Get Ready for Yellowjackets Season 3: Key Insights You Can't Afford to Miss!

As Yellowjackets enters its third season, viewers should recall the intricate chain of events that led both storylines to their current points. This gripping series tells the tale of survivors from a 1996 plane crash who were stranded in the Canadian wilderness for 19 months as part of a high school soccer team. We alternate between their harrowing struggle for survival in the past and their troubled lives 25 years later, where memories of the forest ordeal persist as haunting specters. In the past, the series subtly explores cult-like behavior, cannibalism whispers, and enigmatic forces at work, weaving an intricate mythology that leaves viewers pondering what’s true and what’s just a reflection of collective trauma. Meanwhile, the present timeline skillfully combines psychological horror and human drama, delving into how extreme situations can alter ordinary individuals into something unrecognizable.

In the final episode of Season 2, Yellowjackets finds both timelines in perilous situations. The teenagers are left without a shelter as winter approaches, while the grown-ups grapple with the loss of one of their own. As the series continues to dive into themes of grief and supernatural elements, events from this season will significantly influence the narrative that unfolds in the future.

Here are the essential plot points to remember before Season 3 of Yellowjackets begins:

Young Natalie Is the Antler Queen

Following an incident where they were compelled to consume Javi (Luciano Leroux) to stay alive, Lottie (Courtney Eaton) relinquished her role as the spiritual guide among the survivors. In a crucial ritual, she announced that the wilderness had selected Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) as the new Antler Queen. Lottie believed this was because when the group attempted to sacrifice Natalie through their dangerous card game, the spirits intervened by taking Javi instead. This power transfer signifies a major change in the group’s interactions, as Natalie – who had been the most skeptical towards supernatural aspects – now steers the group’s growing cult-like conduct.

The title of Antler Queen holds great importance within their social structure, for it is this figure who decides life and death, and plans the group’s survival. Members such as Shauna (Sophie Nélisse), Van (Liv Hewson), and Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) have sworn loyalty to Natalie by kissing her hand, but Shauna’s hesitation hints at potential future conflicts. This leadership role likely explains many aspects of grown-up Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) later struggles with guilt and addiction, as the choices she made while being Antler Queen may have haunted her until her demise.

The Yellowjackets Have No Shelter in the Woods

Sadly, a tragic occurrence unfolded: The shelter where survivors were taking refuge was engulfed in flames, exposing them to the bitter cold Canadian winter. This unfortunate event transpired shortly after Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) learned about Javi’s demise. Throughout the season, Ben had expressed growing worries about the group’s actions, particularly their consumption of Jackie’s (Ella Purnell) incompletely cooked remains. His discovery of the shelter where Javi had been hiding implies that he may have been plotting an exit strategy. Although Ben is thought to be responsible for setting the fire, as he knew about Javi’s cave hideout and later vanished without a trace, his actual involvement is yet to be proven.

At the absolute worst moment, given the worsening winter conditions and dwindling food resources, the group suffers a tragic loss of their cabin. With no adequate shelter from the elements, rapidly depleting provisions, and Travis (Kevin Alves) struggling with grief over his brother’s demise, they find themselves confronting their toughest survival ordeal yet. This desperate scenario could potentially drive them to resort to the ritualistic cannibalism hinted at in the series premiere, where we witnessed a girl being pursued and eaten by masked individuals donning the team’s jerseys.

Travis’ Death Was an Accident

In Season 2 of Yellowjackets, we discover the truth behind adult Travis’ (Andres Soto) apparent suicide from Season 1. This revelation comes through Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) confession to Natalie at her wellness commune. Travis, believing that Natalie was correct about some supernatural force pursuing them after their time in the wilderness, sought help from Lottie. In his quest for answers, he performed a controlled hanging ritual, with Lottie intended to save him at the crucial moment – a macabre echo of their past ordeals. Unfortunately, something went wrong during the ritual, leading to Travis’ unintentional death.

This new information gives Travis’ tale a sad depth, showing that the grown survivors still feel the impact of their beliefs about the wilderness’ mystical force years after their rescue. Additionally, it provides insight into why his last note to Natalie was “You were right,” as she had been asserting for a long time that they had brought something evil with them upon their rescue.

Adult Natalie Is Dead

In the Season 2 finale, tragedy struck when Natalie, an adult character, met her untimely end. This happened during a confrontation at Camp Green Pine, where Misty (Christina Ricci) inadvertently injected her with a lethal dose of phenobarbital as they tried to halt Lisa (Nicole Maines), a member of Lottie’s cult. The incident occurred during a ritual where the adult survivors had come together to offer a sacrifice to a wilderness entity they believed was following them home. The fatal injection took place after they had drawn cards to decide who would be sacrificed, with Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) drawing the Queen of Hearts.

At the end of her life, Natalie had intense visions featuring her younger self, Javi, and young Lottie. These visions hint that she has come to terms with the supernatural power they encountered in the woods. Moreover, these visions brought closure to the guilt she felt over Javi’s death since young Lottie told her, “It’s not evil; it’s just hungry, like us.” Interpreting Natalie’s death as the wilderness taking its designated offering, Lottie implies that their bond with this enigmatic force persists. With Natalie being one of the main characters who has passed away, the dynamics among the adult survivors are significantly altered, leaving speculation about who else may become the focus of the entity’s hunger.

Taissa Is Still Sleepwalking

Taissa (Tawny Cypress) is still struggling with her sleepwalking disorder, which surfaces as an alternate personality during fugue episodes, causing turmoil in her life. Even after winning her Senate race, she uncovered troubling actions by this other self, including a concealed room with her pet dog’s decapitated head, a collection of unsettling dolls, and what seems to be an altar. These discoveries resulted in the breakdown of her marriage to Simone (Rukiya Bernard), who took their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx) and departed.

In Season 2 of Yellowjackets, Taissa’s sleepwalking incidents have increased in frequency and intensity. Frequently, she wakes up in awkward situations with no recollection of how she ended up there. Her unconscious mind frequently engages in ritualistic behaviors that resemble their forest experiences, such as constructing altars and offering sacrifices. The presence of “The Lady in the Tree,” Taissa’s sleepwalking alter ego, has grown more prominent, suggesting that the wilderness still holds a powerful sway over her, despite her efforts to manage her public life.

Walter Is Team Yellowjackets Now

Walter, portrayed by Elijah Wood, initially appeared as a true-crime aficionado and collaborator with Misty in their “Citizen Detective” role. However, he has evolved into an unforeseen yet vital ally to the survivors. Upon discovering the truth behind Adam Martin’s (Peter Gadiot) murder, Walter took an unexpected turn and aided in concealing the crime. This included orchestrating Detective Kevyn’s (Alex Wyndham) death and falsely accusing him of both Adam’s demise and Jessica Roberts’ (Rekha Sharma) murder. His involvement also encompassed tampering with evidence and coercing Detective Saracusa (John Reynolds) to back the cover-up.

Walter’s strategic way of safeguarding the survivors, combined with an unnerving joviality similar to Misty’s cold-hearted traits, shows he could be beneficial to the group in Season 3. His readiness to kill to hide their secrets hints that he might get entangled in the group’s dark past. The growing bond between Walter and Misty introduces an extra level of complexity to his role, as their shared aggression and cunningness make them a dangerous duo.

Shauna’s Family Is in Shambles

As a die-hard fan of “Yellowjackets,” I can’t help but feel the weight of Shauna’s family turmoil after the shocking events of Season 2. Her daughter Callie, played by Sarah Desjardins, now has a chilling insight into her mother’s violent nature, following Adam’s murder and the grim gathering that claimed Natalie’s life. Despite standing by Shauna by shooting Lottie in self-defense, this revelation has left an indelible mark on their bond.

As Jeff (Warren Kole) delves deeper into the sinister world of the survivors, he helps conceal Adam’s murder and aids Walter in diverting the police probe. His steadfast loyalty toward Shauna, despite her affair with Adam, demonstrates his profound devotion yet hints at a questionable moral compass. The family’s involvement in these criminal activities signifies an irreversible moment – they can no longer maintain the facade of an ordinary suburban family, as both Callie and Jeff are now key figures in shielding the Yellowjackets survivors’ hidden truths. This shared burden of knowledge and guilt may put a strain on their familial ties as they face the repercussions of their choices in Season 3.

Yellowjackets Season 3 will air on Showtime and stream on Paramount+.

2025-02-11 21:41

Get Ready for Yellowjackets Season 3: Key Insights You Can’t Afford to Miss!