also be hinting towards a wider condemnation of the guests, namely their hubris and entitlement to “forbidden” experiences and rarities, frequent themes explored in The White Lotus. As the series persists, the relevance of clues and suspicions alike will start to crystallize in the minds of the viewers, serving as a basis for realizations about the insidious, often shrouded realities of tourism and those who reap the benefits of the tourism industry.