Yellowjackets Season 3 delivers chaos, confusion, and despair, with some relatability between them in episode 5.
Yellowjackets has a talent for taking viewers on a wild ride with all thoughts, emotions, and senses at its mercy. In today's age, this is not something many television productions know to handle as they either water down subject matter or dive headfirst into shock value with zero story relevance. Yellowjackets has been consistent thus far in delivering a compelling storyline that does not hold back the nature of its harsh reality. The third season's fifth episode is particularly uncompromising.
Disclaimer: This article contains minor spoilers for Yellowjackets season 3.
Episode 5 jumps into the aftermath of Coach Ben being found guilty in a trial by the Yellowjackets, while Shauna and Walter scramble to uncover the mystery behind Lottie's suspicious death. The contrasting parallel arcs depict mortality, distrust and uncertainty through multiple points of view.
Judge, Jury... Executioner
Since the girls have been lost in the wilderness, they have been forced into doing disturbing acts ranging from cult rituals to cannibalism to ensure their survival and build their civilization under harsh terrain at the mercy of the elements. They are challenged to preserve order amid chaos, enforcing their laws like never before. Yellowjackets built their tribe, appointed their leader, Natalie( the lovely Sophie Thatcher), and established a body of rules to follow. However, they lack experience in convicting on their own for criminal acts.
In last week's episode, we saw the Yellowjackets find coach Ben guilty of arson. Now they have to carry out his sentencing, which proves to be no easy task as they are conflicted and divided. Tai(Jasmine Sevoy Brown) just happens to be both as she is the unlucky one selected to kill coach Ben through a draw.
Tai becomes a vessel for the girls who believe Ben is guilty but are hesitant to take his life, symbiotically carrying their demons through hers.
True Citizen Detective
In the present day the animosity between Shauna(Melanie Lynskey) and Misty(Christina Ricci) is at a boiling point following Lottie's death. Although they were never close friends, there was still amicability between them until this season stared pitting them against each other with Lottie's death further dissolving their relationship into rivalry.
Shauna does not trust Misty and the latter is tired of feeling disrespected by her. Now they are at opposite ends getting to the bottom of Lottie's death. Much to Misty's annoyance Shauna finds herself allied with Walter(Elijah Wood) which ironically annoys Shauna just as much.
Interestlingly, seeing Shauna and Misty face off in a battle of wits feels reminiscent of sisters fighting because they have something to prove not only to one another but themselves. Though it is hilarious seeing them go back and forth, the hurt and a mutual sense of betrayal layered underneath peaks through. Neither of them know what happened to Lottie, they know their potential to have a close friendship was already dying so blaming each other made more sense than coming to terms with their own grief.
The Final Verdict
Yellowjackets season three episode five delivers an impeccable multilayed story complimented by amazing performances from Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Sophie Thatcher and Jasmin Savoy Brown most of all. The way the episode's narrative positions Brown's character Tai to speak for so many of the Yellowjackets through her arc and portrayal reveals her range as an actor.
The present contrasts the past well. As the yellowjackets grapple with internal conflict over punishing Coach Ben for his crimes in the past, they face another conflict over Lottie's murder in the present, going from the Devil they knew to the Devil they do not know.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About Yellowjackets
Season Premiere Date:Â February 15, 2025
Episode Count:Â 10
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Ashley Lyle
Writers: Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Elise Brown, Rich Monahan, Katherine Kearns, Karen Joseph Adcock, Ameni Rosza, Sarah L. Thompson, Liz Phang, Libby Hill, Emily St. James, Jonathan Lisco, Terry Wesley, Julia Bicknell, Chantelle Wells, Cameron Brent Johnson, Alisha Brophy
Directors: Eva Sørhaug, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Ben Semanoff, Bille Woodruff, Karyn Kusama, Anya Adams, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jennifer Morrison, Bart Nickerson, Deepa Mehta, Jamie Travis, Ariel Kleiman, Eduardo Sánchez, Liz Garbus, Scott Winant, Pete Chatmon, Jonathan Lisco
Production:Â Lionsgate Television, Beer Christmas Ltd. Showtime Networks
Distribution:Â Showtime and Paramount Plus
Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Sophie Nélisse, Tawny Cypress, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Christina Ricci
Synopsis: Yellowjackets is a horror story and teen drama about an elite high school girls' soccer team stranded in the remote wilderness after a devastating plane crash, forced to adapt in harrowing ways. The series follows a non-linear narrative to reveal the depths in which their adult lives were molded by their shared loss of innocence.