10 Shocking Friendships That Didn’t Survive ‘Yellowjackets’

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In various relationships, trauma can elicit both admirable and questionable behavior, and this concept is particularly evident in the gripping series Yellowjackets. This captivating show revolves around a soccer team whose plane crashes into the wilderness. As it unfolds, the narrative moves between their past struggles to survive and their present-day ordeals coping with the aftermath of those survival efforts.

It’s no surprise that several relationships from the show ‘Yellowjackets’ have faltered under the intense challenges of the wilderness and the secrecy and high-pressure situations following their escape. Yet, some friendships remain robust. With Season 3 premiering this week, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 friendships from seasons 1 and 2, taking into account both their strengths and weaknesses.

10
Travis & Javi

Brothers aren’t necessarily friends for all, but some of the strongest friendships stem from brotherhood. Although they may not often show it, Travis and Javi share a profound bond. When Javi disappears, Travis is heartbroken. Upon Javi’s return, he aids Travis by safeguarding Nat during the Hunt. However, his well-meaning actions lead to an unfortunate turn of events, as he is selected by the Wilderness instead of Nat. In time, a sorrowful Travis grieves for his brother (albeit, while consuming his remains).

Brotherly Bond

Initially, when Javi and Travis arrived in the wilderness, their father passed away, which put a great deal of stress on their bond. Nevertheless, over time, their relationship improved significantly, although there were occasional emotional outbursts. Through thick and thin, they supported each other until the end. Even long after leaving the wilderness, Javi’s death continued to linger in Travis’ mind, and it played a role in his eventual demise. Despite having one of the strongest relationships, their parting was undeniably heart-wrenching.

9
Nat & Travis

After demonstrating one of Travis’ healthiest relationships, let me share with you a contrast – one of his most challenging. To clarify, Nat and Travis weren’t simply friends; their bond extended to a romantic level. It’s essential to acknowledge that solid relationships should be built on a foundation of friendship, but for these two individuals, their friendship was fraught with ups and downs.

At certain moments, it was evident that they genuinely cared for each other; however, more frequently, they struggled to comprehend one another’s needs or desires, leading them to bring out negative aspects in each other.

Ups and Downs

The positions of Nat and Travis on this list might spark debate. Yet, it’s undeniable that their actions towards each other inflicted significant pain, such as when Travis betrayed Nat with Jackie or when Nat tried to deceive Travis about Javi’s status (leading him to believe Javi was dead). In the former instance, while Nat had good intentions, her character, Sophie Thatcher, has expressed that Nat’s feelings towards Travis were fixated, suggesting an “obsession.” Consequently, despite her genuine efforts to help him, she approached it inappropriately, and for reasons that raise some red flags.

8
Tai & Van

It’s crucial to understand that Tai and Van share a history beyond friendship – they were once romantic partners. Their childhood bond was marked by trust, compassion, and deep affection. Although they appear to have grown apart as adults, it’s worth noting that when Tai was at her most vulnerable, Van was the one she turned to. Admittedly, it’s unclear whether Tai was conscious during this encounter due to her sleepwalking condition; however, it’s equally important to mention that Van, despite having reservations, chose to offer support by welcoming Tai into her life.

A Fond Memory

It’s clear that both Van and Tai have undergone significant transformations since their Wilderness days. Not all relationships are destined to endure, and attempting to reignite their romance now could lead to catastrophe. However, we believe they could benefit from maintaining a friendship, which is a connection we would encourage. Given Van’s health issues and general solitude, as well as Tai’s struggles with self-control and fear of her actions, such a relationship seems beneficial for both.

7
Lottie & Travis

It appears that Travis consistently finds himself in trouble on our list. Besides his tumultuous bond with Nat, we must consider his lethal connection with Lottie. Both of them are on this list primarily because Lottie couldn’t prevent Travis from dying. This isn’t like Nat, who may later feel responsible for his death due to guilt. Instead, Lottie was present when Travis attempted suicide to explore the Wilderness more deeply. However, while keeping watch over him, she got caught up in a vision of Laura Lee, and by the time she regained focus, it was too late, as Travis had already succumbed to his actions.

Too Much Death

Surprisingly enough, if this single event were the only factor considered, Lottie wouldn’t have made our list. The truth behind the incident remains uncertain, as Lottie asserted that the crane batteries died, which would imply Travis’ demise was inevitable. Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that Lottie played a significant role in the close call Travis experienced in the Wilderness. Following his encounter with Jackie, Lottie insisted that the girls pursue them both. She referred to Travis as a “stag” that needed to be caught. Although she was under the influence of magic mushrooms at the time, her words almost caused Shauna to slit Travis’ throat. Adding to this, her role in his actual death and the near-fatal incident make her involvement appear rather personal.

6
Nat & Lisa

Instead of being survivors of the wilderness like most others on the list, Lisa had survived battles with depression and thoughts of suicide. She and Nat developed a strong bond at the compound, with one of the heartwarming moments in the series occurring when Nat defended Lisa against her mother and secretly took Lisa’s fish for her. Later, Lisa would give Nat the fish to aid in helping her escape her own depression. Throughout their journey, these two women were there for each other during their darkest hours, multiple times, culminating at the end.

A Bittersweet Ending

Initially, Nat and Lisa’s relationship didn’t begin smoothly. Lisa played a role in Nat’s abduction, while Nat defended herself by stabbing Lisa with a fork. Later, their relationship became strained when Lisa suspected Nat of murder, causing tension in the woods. However, Nat sacrificed herself to save Lisa from Misty’s injection, which ultimately resulted in Nat’s demise. Despite the rocky start and tragic ending, their friendship demonstrated genuine camaraderie. It’s a shame we didn’t get to witness how their relationship would have unfolded, but it concluded with a bittersweet reminder of true friendship.

5
Misty & Kristen (Crystal)

If it weren’t for their fateful last episode, Misty and Kristen might have effortlessly landed on our list of top friendships – certainly not contenders for worst. Throughout Season 2, these unconventional friends exchanged secrets and laughter, creating a bond that felt more like everyday companionship than survival in the wilderness. However, their friendship took a dark turn when Misty admitted to damaging the plane’s transmitter. Kristen reacted with shock and revulsion, which escalated to Misty threatening her life. In a tragic turn of events, Kristen accidentally fell off a cliff, leading many to believe she was dead.

The Aftermath

It should be noted that Misty appeared genuinely regretful over Kristen’s passing, opting not to disclose the location of her body in an attempt to prevent it from being consumed. Notably, Kristen’s remains have yet to be located, leaving a slim possibility, albeit improbable, that she may still be alive. In such a scenario, we can hardly imagine she would be overjoyed with the turn of events. Consequently, this friendship, once brimming with potential, has effectively come to an end regardless.

4
Nat & Coach Ben

Among the survivors of the Yellowjacket’s plane crash, Coach Ben Scott is the sole remaining adult. He demonstrates a deep concern for the girls and, despite his own hardships such as hunger and losing a leg, he strives to be present when they need him most. This is particularly evident in his interactions with Nat, where he provides guidance on relationships and general support. In return, Nat helps Coach Ben feel more confident about his identity, and by the end of Season 2, they both acknowledge each other as superior to the rest of the survivors. Coach Ben even proposed an escape plan for winter, where the two would survive underground together, but Nat declined due to her remorse over Javi’s demise.

Tragic Ending

Indeed, some may argue that it’s unsuitable for a coach to become friends with one of his players. But considering their extraordinary situation of being trapped in the Wilderness and the pure, non-romantic nature of their friendship, we feel this argument is not convincing. However, the dissolution of their friendship has left a mark on their past bond, as it culminates with Ben perceiving Nat as equally flawed as her teammates. This leads to an incident where he appears to set fire to the cabin, which could have potentially cost Nat’s life. If they encounter each other again in Season 3 (which seems probable), we don’t anticipate a warm welcome.

3
Shauna & Jackie

At first glance, Shauna and Jackie seemed to have a remarkable friendship, but beneath this façade, their bond had deep fissures. Their relationship wasn’t always harmonious even before they found themselves in the wilderness; Shauna often felt overshadowed by Jackie and went so far as to betray her trust by dating her boyfriend. Jackie, on the other hand, tended to view Shauna more as an accessory or someone of lower status compared to herself. While there was indeed love and concern between them, it didn’t necessarily mean they were compatible.

Symbolic Demise

At the conclusion of Season 1, Jackie perished in a snowstorm, and Shauna acted as if Jackie were still alive, thereby assuming control over the bond they once shared. This behavior led her to participate in consuming Jackie, which symbolized how their friendship was gradually consuming Shauna and distorting her own identity. On the other hand, it could be argued that Shauna should have communicated with Jackie instead of allowing their relationship to deteriorate into something so destructive. Essentially, while Jackie may not have been perfect, she deserved a healthier and more respectful friendship from Shauna, as well as from her entire team, during their time together.

2
Tai & Shauna

Among all characters in Yellowjackets, it seems only Tai and Shauna really grasp each other’s emotions and stand by each other, whether as teens or adults. In truth, these two are at their most exposed when together. For instance, young Tai is the one who first notices Shauna’s pregnancy, and she later extends a helping hand regarding Shauna’s abortion. Similarly, both adolescent and adult Tai seek Shauna’s assistance when Tai’s sleepwalking becomes troublesome.

In a simpler way, it could be rephrased as: Their honesty isn’t consistent, but this reflects their individual characters. What makes their relationship intriguing is that despite their doubts and past hurts, they still yearn to trust each other, though at times it proves challenging for them.

More Friendship to Come?

Throughout the majority of the series, Shauna is portrayed as Jackie’s friend, whereas Tai tends to be with Van. It’s intriguing to ponder how different the show might have been if Shauna and Tai had been friends earlier on. They have a mutual respect for each other, which means they aren’t afraid to call each other out when necessary but also stand up for one another. Now that all the women are reunited, we eagerly anticipate seeing their friendship grow further (despite the trailer hinting at more chaos rather than unity).

1
The Survivors & the Wilderness

In a surprising twist, we find that a band of girls and an intangible entity like the Wilderness might top our list as the most challenging relationship. The girls appear to perceive the Wilderness as a living force shaping their destinies and actions. More importantly, they believe that this wilderness is nurturing them, when in reality, it’s leading them towards slow starvation. This harsh environment also drives them to hunt each other for survival, which has left deep-seated traumas that linger even today.

Wildly Toxic

Lottie suggests that the Wilderness provided them with a bear to feed on, yet it seems unreasonable for the Wilderness to only provide this and expect so much from the girls without offering anything beneficial in return. This situation appears to be a one-sided relationship where the Wilderness demands more while giving less. Moreover, many friendships that turned sour can be traced back to the influence of the Wilderness, and the characters underwent significant negative changes as a result of their interaction with it. In essence, even though the Wilderness may not be alive, it is portrayed as a toxic imaginary companion, one that not only brought out the worst in the girls but also manipulated them into believing its detrimental actions were acts of care.

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2025-02-16 22:06