‘Yellowjackets’: What You Need to Remember Before Watching Season 3

ATTENTION: The following narrative may reveal key plot points from Season 2 of “Yellowjackets,” available to stream on Paramount+ and Showtime.

The time to return to the wilderness is almost upon us.

The TV series “Yellowjackets” has returned after a prolonged absence, primarily caused by the double Hollywood strikes, continuing from its suspenseful and twisted second season where the team faced survival challenges that led them to cannibalism during the harsh winter, consuming Jackie (Ella Purnell). In the present timeline, two additional Yellowjackets who managed to survive the wilderness have been introduced. These include Lottie (Simone Kessell), currently running a wellness sanctuary with a fervent following of devotees dressed in purple attire, and Van (Lauren Ambrose), who operates a video store.

Before diving into the third series of “Yellowjackets,” airing its first two episodes this coming Friday, let’s remind ourselves about some crucial events that took place in Season 2 that you wouldn’t want to miss.

The sacrifice ritual begins

In my review as a movie critic, I must confess that the second season took an unexpected turn when it was unveiled that the group’s act of consuming Jackie wasn’t premeditated or deliberate. A hefty pile of snow that landed on her funeral pyre, strangely enough, extinguished the flames and roasted her remains instead of cremating them. The intense aroma roused the survivors within the cabin, pushing us to the brink of starvation and causing us to discard all inhibitions, leading us to consume Jackie’s charred remains in a desperate bid for survival.

Despite Jackie’s efforts, the group didn’t last for too long in the harsh Canadian wilderness, as conditions only grew more severe. With survival becoming increasingly challenging, the remaining members resorted to a grim choice – they drew cards, and whoever pulled the Queen of Hearts was to be sacrificed to save the rest.

Following a tense game of card roulette, it turned out that Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) had drawn the marked card first. However, as Shauna (Sophie Nelisse) was about to slit Natalie’s throat, Travis (Kevin Alves) intervened by shoving Shauna to the ground, thus allowing Natalie an opportunity to flee.

Javi drowns and is eaten by the group

Meanwhile, while other Yellowjackets were searching the wilderness for Natalie, Javi (Luciano Leroux) located her and revealed a secret sanctuary where she could possibly be secure. However, during their hasty journey across the frozen lake, calamity unfolded: Javi plunged through the ice, succumbing to the frigid water and assuming Natalie’s role as the offering for sacrifice instead.

Young Natalie is crowned the Antler Queen

Following a narrow brush with death at the hands of her companions, 16-year-old Natalie was unmasked as the Antler Queen during the final scenes of Season 2’s conclusion. Throughout their perilous journey in the wilderness, Lottie had been the group’s spiritual advisor; however, overwhelmed by her responsibilities, she admitted, “I never desired to be in command. I believe it [the wilderness] selected me, perhaps because I was the only one who could listen. But I can no longer hear its voice. I think that’s because it no longer needs me,” she explained to her group. “Perhaps what it now seeks from us is a leader capable of helping us endure for the remainder of our time here.” Lottie then bestowed the leadership upon Natalie.

Meanwhile, in the present timeline, Misty accidentally kills Natalie and Lottie is taken to a mental facility

Once more, adult Yellowjackets selected their fate through a deck of cards, an ominous idea proposed by Lottie. When Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) picked the Queen of Hearts, the group started pursuing her. However, at the last moment, Shauna’s daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) intervened and rescued her by wounding Lottie in the arm with a gunshot.

As a movie enthusiast, let me rephrase that scene from my perspective:

Inside Lottie’s wellness compound, I, being one of its residents (Lisa, played by Nicole Maines), found myself facing off against a group with a rifle. In this tense moment, Misty (Christina Ricci) reached for a lethal dose of fentanyl to subdue me. However, my friend and confidant, Natalie (Juliette Lewis), who had formed a strong bond with me during our time there, intervened to shield me. Unfortunately, in the ensuing commotion, Misty accidentally stabbed Natalie with the needle instead.

As Natalie’s body was taken away, Lottie was escorted to a mental facility.

Coach Scott finds the cave

Amongst the group, Coach Ben Scott (portrayed by Steven Krueger) was the sole individual who abstained from participating in cannibalism. This choice, however, began to have a heavy impact on him. As his body and mind weakened at an alarming rate, he was tormented by a succession of distressing hallucinations and found himself teetering on the brink of suicide. In the end, a weakened Ben stumbled upon a secluded cave – possibly the same shelter where Javi sought sanctuary following the harrowing Doomcoming hunt.

Ben came back to the cabin to discover Shauna dissecting Javi’s leftovers, a scene that sent chills down his spine. He begged Natalie to accompany him, stating she was unlike the other women. However, Natalie disclosed that she let Javi perish instead, acting as a sacrificial lamb. She told Ben he didn’t fit in this world. Consequently, Ben departed from the group and ventured into the wilderness.

Young Shauna’s baby dies

Midway through the season, Shauna went through a prolonged and challenging childbirth experience that was filled with peril. She encountered critical health issues, such as the possibility of excessive bleeding. Remarkably, Shauna successfully gave birth to a baby boy despite these daunting odds.

I kept on crying inconsolably since I just wouldn’t take the bottle or breastfeed, as the woman who cared for me, Shauna, was too weak due to hunger, making it difficult for her to supply enough milk to sustain me.

On a chilling evening, Shauna witnessed a troubling scene of her child being devoured by a group. Upon awakening from this harrowing dream, she discovered the tragic reality: Her baby was stillborn, and all the instances she thought were shared with her son had merely been an illusion.

One unsettling night, Shauna observed a gruesome scene of her child being eaten by a group. She later found out that it was just a dreadful dream; her baby was stillborn, and the moments she thought were spent with her son were merely figments of her imagination.

Adult Van has cancer

Currently, Taissa meets up with her old flame and fellow Yellowjackets player, Van, who now manages a video store. As they venture together to Lottie’s retreat along with the other grown survivors, their connection is reignited. In a peaceful, intimate instant, they exchange a kiss; however, it’s swiftly halted as Taissa steps back. With a sorrowful expression, Van discloses that she has terminal cancer and limited time left – just months at most.

Walter covers up Adam Martin’s murder

In Season 2, Elijah Wood first appeared as Walter Tattersall, a quirky and perceptive character within the citizen detective group. He teamed up with Misty to delve into the enigma surrounding Natalie’s vanishing, a young woman who was abducted by the residents of Lottie’s “intentional commune.

Apart from assisting Misty in her investigations, Walter significantly contributed to resolving one of the major issues concerning the grown-up Yellowjackets: the police probe into Adam’s demise. Walter took charge of the situation, manipulating Adam’s death cover-up by falsely accusing Kevyn (Alex Wyndham) of the crime. By administering phenobarbital to Kevyn, he deceitfully informed Kevyn’s partner, Detective Saracusa (John Reynolds), that he had established a trail of evidence (the details of which are unclear) and coerced Saracusa into cooperation through blackmail.

The cabin burns down

In the middle of the night, the teen survivors were suddenly awakened by the thunderous sound of a cabin blaze. With haste, they grabbed whatever essentials and possessions they could manage, narrowly escaping the impending flames mere seconds before it razed everything to the ground. Although suspicion fell heavily on Coach Scott, who had recently departed from the group, there was also a chilling theory that the mysterious entity known as “It” might have been responsible for the fire.

Previously, the young Yellowjackets were left in a tough spot, stuck in the wilderness with no protection from the elements.

2025-02-14 02:18