For two long years, fans of “YellowJackets” have waited for season three and speculated over a supposed bonus episode. Season three was finally released on Valentine’s Day and the fans have been fed.
“Yellowjackets” is a psychological horror, thriller and drama series streaming on Netflix and Paramount+. A high school girl’s soccer team is on its way to the national championships before the plane crashes, leaving them stranded in the wilderness.
The series follows the lives of the survivors of the crash, Shauna Shipman (Melanie Lynskey,) Taissa Turner (Tawny Cypress,) Natalie Scatorccio (Juliette Lewis,) Lottie Matthews (Courtney Eaton) and Misty Quigley (Samantha Hanratty.) “YellowJackets” often cycles between time and place, going from 1996 in the Canadian wilderness to the girl’s unfulfilling or broken lives in modern New Jersey. The series was created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, who previously worked on “Narcos” together.
In the girls’ time in the wilderness, they cannibalized the dead and murdered the living to survive. Additionally, they formed a cult to justify their crimes by linking it to a wilderness entity. The series often tightrope walks between confirming whether the wilderness is a supernatural entity or a figment of the girl’s traumatized psyche. In the present, although the girls have left the wilderness, the wilderness has not left them as they are continuously reminded of their trauma.
Season three takes place in the spring after the girls faced months of a barren winter that induced starvation and madness. They’ve lost their cabin after it was mysteriously burnt down in the previous season finale. At first, one would expect that would spell certain doom for the girls, but instead, they make do in the forest. Meanwhile, in the adult timeline, they all quietly grapple internally over all that they experienced after a chaotic finale.
If there was anything that this season lives up to on what “YellowJackets” is notorious for, it is its insanity. Living in the wilderness brings the girls closer to the deity of nature they so solemnly worship, which ramps up the cultish rituals they often engage in. Additionally, they’ve begun taking random herbs they’ve found in the forest, partially for religious ceremonies and also to grieve. In the wilderness, it is hard to tell whether or not some paranormal encounters are drug-induced hallucinations or signs of the supernatural. This season’s premier really reveled in how wild the show can get.
The dynamics between the characters in the wilderness timeline this season are fairly entertaining. It seems they’re all starting to get under each other’s skin, especially after spending what is essentially a never-ending sleepover. It is akin to the reality TV show “Survivor,” where the contestants clandestinely choose who they want out. However, instead of the losers being booted off the island, they’re instead the next emergency meal.
The writers played with the fans this season, teasing the confirmation of possible fan theories but never fully proving them. However, there was one scene where I screamed, knowing that the theories were true once and for all. The show’s often cryptic dialogue can make it hard to discern whether it is tongue-in-cheek writing or foreshadowing at the girl’s next meal. During one scene, I was wondering if a girl was going to die simply because she was drinking hot chocolate.
“YellowJackets” season three premiere excelled in what its strong suits are. This season’s premiere introduced a lot of new interesting dynamics and scenarios, which I am excited to see play out. My only worry is if there is enough substance for the rest of the season. “YellowJackets” is a show that may not be appetizing to all, but with eight episodes left in the season, I recommend you check it out since things are just getting started.
