Yellowjackets Season 3: Cast Reveals the Plot Twist That Made Them Gag

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You would think it would have been the moment that Shauna took a bite of Jackie’s ear.

As a devoted fan, I must admit, some scenes in Yellowjackets left me squirming – like when the teen group brutally consumed Jackie in a horrifying cannibalistic feast, or when Shauna tragically miscarried her baby amidst the harsh wilderness. But what truly made me wince was a chilling development in season three that even shocked Lauren Ambrose to her core.

Ambrose, who started on the show during season two playing Adult Van, explained to The Hollywood Reporter that there were parts of the script he found so revolting, he had to pause his reading because it was just too distasteful for him.

Ambrose shared with The Hollywood Reporter that certain parts of the script made him feel nauseous while reading, and he needed to take a break because they were so disgusting.)

This past weekend marked the debut of the third season for “Yellowjackets,” revisiting the group of teenagers who endured a 1996 plane crash in the wilderness and survived there for nearly two years. The story also follows contemporary characters who continue to grapple with the psychological scars from their past ordeal.

In the wilderness, springtime arrives, bringing a sense of renewal as the youthful soccer team of Yellowjackets adapt to their altered circumstances. Some amuse themselves by sharing tales and playing games, while others are still grieving. A few even attempt to communicate with the enigmatic wilderness, which may hold answers or be connected to the unusual occurrences seen in the initial two seasons.

As a passionate fan, I eagerly anticipate the upcoming season 3 of the gripping Showtime series, co-showrun by Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, and Jonathan Lisco. In this new chapter, we’ll uncover the secrets surrounding the teenagers’ survival in the wilderness. The creative team behind the show has emphasized that cannibalism is just one aspect of the survival-horror-coming-of-age saga, hinting at even more shocking revelations to come. Moreover, the cast has teased that season 3 will bring about multiple deaths, some so heart-wrenching they left certain actors in tears.

In the initial episode of the series, there was a question posed about what they were doing out there. This season, we delve deeper into that mystery as revealed by the co-creator to THR.

The disparity between numerous teenagers and their mature counterparts persists significantly, and understanding their experiences can shed light on the adults they ultimately become. One of the most substantial differences appears in the characters of Shauna, portrayed previously by Sophie Nélisse and currently by Melanie Lynskey. As THR‘s TV critic Angie Han observed in her review, “The concurrent development of these two Shaunas offers a multifaceted, though not yet fully comprehensive, depiction of what was sacrificed and gained during their wilderness ordeal – whether it involves supernatural forces or not. It’s harrowing, it’s heartbreaking, it’s captivating. It exemplifies Yellowjackets‘s unique storytelling abilities.

When conversing with the actors portraying teens and adults, several of them mirrored Ambrose’s feelings upon discovering these facts for themselves.

Lynskey shares with THR that there are things that are incredibly surprising and others that are deeply troubling, which she prefers not to discuss. The cast varies in their approach; some probe their creators for insights into future events, while others choose to go along for the ride and discover what’s next when they receive their scripts. Lynskey herself falls into the latter category, but she does have specific queries about past interactions or references within the script, seeking clarification from her co-stars or writers.

Because the adult and teen actors don’t work on set at the same time, it can be enlightening for the older cast members to delve into the show’s past events. As Lynskey puts it, “It’s always engaging to explore what I like to call the backstory with the teen narrative. You’re constantly discovering new insights about the characters, learning more about their society and the methods they used for hunting, among other things.

Ever since the “hunt” ceremony cropped up at the tail end of season two, I’ve been pondering about its implications. In the old timeline, the hunt started with a deck of cards, where whoever drew the Queen of Hearts was chosen as the sacrificial lamb to the wilderness, ultimately leading to the group crowning a leader, known as the “Antler Queen,” with young Natalie (Sophie Thatcher portraying her). Fast forward to the current storyline, and their hunt unfortunately resulted in the untimely death of adult Natalie (Juliette Lewis gracing the role).

In the final episode of season two, I was the one who got the card and took off, running from my friends who seemed eerily possessed in that wilderness setting. “The space was so cramped,” I recall, “and I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t I run for real?'” The location was small, but they needed me to act as if I didn’t trust them. They were all staring at me seriously, and somehow it worked – even though I wasn’t entirely convinced by the situation myself. (Laughs)

Simone Kessell portrays the character of the most ardent believer as the grown-up Lottie, taking over from Courtney Eaton’s ethereal interpretation in a previous timeframe. Additionally, Kessell became part of the show’s cast during season two.

Initially, they had some understanding [regarding the wilderness]. However, as the series progresses, so does their background story,” she shares with THR. “There have been instances where I felt I could have portrayed it differently. Nevertheless, it becomes more intriguing when we discover what our younger characters are up to, particularly this season. We come to realize how raw and enduring the entire experience has been for them, and how deeply it’s impacted their lives.

She adds, “Now I understand why Lottie is so in need of therapy!”

For Christina Ricci, portraying the adult version of Misty (previously played by Samantha Hanratty), it was events unfolding in the contemporary narrative that left her most astounded.

She shares with THR that she was genuinely taken aback by some recent actions, not past occurrences. ‘When you witness the chaos they create, it makes sense – they’re struggling, they’re damaged. But when you observe these same individuals, now grown, still tormented by their past traumas and PTSD, and then see them act upon it? That I found to be particularly startling,’ she explains.

Ricci expressed that certain scenes in the mature plotline evoked a strong reaction from her, remarking, “Wow, I can’t believe it! Given my history with complex trauma and PTSD, it’s terrifying to even imagine succumbing to such experiences!

Reflecting on the past, Ricci expresses her awe towards Teen Shauna’s wilderness journey, particularly as she grapples with the stages of grief following the loss of her best friend and her baby. “What struck me was how candidly and truthfully they explore a character like young Shauna who has endured so much hardship,” Ricci says. “There’s no hint of irony, no sign of apology. It’s simply, ‘This is the fury within this person, this is the rawness, this is the desperation.’ I found that to be both impressive and unexpected.

In most scenes, the cast members seldom share screen time with their counterparts. However, an exception was made for Lewis’ final scene following Adult Nat’s death, where she encountered her younger self (played by Thatcher), prior to crossing over. Unusually, the main cast had the chance to be photographed together during a season three photoshoot. Lyle noted that these photos offer insights into the characters and how they will intertwine in season three. (Check out the photos from Vanity Fair.)

In usual scenes, cast members rarely interact with their counterparts. But, an exception was made for Lewis’ final scene following Adult Nat’s death, where she met her younger self (played by Thatcher) before crossing over. Rarely does the main cast get to pose together for a photoshoot in a season, and Lyle highlighted that these photos give us clues about the characters and how they will be connected in season three. (Check out the photos from Vanity Fair.)

In their shared experience of being in the space together, Ambrose discovered aspects about each person’s existence in the world, and it moved him deeply. Liv Hewson, portraying Teen Van, shared a similar feeling, expressing to The Hollywood Reporter that witnessing Van grow up and survive was profound for her as well. As younger Van, she didn’t think Van would make it, but seeing older Van was deeply emotional. There seems to be an immense amount of love from young Van towards Van in the future, making it just as meaningful for her as it is for me.

(Note: The original text uses “inhabit” and “echoed”, which could be replaced with “spend time in” and “expressed similar feelings”, respectively, to make it more natural and easy to read.)

Ricci and Hanratty shared a common perspective with regards to Misty’s worldview. As Ricci put it, “Misty doesn’t dwell on her past or contemplate her future, and that’s reflected in our interactions.” Hanratty further explained, “She lacks self-awareness and the capacity for introspection. If she had those abilities, I believe she would completely disregard her younger self and similarly, her younger self wouldn’t worry about the future.” Hanratty also noted, “Misty holds a caregiving role, but she has her own personal matters. She’s an intriguing individual who lives solely in the present moment. It was almost as if we were ignoring each other because it felt like: you’re not really here.

Tawny Cypress and Jasmin Savoy Brown, portraying the roles of Adult Taissa and Teen Taissa respectively, were quite affectionate towards each other. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cypress humorously commented on their bond, saying “We’re practically in love with each other. It’s quite peculiar feeling love for someone who is yourself!” The pair also highlighted a strong connection. As Eaton explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m holding onto her.” You can see that Simone (played by Savoy Brown) is very protective as well.

Following Lewis’ departure, Thatcher found herself as the sole character, as her former counterpart was no longer present in the series. Lyle and Nickerson mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter that Adult Natalie won’t be making an appearance in any form for season three, but they didn’t completely dismiss the possibility of a spiritual visit at some point in the future.

Thatcher expresses deep sorrow about the loss of their character during an interview with THR, stating that the demise was not self-inflicted and had been attempted before. A line from the first episode where Melanie (Shauna) remarks that she’s amazed Natalie survived before the crash makes Thatcher emotional to the point of tears. Thatcher, getting choked up, takes a moment before continuing, ‘I adore my character immensely and it’s heartbreaking to see her no more. The audience shares this sentiment because Natalie is such a multifaceted character, and many people identify with her.’

In the debut episode of Yellowjackets, the specter of Natalie’s demise was subtly hinted at. During a forest party attended by the team, young Nat (Thatcher) experiences a drug-induced hallucination that showed Misty (Hanratty) in the distance. When interviewed by THR, director Karyn Kusama revealed that this scene served as an omen for Misty’s role as a harbinger of death for Natalie in the series finale.

During the shooting of that initial episode, surprisingly, the actors didn’t have access to the creators’ strategies for the series.

Hanratty recollects saying, “Why am I here? (laughs) It’s 3 a.m., and they tell me to just stand over there,” as he looks back on the experience now. He believes there has always been an unseen bond between Misty and Natalie. This isn’t the relationship one might expect, but it seems they are magnetically attracted to each other, whether Natalie acknowledges it or not. There are definitely shared experiences that will strengthen their connection throughout the season, as we shall see in the upcoming episodes.

As a devoted fan, I’ve always sensed that there was an underlying depth to Misty-Natalie’s relationship. It seemed to me that it was about something more, hinting at a dynamic yet to unfold. To my astonishment, the writers have proven themselves incredibly astute, carefully crafting a narrative so intricate that we can hardly comprehend the full extent of their planning!

From the beginning, it was clear to Lyle and Nickerson that Natalie’s story would end tragically, which is why they chose to end her character arc during season two. This leaves us wondering: What other intricate details have Lyle and Nickerson subtly incorporated into the show that attentive viewers might soon uncover?

Lyle mentioned earlier that planning Nat’s demise was among the early decisions for season two. He believes it will be evident as we progress that this wasn’t just a dramatic death, but a pivotal event designed to propel the storyline forward in season three. As viewers watch season three unfold, I think they’ll see how this becomes more obvious.” (THR stands for The Hollywood Reporter)

Additionally, it was disclosed that the enigmatic cassette tape found by Callie (Sarah Desjardins), Shauna’s daughter, in the season two premiere set in the present, is one of their original ideas for the series and will be unfolded throughout the current season. Excitedly, she mentioned that there are several elements in season three that were part of our initial plans from the start, which we had outlined in our early proposals. It’s incredibly satisfying to reach a stage where we’re executing these ideas now.

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In the third season of the show “Yellowjackets,” fresh episodes will drop every Friday on Paramount+. Starting Sundays at 8 p.m., you can also catch it on Showtime. Keep up with our coverage on THR for updates, including a post-premiere discussion with Lyle and Nickerson.

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2025-02-17 05:25