Incest on TV: A Deep Dive into HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ and Its Controversial Predecessors
Let’s take a stroll down the rabbit hole of television’s most taboo topics, shall we? Incest has been a recurring plot device far longer than the Ratliff brothers’ eyebrow-raising escapades in HBO’s “The White Lotus.” Believe it or not, we’ve been grappling with the uncomfortable notion of familial entanglements on screen since the late 90s, most notably in the soap opera “Passions.” Back then, we watched in horror as Chad and Whitney discovered they were supposed half-siblings yet opted to ride the wave of romantic turmoil anyway. Good ol’ Chad Harris-Crane’s saga taught us a moral lesson wrapped in melodrama—don’t get too comfy with your family tree, folks! The show’s actor, Donn Swaby, who later passed the baton to Charles Divins, praised the courage of “The White Lotus” for exploring such a touchy subject, though he himself remains blissfully unaware of its latest scandalous turns.
Fast forward to more recent times, and we’ve seen incest pop up in the likes of “How to Get Away with Murder,” where we were treated to the shocking revelation of Frank being the product of sibling relations. Meanwhile, HBO’s fantasy juggernauts, “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon,” have made incest practically a family tradition, showcasing relationships that would make even your most liberal relatives squirm. And let’s not forget Ryan Murphy’s dark take on the Menendez brothers, which, while denying any romantic entanglements, still managed to provoke a few gasps with its implications.
But why, you may ask, is this all happening now? Justin Lehmiller from the Kinsey Institute suggests that the current trend of incest storylines serves largely as a shock tactic, a notion that “The White Lotus” executive producer David Bernad vehemently denies. Despite the uproar, Lehmiller insists that these portrayals haven’t normalized incest; rather, they continue to elicit a visceral reaction from audiences who find themselves grappling with the discomfort of seeing such narratives unfold.
Now, as we witness Saxon and Lochlan’s intimate escapades on our screens, it’s clear that this isn’t just a rehash of old tropes—it’s a bold exploration that toes the line of societal norms. The unique twist? This particular portrayal involves two brothers, layering on even more taboo, as modern storytelling seeks to reflect complex realities. As we clutch our pearls, one thing is for sure: the world of television is not shy when it comes to pushing boundaries, and the Ratliff brothers are simply the latest in a long line of characters testing the limits of familial love.
Class dismissed. Just remember, there’s no such thing as a boring family reunion when TV shows are involved!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Kinsey Institute, Entertainment Tonight
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
