Yellowjackets Recap: Girls’ Trip

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You can now stream “Them’s the Breaks” on Paramount+. It will also air on the Showtime network this coming Sunday.

Great news, diligent sleuths! It seems we may have found a significant development in the case of “It” versus “Group Psychosis“. There appears to be an accumulation of toxic gas beneath the wilderness region where the Yellowjackets are camping, and this could potentially explain many of the bizarre occurrences the group has faced since their arrival. As the season unfolds, the visions experienced by Van, Shauna, and Akilah during their exposure to the gas will likely become crucial pieces of evidence. Unfortunately, it appears that this turn of events may not bode well for poor Ben.

Before diving into the grand wilderness mystery, let’s catch up with the contemporary Yellowjackets, where it turns out that Tai and Van are enjoying Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Callie and Lottie are engaging in some high-stakes shoplifting, and Shauna and Misty are grabbing scones. Honestly, these events are happening right now in the show’s timeline, and I can’t help but wish for something more substantial. I adore these actresses, and I’m excited about the impending Melissa revelation (likely Hilary Swank), but the purpose of this timeline has become rather murky. Interestingly, I share a strong interest in the Walter storyline (a nod to my lingering childhood crush on Elijah Wood), and I’d appreciate some resolution in the Callie and Shauna narrative. However, overall, I’m unsure about the direction of this timeline.

In simpler terms, the plot point that seems unnecessary or overdone at this point of the story is attributed to Tai and Van. While it’s good news that Van’s cancer is in remission, it leads to Tai delving into her wilderness beliefs. She suggests that the waiter was the sacrifice that led to this, but one might recall that Natalie was supposed to be the sacrifice in the previous season. This leaves the waiter feeling like an extra topping on a “It” dessert. Tai starts lighting candles and chanting about the wilderness, which Van observes with a mix of horror and perhaps understanding since she has stage-four cancer, making her desperate for any potential solutions.

Afterward, they spend time viewing some vintage VHS tapes, which were originally broadcast on television, complete with advertisements. Oh, the ’80s! On one occasion, I stumbled upon an old potato chip commercial starring Brad Pitt hidden within a miscellaneous tape of Cheers episodes that my parents had recorded. The era before streaming was quite adventurous, folks. Similarly, Tai and Van come across a similar situation when Tai catches a glimpse of the Man With No Eyes in an advertisement for Ozzie’s Ice Cream Shop on these tapes.

Apologies for my confusion, but it’s hard to fathom why someone would insert such disturbing content in a commercial broadcast during a children’s program. It’s no surprise the establishment has shut down long ago. Upon arrival, Tai urged them to break in, and they discovered a fox with a deceased rabbit dangling from its mouth. In a tense moment, Tai asked, “What do you want?” To which Van responded, “We understand what it wants. It craves more.” Although this detour in the storyline seems unimportant, Van’s statement about the wilderness does hold some truth. The world that the Yellowjackets inhabit is harsh and merciless, and naturally, their feelings of survivor’s guilt would lead them to believe in something insatiable.

In this episode, Shauna’s intense response when Lottie gives Jackie’s heart necklace to Callie can be attributed to her deep love for her daughter, despite her flaws. You see, Shauna hasn’t coped well with the tragic loss of her son, an event that resurfaces in her hallucination later on. This unresolved grief has, to some extent, affected her parenting of Callie, as she fears losing her at any moment. That’s why she made the unusual choice to leave Callie and Lottie with Misty the night before, and it explains why she seeks information from Misty personally in this instance.

As a fan, I found myself eagerly agreeing to meet Misty for a scrumptious Vermont blueberry scone, hoping to deepen our bond. She clung to me all day long, insisting she’d assist with finding gift baskets for the Joels or accompany me to the podiatrist – whatever my plans were, it seemed – under the guise of strengthening our friendship. Despite my reservations, I couldn’t refuse her, partly because Misty truly knew the finest spots for soft cheeses around here, and also because I couldn’t say no.

We piled into my van for our adventure, only to discover that the brakes had failed us. With blood-curdling shrieks, we navigated the vehicle as Misty skillfully maneuvered it into a children’s park. She expertly steered up a towering hill, allowing the car to lose speed until we came to a safe stop. In an instant, she accused me of sabotaging her brakes. I vehemently denied the accusation and stormed off, leaving me behind in a fury. Remarkably, not one park-goer seemed to notice our dramatic episode.

Upon arriving home, Shauna appears stressed. Following their successful dress theft as a designer, Lottie and Callie are preparing a nutritious meal to thank Shauna. As Shauna tastes a sauce, she notices Callie wearing the necklace. A sense of alarm spreads across her face, her eyes widening like the No-Eyed Man in that strange ice cream advertisement, and she forcefully removes the necklace from Callie’s neck and orders Lottie out of the Sadecki residence. Lottie, for her part, whispers softly, “It didn’t hold the meaning you thought it did,” before exiting the house.

In essence, I lean towards Shauna’s perspective, yet Lottie may be correct about the symbolic significance of Jackie’s heart necklace. However, we are aware that Pit Girl was wearing it before she fell into the pit, which undeniably gives off a negative aura. Many people would rather discard wedding rings from failed marriages, let alone a token that once belonged to a girl who perished from cold and another who was brutally killed and consumed by others. I’d avoid this one like the plague. It’s worth mentioning that Natalie currently possesses the necklace in the wilderness timeline, but I suspect it will be passed on before the end of the season.

In the wilderness, the situation has become quite intense. Fearing for his life, Ben finds himself holding Mari against her will, unsure of what to do next. At first, Mari attempts to charm Ben in an attempt to gain her release (which is rather distasteful), but Ben, who is gay and tired of Mari’s antics, is not swayed. He recalls how she spread a malicious rumor about him having a severe case of gonorrhea and was generally unpleasant, but Mari continues to push her luck. When she realizes that her seductive tactics won’t work, she seizes Ben’s bear spray and accidentally discharges it in the confined space of the cave, rendering both of them unconscious. It seems that Mari is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

In the short span of my imprisonment, Mari and I found ourselves sympathizing over our dismal circumstances. Ben, in an unusual move, delivered a heartfelt monologue, divulging personal details such as his affection for 7-Eleven frozen burritos and his somewhat forced attendance at Dave Matthews Band concerts. (I can relate, Ben, I can relate. Were you truly part of the ’90s if you hadn’t endured a reluctant Dave Matthews experience?) His speech seemed ominous, as if we were preparing for an emotional sacrifice, and it left me uneasy. Mari too shared a poignant story about witnessing her 4-year-old cousin’s death while watching Eureeka’s Castle, and her belief that there’s always a darker reality lurking beneath our everyday experiences, yet it remains genuine. With no option to harm Mari, Ben chose to release her. And she promptly dashed back to camp and shared the whole ordeal with her friend Shauna.

It’s quite surprising how Ben has emerged as the most compassionate figure on this series. I stand by my suspicion about Bad Tai from last week, given her repeated play with fire and the evidence we saw, but I still think Ben is innocent regarding the fire incident. Furthermore, when he let Mari go even though she would likely betray him, and risked his own life to save three other girls from the poison gas in the cave, it’s clear that he’s a good man at heart.

Beyond simply informing on Ben, Mari even suggests guiding the entire group into the forest under cover of night for a Coach hunt, which I sincerely hope they regret later. When they arrive at the cave, strangely enough, Akilah persuades them to venture inside, although she’s far from thrilled about it. A solitary tear trickles down her face as she makes this choice. The paths in the cave branch off, and Akilah, Van, and Shauna stick together, venturing further into the void. At one point, Shauna’s candle flickers out, but fortunately for them, Van’s starts malfunctioning. The three women become separated, each experiencing hallucinations as if they were in different places. Shauna believes she’s swimming towards her son at a lake, but no matter how much she strains, she can’t get any closer to the shore. Van finds herself back in the cabin and sits beside the comforting fire. In an incredibly bizarre hallucination, Akilah envisions herself wandering through the forest, picking blackberries and conversing with a colossal talking llama. (This surreal, psychedelic vision seems rather out of place with the show’s tone up until now, but I suppose it works.) The llama advises Akilah that the path can be easy or difficult, but “It” will obtain what it desires regardless.

In this reimagined passage:

The hallucinations merge, with each girl experiencing the same scene – they’re in a high school classroom alongside Lottie at the blackboard. A pleasant surprise awaits as Jackie (Ella Purnell) is present too, fiddling with a slap bracelet. Akilah handles it without harm, but Van gets injured when Jackie fastens it on her wrist. Jackie casually explains, “It happens sometimes.” (Indeed, it has happened before.) Then, Jackie snaps the bracelet onto Shauna’s neck, causing it to slice into her skin and choke her. Upon Lottie’s request, Akilah and Van try to rescue Shauna, but their efforts are futile. The symbolism and message in this dream is as blatant as the loud noise echoing through the forest: They’re playing with danger. No matter what actions they take, it won’t mend their emotional scars from the traumatic events they’ve endured. The vision dissipates when the girls find themselves a secure distance away from the toxic substance, their clueless selves being rescued by a courageous, one-legged Ben. “It’s poison. It’s some sort of gas,” he struggles to say as he tries to regain his breath.

Due to his actions, Ben finds himself taken prisoner by the vindictive Yellowjackets. Despite my fears, I’ll keep hoping for a favorable outcome for Ben till the very last moment. I know it’s going to be painful, but I can’t help but hold on to hope.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

The concept of symbols representing a network of mines has been discussed frequently on Reddit since the beginning of the series. Now, it appears this theory might be true within the show’s lore. However, I wonder what type of gas is being used here, as it seems unlikely that such an intricate plot would revolve around something as common as methane gas. Does anyone with a chemistry background have any thoughts on this?

Discussing Van, I found a strong resemblance to the Labyrinth scenario in her hallucination experience. Just like her, she enters an inconspicuous passageway leading to a welcoming environment that eventually crumbles magnificently. Moreover, she is overpowered by numerous unpredictable arms.

Initially, the storyline about shoplifting didn’t particularly appeal to me. However, it resonated with me when I remembered Lottie’s admission in season one that she used to shoplift from TJ Maxx and had amassed a large number of Maxx Bucks. I find myself pondering if she ever cashed them in.

When Tai ignites the candle and begins to invoke the wilderness with chants, there’s a large bowl of oranges positioned behind her. In the realm of popular TV series, oranges are often associated with impending doom. Thus, Tai and Van ought to remain vigilant or perhaps dispose of those oranges as a precaution.

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2025-02-21 19:00