I’ll be the first to admit it: when I heard The White Lotus was casting Patrick Schwarzenegger, my eyes rolled so far back I briefly saw my childhood traumas. I mean, really? Another nepo baby? In a show that’s supposed to slice through the absurdity of the elite, they cast Arnold’s son? I was ready to cringe all season long.
But then… he started talking. And emoting. And acting. And suddenly, I was confused, entertained, and low-key mad at myself for forgetting halfway through the season that this guy shares DNA with The Terminator.
From Skeptic to Stan (Almost)
When Patrick appeared on screen as Saxon Ratliff (yes, that’s his character’s actual name and not an obscure British condiment), I braced myself for a charisma vacuum. Instead, I got—wait for it—range. He was funny. He was weird. He was kind of magnetic? And not in the way that a nepotism-fueled algorithm forces you to feel things. I actually forgot he was a Schwarzenegger for a hot second, which is impressive considering the size of those jawlines.
Yes, He Knows What You’re Thinking
Turns out, Patrick’s well aware of the assumptions people make about him. In a recent interview, he said:
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is. They’re not seeing that I’ve had ten years of acting classes… or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
(townandcountrymag.com)
Okay fine, that’s kinda humble. And honestly, he did bring something unexpected to the role—a sort of self-aware smoothness that White Lotus thrives on. Like he knew he was the punchline and still committed to delivering it perfectly.
Even Arnold’s Proud (Obviously)
In true dad-mode, Arnold Schwarzenegger chimed in with:
“I’m glad he didn’t change his name. Now I can take credit.”
(people.com)
Classic Arnold. But let’s be honest, if I raised a nepo baby who could act that well, I’d be handing out business cards with his IMDb page on them, too.
The Real Surprise: He Earned It
Even The White Lotus producer David Bernad admitted he was hesitant to cast Patrick because, well, “Schwarzenegger.” But Patrick’s audition? It blew him away. Turns out, when you take ten years of acting classes and don’t coast on your last name, you can actually impress people. Who knew?
Okay Patrick, You Win (Sort Of)
Look, I’m not saying I’m starting a Patrick Schwarzenegger fan club. But if I did, the first meeting would include free cocktails and a screening of his White Lotus scenes—because they deserve a second watch. The guy is genuinely good. Like, annoyingly good. I went in ready to hate-watch and came out defending him in group chats.
So, here it is: my official apology to Patrick. You came, you acted, you nepo-babied your way into my cynical little heart. Just don’t mess it up next season, okay?
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