Being a teenage girl is tough enough navigating peer pressure, self-esteem struggles, and the rollercoaster of toxic friendships is a full-time challenge. But throw an extreme survival situation into the mix, especially with a squad of fiercely competitive athletes, and suddenly, these teen queens morph into dainty Dahmers with messy buns and pink Chucks. Welcome to Showtime’s Yellowjackets, returning for its highly anticipated third season, where psychological (and possibly paranormal) thrills collide with brutal lessons on trauma, survival, mental illness, and the occasional bout of cannibalism. Told across dual timelines, the series crafts a chilling descent into savagery as the teens turn vicious, leaving their adult counterparts to deal with the aftermath.
When we last left the 1996 Wiskayok High School Yellowjackets girls soccer team, they were in a bit of a pickle. After having resorted to eating human flesh due to extreme hunger, these fine young cannibals were soon betrayed by one of their own and lost their beloved cabin to a fire, leaving the team to face the harsh cruelty of winter on their own.
Driven by their adaptability, the Yellowjackets make it to spring thanks to their devotion to “the Wilderness,” an ominous, all-seeing force many believe is both protecting and testing them. Though still far from the savage murder cult teased in the series’ opening, Yellowjackets continue to lay the groundwork for their terrifying transformation. And now with a betrayer in their midst, the girls take it upon themselves to seek justice, creating dissonance between the survivors and heightening already frayed relationships.
As their younger selves succumb to the influence of the Wilderness — which is now a wailing force that manipulates their decisions — the present-day Yellowjackets remain ensnared in its grip. Following the aftermath of Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) death, each woman spirals deeper into turmoil. Misty (Christina Ricci) is a mere shadow of her once-psychotic self, while Taissa drifts further into madness and Shauna’s (Melanie Lynskey) already-fractured family teeters on the brink of self-destruction. The survivors remain tormented by the Wilderness, with some convinced it still has unfinished business with them.
As season three delves deeper into the mystery, the adult storyline becomes increasingly convoluted as it tries to expand the intrigue, ultimately creating a bit of a disconnect between the two narratives. However, the stellar performances of the adult cast shine through, while the teen storyline remains gripping, growing ever more intense as their beliefs become more extreme and their actions more savage.
Casting has always been Yellowjackets’ strong suit. The psychologically-scarred adults are perfectly paired with their teen doppelgängers who mimic their counterparts to create a bridge between the two timelines. And as good as the casting is, the soundtrack also deserves a shout-out. A mix tape of neglected ’90s classics sets the tone for the morbid thriller, effectively tying the two timelines together in subtle ways. (Personal note: the inclusion of The Cure’s “Cold” in one particular episode made me wonder if the creators read my diary.)
At its core, Yellowjackets delves into the torment of unresolved trauma, pushing adolescent turmoil to its breaking point. While the lure of more cannibalism and a descent into feral teen murder squads may entice gorehounds, these elements serve more as a MacGuffin to the central themes of the story. Perfectly roasted homecoming queens are the amuse-bouche to the show’s main course: a raw and haunting drama that explores the lasting scars left by unprocessed trauma. Despite its sometimes overwrought storylines, Yellowjackets remains a tasty, horror-flavored enigma with plenty of mystery still left to unravel. ❖