10 Shocking Crimes Committed by the Yellowjackets Survivors

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In the vastness of the Wilderness, sometimes just staying alive means disregarding rules and ethical norms. It’s no wonder then that the characters from the show “Yellowjackets” have found themselves on the wrong side of the law multiple times during their journey.

Though certain transgressions might be understood given their circumstances, it’s important to note that some of the most heinous acts were carried out once the women were back home or by individuals who never ventured into the Wilderness. With Season 3 just around the corner, it seems more criminal activities are on the horizon. Here is a list of the most egregious offenses committed by the characters—as of now.

10
Blackmail

In Season 1, a major enigma centered around the identity of the person blackmailing the survivors from the Yellowjackets team. They received threatening postcards hinting at the revelation of their wilderness secrets and requiring payment to maintain silence. Naturally, Shauna (played by Melanie Lynskey) grows suspicious of her new love interest, Adam (Peter Gadiot). Yet, after killing him, she uncovers a shocking truth: her husband, Jeff Sadecki (Warren Kole), was the blackmailer all along.

Other Options

It becomes clear that Jeff resorted to taking loans from unscrupulous lenders to keep his ailing furniture business going. Desperate for repayment, he started coercing women, which was an ill-advised attempt to recoup the debt. Had Shauna known about the store’s predicament earlier, she might have suggested a different approach. Regrettably, their bond was based on deception, and it led to a chain of criminal actions. While their relationship was riddled with lies, it’s sad that things escalated this way.

9
Destruction of Property

Immediately upon touching down in the Wilderness, the girls are frantically searching for the flight recorder, as it represents their greatest chance of being found. This task takes precedence over all else. Meanwhile, Misty—who is enjoying the spotlight that the Wilderness has given her—has a different goal: destroying the evidence.

The Beginning of the End

Among all her actions, damaging the flight recorder may have been Misty’s biggest mistake. If Misty hadn’t damaged the recorder, the girls might have been found much more quickly and could have avoided resorting to cannibalism. Furthermore, it would have provided them with crucial hope during those initial weeks. Consequently, while it may not be the most unlawful act on this list, it is the one that likely had the most significant consequences.

8
Obstruction of Justice

Why bother committing a crime if you don’t manage to evade punishment? That seems to be the Yellowjackets‘ mindset, as they go to great lengths to dodge detection. This involves deceiving law enforcement, tampering with crime scenes, and even concealing (multiple) corpses, such as Adam’s.

Obstructive Acts in the Wilderness

It seems plausible that certain actions carried out in the Wilderness could be classified as obstructing justice. From our understanding so far, the girls didn’t seem very open with the police regarding what transpired there. We can only hope that Season 3 provides more insight into the measures they took to hide their wrongdoings (and also reveals more details about the nature of those crimes).

7
Kidnapping

In Season 1, Taissa Turner (performed by Tawny Cypress) enlisted Jessica Roberts (Robyn Griggs) as a spy to monitor other women, preventing them from leaking secrets that could harm her election prospects. However, Misty Quigley (portrayed by Christina Ricci) grew suspicious of Jessica’s involvement in Travis’ demise and potential blackmailing activities. Driven to uncover the truth, she administered a drug to Jessica, took her home as a captive, and pressed for information about Travis and the blackmail schemes. Unfortunately, much of the requested information was beyond Jessica’s knowledge.

Other Kidnappings

In Season 2, there’s another abduction involving Natalie Scatorccio (Juliette Lewis), as Lottie Matthews (Simone Kessell) orders her followers to retrieve her from where she was, due to her fragile mental state verging on suicide. However, this kidnapping turned out to be a lifesaver for Nat, at least temporarily.

6
Drugging Others

When Misty falls for Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger), she’s troubled by his disinterest towards her. In typical Misty fashion, she decides to drug him unknowingly with magic mushrooms, but Mari mistakenly adds the mushrooms to a stew she’s preparing while Misty looks on in quiet observation. This blunder leads Coach Scott, Misty, and the other girls to all get high, which eventually causes them to attack and come close to killing Travis.

Other Examples of Drug Use

Throughout the series, some characters are depicted as using both prescribed medications and recreational drugs for leisure purposes. For instance, Misty unintentionally inhaled cocaine at one point, while it seems that Travis and Nat often used drugs together. On one occasion, Nat came close to overdosing from their shared use.

5
Arson

At this stage, the incident is merely a suspected crime, but if it indeed occurred, it’s truly appalling. During Season 2, Coach Scott becomes increasingly troubled by the girls, leading him to eventually decide to part ways with them. Soon afterward, their cabin mysteriously catches fire, and there’s strong evidence suggesting that he might be responsible for the blaze.

A Crime to Stop More Crimes

If Coach Scott may have started the fire, it seems plausible that he did so to prevent the girls from causing further harm or death. Yet, it’s essential to note that taking such drastic measures would put him on par with their actions. However, his circumstances – being handicapped and near starvation – make one understand his desperation. Nevertheless, setting fires is an abhorrent act in reality, and in the Wilderness, it could have quickly spread, potentially destroying everything around.

4
Child Endangerment

It’s undeniable that Tai adores her son Sammy, but there are concerns about her mental state, which could impact her ability to care for him properly. Throughout the series, we see instances where Tai exhibits sleepwalking behavior, and during these episodes, she performs some unsettling acts. Some of these acts, while eerie, may seem harmless, like watching Sammy from trees. However, others pose a threat to his safety, such as when she mistakenly believes he’s at home when he’s actually still at school waiting to be picked up.

Not Too Late

It appears that Sammy has a limited circle of companions, and his artwork often contains unsettling themes. At this point, Tai hasn’t engaged in actions that would lead to lasting damage, but if her behaviors persist, the nature of these drawings seems to indicate that Sammy could experience significant negative impact.

It would be beneficial to include Shauna’s daughter, Callie, in this discussion as well. Throughout the series, Callie has been uncovering more details about her mother’s past. Towards the end of Season 2, she almost got caught up in the Wilderness ritual. If Shauna doesn’t take steps to protect Callie from these circumstances, there’s a high chance that she may further get involved with the Wilderness, and might even join the ranks of the deceased characters.

3
Animal Abuse

From my perspective as a cinema aficionado, I’d like to share a chilling tale about Tai, who experiences bouts of sleepwalking that inexplicably transform her into a different entity. In one such episode, she unknowingly took the life of her beloved dog, Biscuit, and performed what appears to be a ritualistic sacrifice at an altar. To make matters even more unsettling, Tai later adopts a new canine companion, Steve. Here’s hoping that Tai finds a solution for her sleepwalking soon, or else poor Steve might end up in harm’s way.

Other Instances

As a movie enthusiast, let me share that Biscuit’s death is undeniably the most chilling example of animal cruelty portrayed in this series. Yet, it’s essential to acknowledge other instances where animals suffer or are harmed. For one, Jessica makes a threatening gesture towards Misty’s pet bird, Caligula, albeit fortunately, the bird emerged unscathed from that harrowing encounter. And in an equally unsettling scene at the very beginning of the show, Shauna takes the life of a rabbit, an act I wish had never occurred, off-screen.

2
Cannibalism

In the TV series Yellowjackets, the grim act of cannibalism is a recurring theme. With food scarce, the girls are forced into desperate measures when one of them, Jackie, perishes and they utilize her for sustenance, calling her “Snackie.” Later, driven by hunger, they consume Javi who has drowned. Although not shown frequently, other characters’ fates hint at potential future acts of cannibalism, as suggested by Pit Girl’s disappearance in the first episode.

Survival

In light of the situation, it’s possible for a judge to show understanding towards the girls, considering they resorted to cannibalism due to extreme hunger. Unfortunately, Jackie and Javi passed away, with the girls playing a role in their demise, although their deaths were somewhat natural. However, while the act of eating people might be excusable under certain circumstances, the illegality of the hunt that preceded the killings is clearly and unambiguously criminal.

1
Murder

Among the crimes we’ve cataloged, homicides hold the highest position. Yet, it would be challenging to pinpoint which wilderness murder was the most heinous (or conversely, the least) in our records. These acts of violence were primarily committed as a means to survive, though arguments could be made that other options might have been available. Given their desperate state, one could argue they were delirious and starving, potentially resulting in lenient sentencing or even no prison time at all (though this would depend on the details disclosed). However, these initial killings were merely the beginning, and the subsequent ones are significantly more difficult to justify.

A Taste for Murder

Shauna’s act of killing Adam due to her fear that he was threatening the women won’t be an effective defense in court. The same applies to Misty’s murder of Jessica and Walter’s killing of Kevyn, as these actions would likely face strong opposition from juries and the police force respectively. In contrast, Misty might escape punishment for killing Nat due to it being an accident, while Lottie’s role in Travis’ death could be seen more as passive involvement rather than a direct killing. However, if the women had attempted to kill Shauna at the end of Season 2, they would have faced severe consequences beyond just a light punishment.

To summarize, the wilderness seemed to pursue the women as they returned to urban life, and their transgressions escalated from there. However, the most significant offense may be that the series ends on a cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for resolution in season 3.

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2025-02-02 20:33