Yellowjackets Episode 7 opens with the introduction of Kodi, a mysterious-macho forest guide played by Joel Mchale, along with Hannah and Edwin, two frog scientists played by Ashley Sutton and Nicholas Franklin. We previously met Hannah and Edwin towards the end of Episode 6, when they stumbled upon the Yellowjackets in the woods, following the death and ritual for Coach Ben.
This foundation of introducing new characters and having them stumble upon the girls lays the groundwork for many questions that Yellowjackets fans have had since the inception of this show while setting up another compelling narrative for the past timeline. I discussed this briefly before in my initial review for Yellowjackets Season 3, but I have enjoyed how the writers are deciding to showcase new faces to further drive the plot of the main girls we have known from the beginning. Whether this is in the present or past timeline, it opens up new sides to these individuals and helps viewers, like myself, dive into the psyche of these characters in a new way: it highlights the explored and unexplored the trauma from the wilderness within these women.
As mentioned before, one of my favorite parts of this episode is that it poses a question many long-time viewers, myself included, have had about the past timeline: How would the girls react to the potential of being rescued? Will they accept this possibility, or have they descended so far into madness that they have accepted the wilderness as their home? This is very quickly answered by Lottie when she swiftly takes an axe to Edwin’s skull.
We get to see a crack in the girls’ descent into madness when Tai and Van discover the camping equipment that belongs to the scientists and their guide in a stand-out scene to me. The hope that comes with the prospect of being rescued along with Van’s first instinct being to call her mom reminds viewers, at such a horrific time like this, that they truly are just kids. While we have seen them do truly terrible things throughout the duration of this show, these small, emotional details highlight how the Yellowjackets were just trying to survive by whatever means necessary and make it back home.
As the past timeline goes on a hunt for escape, the present timeline continues to investigate Lottie’s untimely death along with revealing more about the infamous tape: it was recorded by Hannah when she stumbled upon the girls in their past timeline. This show continuously ties together the past and present with details like this while expanding on their own stories. Whether it’s done subtly or unsubtly, it's written moments like this that I have begun to recognize how much thought was put into this creation and I appreciate that everything is connected. While each timeline may be very busy in its own way, everything comes full circle to the Yellowjackets and their time in the wilderness and this season continues to show these women how your past will haunt you.
With a strong closure of the present timeline in this episode before jumping back to the past, Van’s cancer takes a turn for the worse while highlighting her ability to get out of dying: “We never actually cheated death. It was always an even trade.” The dramatic cut from Van’s dream sequence to Other Tai standing over her literally and metaphorically poses the question of which Tai has been in control, which will be an interesting for viewers to see play out.
Episode 7 of Yellowjackets Season 3 is a strong addition to this season and the show overall. By answering questions that fans have had for years while extending the interesting and complex narratives taking place in both timelines, this episode opens the doors for an exciting future with new questions to be answered and explored, especially within the last three ventures into this season.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Yellowjackets Season 3 is now streaming on Paramount Plus with new episodes airing every Friday.
About Yellowjackets
Premiere Date: February 15, 2025
Episode Count: 10
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Ashley Lyle
Created by: Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson
Directed by: Jennifer Morrison
Production: Lionsgate Television, Beer Christmas Ltd. Showtime Networks
Distribution: 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 the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.