Jenna Burgess Reveals Shocking Twist in 'Yellowjackets' Episode 2: A Dark Attraction Unveiled!

Warning: Contains Spoilers! This narrative reveals key plot points from the second episode of Season 3 of “Yellowjackets,” currently streaming on Paramount+.

In the final scenes of the first two episodes that kick off the new season of “Yellowjackets”, Melissa (Jenna Burgess) decides to take action for the first time after observing for two consecutive seasons.

With Mari (Alexa Barajas) gone missing and Coach Scott (Steven Krueger) now seen as public enemy number one, the delicate social structure of the “Yellowjackets” colony is once more on edge. As the newly appointed antler queen, Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) finds herself tasked with maintaining harmony amidst Shauna’s (Sophie Nélisse) growing dissatisfaction and Van’s (Liv Hewson) escalating devotion to their decisions.

However, amidst the ongoing power struggles at the top, one Yellowjacket, known as Melissa, takes a significant step to alter her standing within the hierarchy: Melissa, who was colloquially referred to as “Yellowjacket No. 1” in Season 1 and officially named in Season 2, has primarily been observed whispering in the background alongside another character, Gen (played by Vanessa Prasad) – but this is about to change dramatically.

Following her secret surveillance of Shauna near the campsite and placing blossoms on Shauna’s child’s grave, Melissa is discovered spying from a distance, leading to an intense argument. The situation escalates, with Shauna pushing Melissa against a tree, brandishing a knife at her neck – before they share a passionate kiss.

As I stepped into the shoes of Melissa for Season 3 of this captivating series in 2022, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my character would take center stage more often than before, as I delved deeper into the intricate scripts that unfolded the story.

During a recent conversation with EbMaster, Burgess mentioned, “We’ve obtained the initial item. When I read the first scene about me creating berry wine, I was contemplating, ‘I sense something here, but it might just be my imagination.’

After getting the second installment, she finally understood that Melissa would be getting more focus in this season’s storyline – an interesting twist provided by “Yellowjackets,” given its diverse cast. As Burgess put it while discussing her script, she had been flipping through the pages thinking “I’m here, I’m part of group one, that’s fine.” But when she reached the third-to-last page, she saw the name ‘Melissa’ repeatedly written in bold and underlined with multiple exclamation marks and question marks. At that moment, she exclaimed, “Oh my God!”

Or, more concisely:

After receiving the second episode, Burgess realized Melissa would be a key character this season due to the unique way “Yellowjackets” uses its large cast. Reading the script, she first thought “I’m here, part of group one, that’s okay,” but upon reaching the end, she saw her name repeated in bold and underlined with lots of exclamation marks and question marks. Her reaction? “Oh my God!

In the present, fully-grown Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) unearths a mysterious phone with a chilling “Two of Hearts” ringtone. Meanwhile, teenage Shauna becomes suspicious that she’s being watched in a narrative set in the 1990s. Confronting Melissa with a knife, she pushes her forcefully against a tree.

“I read it,” Burgess continued, “And was like: ‘Kiss! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.’”

Her fellow actors were just as joyful for her too, Burgess mentioned. “I picked up the script, put it down, hopped in my car, and then all of a sudden, my phone began buzzing,” she remembers a barrage of emojis from Hewson and encouraging messages from Samantha Hanratty, who portrays young Misty. “I really shouldn’t have driven. I was stunned, I was scared, I was thrilled. I didn’t know what to do.

Below, Burgess explores Melissa’s emotions towards Shauna, playing a crucial role in “Yellowjackets” during its third installment and her thoughts on the spiritual beliefs related to the wilderness.

In the show “Yellowjackets,” Melissa’s feelings for Shauna take center stage in season 3, and Burgess delves into Melissa’s perspective about the religious aspects of life in the wilderness.

At the top of Episode 2, Melissa and Gen seem to agree with Shauna that Mari isn’t worth searching for. Does their shared disdain for Mari have anything to do with why Melissa approached Shauna?

Shauna openly expresses many views within the group, and she’s quite influential in shaping the dynamic. However, some members often challenge her ideas strongly. Melissa might not fully agree with all those perspectives, but there are moments when she seems to be considering that they may have a valid point.

In Episodes 1 and 2, Mari and Shauna engage in quite a heated exchange. I believe Shauna’s aggressive side stirs something within Melissa, sparking her thoughts.

In the first two episodes, there’s a lot of tension between Mari and Shauna. It seems like Melissa is drawn to this rough aspect of Shauna, which ignites something in her and stimulates her thinking process.

Shauna first discovers Melissa leaving flowers at the baby’s grave. Was that a genuine show of compassion, or an angle to get into Shauna’s good graces?

As a movie reviewer, I found myself captivated by the character of Melissa in this series. Her intentions at first were genuinely heartfelt and compassionate. Yet, there was a persistent sense that she was an outsider, constantly striving to fit in with the group. In Season 2, this became particularly evident when she was the last to be included in the prayer circle. It seemed her faith in this practice was more about conformity than personal conviction, as it appeared she followed suit because everyone else believed it.

From an emotional standpoint, I can understand why she chose to leave the flowers, but it’s also a subtle assertion of control. It’s somewhat self-centered. The genuinely compassionate act would have been to let the flowers speak for themselves and depart, signaling that someone was around. But we’re in the wilderness with the Yellowjackets, so everyone’s a bit unconventional. Instead, she opts to remain and observe Shauna’s response, which takes a fair amount of nerve on her part.

How much of Melissa kissing Shauna was her acting on a crush, and how much of it was self-preservation?

In summary, it’s a blend of all the points discussed earlier that makes Melissa intriguing. Her motivations can change unexpectedly, which adds an element of excitement to her character. The climax of Episode 2 is particularly captivating because both self-preservation and acting on a crush are at their peak in this episode.

Can you talk about working with Sophie Nélisse and how you two approached that scene?

In essence, we didn’t delve deeply into discussing our feelings towards each other while filming those scenes for Season 3 because they were shot quite hastily. Instead, we maintained a shared sense of curiosity and surprise, preferring to let the characters uncover their emotions themselves. I believe this approach served the character dynamics better, as it allowed us to excel in portraying such revelations.

Sophie is exceptionally smooth and competent in her roles as Shauna and an actor; she’s a joy to collaborate with. I was keenly exploring Melissa’s character, given the additional dialogue we had to work with. I didn’t shy away from the novelty or discomfort of it, since I believe that’s precisely where Melissa’s character is at the start of the season.

Melissa tells Shauna she’s not afraid of her. Is that true?

Indeed, and yet not entirely. Regarding that pivotal instant preceding the kiss, it seems to be an instinctive response. Her affection for him is unmistakable, a sentiment that’s been simmering for quite some time but has intensified significantly towards the end of Season 2, as we witness a transformed Shauna.

Melissa finds herself in a dangerous situation, with a knife pressed against her neck, and her connection with Shauna is stronger than ever. A whirlwind of intense feelings surrounds them. I get the sense that Melissa no longer has anything to lose. Right now, she’s terrified yet curiously drawn in. The risks they face are immense.

How much insight do you think Melissa had into the nature of the relationship between Shauna and Jackie (Ella Purnell), Shauna’s best friend who froze to death after they fought at the end of Season 1?

In Season 2 as well, I found her to be quite perceptive. There wasn’t a lot for me to work with textually, except that when we first encounter her, she shows curiosity towards the other Yellowjackets. Throughout my vision of the story, I wished for her to maintain a keen eye on the group.

She certainly knows about Shauna’s trek through the wilderness, and initially, Jackie plays a significant role while Melissa is mostly absent due to being represented by a secondary actor with dirty blonde hair. This is her first opportunity to rely on her keen observation skills.

You mentioned that Melissa kissing Shauna is intercut with present-day Shauna finding that mysterious phone in the bathroom. Could the owner of the phone be older Melissa?

Perhaps. The construction of these scripts seems challenging, as they often revolve around psychological thrillers or mysteries. They intentionally create numerous loose ends to keep viewers hooked. It’s an intriguing concept; we shall observe its development in due time.

Have you thought about who might play the present-day version of Melissa?

I didn’t focus on her situation specifically. Instead, I was determined to fully grasp my role, regardless of her destiny or lifespan. My character is Melissa, a teenager, and that will always remain the case. Contemplating the future, what might transpire, doesn’t benefit the character, as none of those girls are concerned with their lives in 25 years.

Back in the 90’s, many of us made a conscious effort to focus on what we were doing at any given instant. For instance, consider Melissa, who wasn’t well-known, suddenly making a daring move toward Shauna. It was more about living in the present. To be honest, I personally strive to live in the now.

“Yellowjackets” fans heavily debate whether or not there’s something supernatural going on in the wilderness — something that might have followed them into adulthood. Thinking back about the ideas you had for Melissa as a smaller character during Season 2, did you imagine she was a true believer in the mysticism of the wilderness?

In Season 2, I made an effort to utilize every bit of information regarding Melissa from the script to back up my actions. Since there wasn’t much to work with, I had to make my own decisions, but I kept things relatively low-impact so I could remain flexible for the plot. This way, if any unexpected situations arose, it would be simple for me to adjust accordingly.

However, I did bring up this topic at the start of the season itself, and it seems that the wilderness holds significance for all the girls, as well as Travis. For Melissa, a character who is perceptive and spends a lot of time reflecting, the wilderness provides a sense of comfort. It’s somewhat an act driven by conformity, as everyone else appears to be doing it. I find it intriguing to portray Melissa as an outsider because she lacks a strong connection with the main characters on-screen, and also with the audience.

The importance of her story’s theme this season should not be underestimated, as it’s deeply rooted within her narrative. Regarding the wilderness theology, their survival strategies are crucial. While personal doubts may linger, witnessing Javi’s drowning on the ice and seeing the wilderness favor someone else has a profound impact on her.

The significance of this season’s theme in her story is undeniable. When it comes to surviving in the wilderness, what the group does matters a lot. Although she might have doubts, experiencing Javi drowning and seeing that the wilderness chose someone else has made a big impact on her.

The authenticity of the wilderness remains uncertain in the series, yet it served as a change for characters who could have been replaced more easily. Melissa, being fully conscious of her status within this social setting, understands her position well. She is indeed an intelligent individual.

The show presents a question about whether the wilderness is genuine or not, but it brought about a change for characters who might have been less significant. Melissa, aware of her role in the group dynamic, knows exactly where she stands. She’s a smart and perceptive person.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-02-15 21:20

Jenna Burgess Reveals Shocking Twist in ‘Yellowjackets’ Episode 2: A Dark Attraction Unveiled!