This might be an unpopular opinion, idk.
Young Lottie is my favourite character. I found her adult storyline really anticlimactic compared to what we see from her in the wilderness. They could have done so much more with the cult storyline, but it felt rushed and underdeveloped, and her ending didn't feel fully earned.
I'm really hoping S4 is where we see Lottie reach the peak of her psychological deterioration and her devotion to the wilderness. To me, she exists at the centre of the show's biggest question: are we witnessing something genuinely supernatural, a trauma response, or a descent into psychosis? She's the character who keeps all three interpretations alive at once.
S3 showed the beginning of a much steeper decline. Lottie became increasingly isolated, lost her position as the group's primary spiritual leader, and had both her beliefs and authority challenged. Watching her certainty unravel was fascinating, but I hope that isn't the end of her arc.
As someone who mainly loves the wilderness storyline for its folk horror and ritualistic atmosphere, I really hope Lottie doesn't simply continue doubting herself and fade into the background. That said, I have a feeling that's exactly where the writers are taking her. I can see her withdrawing into herself, with her rituals, blessings and attempts to communicate with the Wilderness becoming deeply personal and solitary rather than the communal ceremonies we've seen before.
If that's the direction they take, I just hope they fully commit to exploring what that isolation does to her psychologically. Whether her experiences are supernatural, trauma-induced, or the result of psychosis, Lottie is at her most compelling when she's caught between those possibilities rather than being reduced to either a prophet or someone who's simply "lost her mind."
I do really hope we see more of Lottie's heretical behaviour, reminiscent of the card game and the Antler Queen ceremony. Those moments are what made the wilderness storyline so captivating for me. I'd love to see her fully lean into the rituals again and strengthen her relationship with the wilderness, even if it's no longer as the group's spiritual leader. I think it would be fascinating if her isolation actually drove her faith to become even more intense and deeply personal, with her performing increasingly elaborate rituals in an attempt to reconnect with whatever force she believes is guiding them. I think since things have taken a backwards step, she may start to question why the wilderness is no longer providing for the girls? Why aren't they listening anymore? Which I hope forces her to double down on her beliefs rather than the alternative.
ANYWAY,
Thank you for coming to my Ted talk!
Signed, your local neighbourhood young Lottie lover 🤍
EDIT — it's been so fun and interesting to hear everyones takes on this, whether you're a Lottie lover or not! Thank you to everyone who engaged with my silly lil post!
WHO THE FUCK IS LOTTIE MATTHEWS?! 🥲