Yellowjackets Recap: Where the Wild Things Are

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You can now stream the movie “Croak” on Paramount+, with its television premiere set for Sunday on Showtime.

In the opening scene of “Yellowjackets,” the new season offers a fresh beginning, depicting a solitary frog hopping about. It eventually settles, inflating its moist sac and emitting an eerie cry that echoes across the landscape. As the camera pulls back, we see numerous similar frogs in a pond, engaged in mating calls, creating a cacophony of noises. This unsettling sound, it’s suggested, is the same one the Yellowjackets have been encountering in the forest. Sometimes, what seems terrifying or ominous is merely wildlife doing their part to survive and reproduce according to their natural instincts.

In the wild, appearances can often be deceiving, and the show “Yellowjackets” appears to emphasize that the enigmas of the forest might not be as elusive as they seem at first glance. With each introduction of a possible supernatural aspect, it’s subsequently debunked. Although there are occasional gusts of unexplained wind that flutter around the characters, it seems more plausible to attribute these eerie events to a combination of collective past trauma and underlying mental health issues rather than anything paranormal, both in the woods and in the present day.

For instance, the frogs’ presence in the woods suggests that the area isn’t too challenging to traverse. These girls have had plenty of time during spring and summer to find a way out, but they seem unwilling or unable. It appears to be their own lethargy, rather than the wilderness, keeping them there. As for Lottie, their self-proclaimed spiritual guide, she’s the first Yellowjacket to commit a cold-blooded murder. When we resume from the last episode, Lottie swiftly takes an axe and brutally strikes one of the hikers’ heads without hesitation. Is it the wilderness or is it mental instability? (It’s definitely mental instability.)

Let’s rewind to the start of this adventure. We come across our unfortunate hikers, tracking the unusual mating ritual of the Arctic Banshee Frog. It seems these tiny critters hibernate for years and then indulge in a “froggy love fest” that lasts all summer to reproduce their species. Researchers Edwin (Nelson Franklin) and Hannah (Ashley Sutton), smitten with each other, accompany Hannah as she records the haunting mating calls. Alongside them is a guide called Kodi, brilliantly portrayed by Joel McHale. Although McHale seems out of place in a military-like role, he recently demonstrated his versatility playing a heartless restaurant owner in The Bear, so he’s clearly showing off his acting chops.

On one particular day, the group found themselves in a sudden downpour, so they chose to pass the time by lighting up a joint and grooving to Sugar Ray’s “Fly.” It was quite enjoyable, but an overly high Hannah suddenly had the idea to call Miss Cleo using the satellite phone. The situation escalated into a series of humorous events, resulting in the antenna being damaged. Meanwhile, Edwin began to distrust Kodi even more as they carried on with their journey. Subsequently, when they detected and smelled something unusual the following night, Edwin was prompted to investigate further.

It appears that Ben served as a vital link between the girls and the outside world, acting as a bridge of sorts. If Edwin hadn’t detected the Ben-B-Q or heard the shouts of the wild Yellowjackets, it’s likely that the two groups would have gone unnoticed, like ships passing in the night. It remains uncertain whether the encounter with the frog people will result in an active rescue mission, but given that we only have a few months left in the wilderness timeline, it seems as though these newcomers might spark some kind of rescue effort.

Introducing this group into the Yellowjackets timeline disrupts a scenario I had envisioned for the series. The resemblance between Lost and Yellowjackets has always been striking, leading me to believe they would eventually encounter “Others” in the woods. Yet, when Edwin, Hannah, and Kodi discover the encampment, it becomes apparent that the Yellowjackets themselves are the “Others,” and anyone who crosses their path should be extremely cautious. After Lottie brutally kills Edwin, Hannah and Kodi escape, triggering a hunt reminiscent of The Most Dangerous Game. The girls have now adapted to the wilderness, utilizing all their senses to track their quarry, even without torches. They’ve evolved into stealthy creatures, and observing them work together instinctively to locate and capture two innocent individuals is exhilarating.

Since the arrival of Pit Girl, this is the sort of confrontation we’ve been eagerly anticipating. We’ve had hints of it in their chase for Travis during season one and their attempt to capture Natalie in season two. However, this time around, the girls are united, targeting strangers who endanger their way of life. Hannah conceals herself within an ancient tree trunk and records a message for her daughter on her DAT recorder while Kodi makes a desperate bid for safety. Unfortunately, he stumbles upon Akilah, Travis, and surprisingly, Misty in the process.

As Hannah swiftly escapes, her long, dark tresses flow gracefully behind her, exuding an air reminiscent of a fugitive named Pit Girl. It’s possible that she is not Mari, and it seems there may be further instances where this unfortunate woman will find herself pursued.

Currently, no hiker from the group has been located. Upon listening to an audio file, Callie conducts a search online and discovers the missing hiking team. She discusses this with Jeff, but he remains in disbelief. However, Callie is convinced that her mother and their friends had the capacity for murder.

The group appears ready to commit another murder as Shauna, Van, Tai, and Misty embark on a road trip in Shauna’s unreliable van bound for Virginia. It’s delightful having all survivors reunited, and watching these four talented actresses interact is always a joy. They often revert to their old high school dynamics, with Tai and Van discussing Misty’s relationship woes with Walter, and bickering over who should pay for gas. At the gas station stop, Van inquires whether Tai killed Lottie, but instead of answering directly, Tai hints that she will follow the guidance of the universe to keep her love alive.

After resuming their journey, Walter provides intriguing details: The DNA from the hair found under Lottie’s nails matches Shauna’s. Misty shares this news with Tai and Van, attempting to devise a plan to make Shauna stop her van without raising suspicion. Despite being terrified of Shauna, these women find it amusing. However, a new horror surfaces when Van starts bleeding profusely from the mouth. With no other option, Shauna is compelled to take Van to a hospital.

At their destination, Tai follows Van to her room, pretending to be her spouse. Since they were “wilderness wives,” it’s understandable. Van connects to some equipment and starts experiencing a vision where her younger self advises her that death was a fair exchange and then sets fire to the bedsheets. As she burns, she notices “Other” Tai reassuring her that everything will be alright and that she will rescue her. It seems increasingly likely that Tai is not acting like herself and may have been possessed by her dark side, but for what purpose?

In the hospital waiting room, Misty questions Shauna regarding the DNA findings. Shauna responds by acting annoyed, saying she needs a Coke, and then abruptly leaves her group without a word. Shauna continues to be enigmatic and unreadable. However, I’m not convinced that Shauna is responsible for Lottie’s death. It’s possible that Walter’s DNA test results are inaccurate, and Callie could be the culprit instead. Although there seems to be no apparent motive for Callie, her actions align with the DNA evidence. Perhaps a twist is coming up that will shed light on this mystery? So far, Callie has only complained about her suspension and longed for a deeper bond with her mother this season. A sudden role as the killer could add an unexpected turn to her storyline.

Shauna navigates towards her ending point, a well-maintained, white house with a picket fence – presumably the residence of Hannah’s daughter. With a large knife tucked near her, she observes as figures move within the windows. This woman has previously taken lives, and there’s no doubt in her mind that she won’t think twice about taking more.

It’s worth mentioning that Shauna hasn’t been observed killing anyone in the wilderness timeline so far. Lottie, on the other hand, is the one who has committed murder. In a chilling scene, she talks to Edwin’s crushed skull, marking herself with his blood as she murmurs to the wilderness. The rest of the Yellowjackets seem to take her actions in stride, almost dismissively thinking, “Well, that’s just our eccentric seer acting strangely; what can you do?” They may find her behavior frustrating, but they don’t condemn her. Mari and Gen try to remove an arrow from Melissa’s shoulder, deciding it’s safer to push it completely through rather than pulling it out. The improvised medical decisions these girls make in such critical situations are truly fascinating.

Simultaneously, Shauna and Van arrive back at camp accompanied by Hannah. With a timid wave, she greets the other girls, introducing herself as Hannah. Oh dear, it seems her fate isn’t looking too bright.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

Love the way Misty subtly criticizes Shauna for her concern over cleaning up after Adam’s murder. She suggests that Shauna might require help with whatever scheme she has in mind regarding Hannah’s daughter, remarking, “If history repeats itself, you will.” However, it’s worth mentioning that Misty wasn’t particularly effective in tidying up the mess from Adam’s murder herself.

In the season three premiere, Shauna expresses that she doesn’t deserve Jeff, which almost made me shout at the TV in agreement. I share her belief that Jeff could thrive as a widower.

• Big Lord of the Flies vibes with Misty breaking her glasses during the hunt for Kodi.

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2025-03-21 18:55