Love Shauna’s Dark Side? Don’t Miss Melanie Lynskey’s Chilling HBO Role That’s 95% on RT

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Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Yellowjackets season 3.

A highly-acclaimed HBO series with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating is an excellent choice to follow after the third season of “Yellowjackets,” as it delves deeper into the character of Shauna (played by Melanie Lynskey and Sophie Nélisse), taking her story in a sinister direction. In the 1990s timeline of “Yellowjackets,” teenage Shauna earned the title of Antler Queen, instilling fear among her fellow teammates, keeping them trapped in the wilderness even when rescue was possible. As for the adult Shauna, she embarks on a troubling journey while hunting down an alleged stalker.

During the events of season 3, episode 8 of “Yellowjackets,” we see that Shauna resorted to a drastic measure by amputating Melissa’s arm (portrayed by Hilary Swank). As the episode concludes, she also shoves her husband Jeff (Warren Kole) and their daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) away from her. The surviving friends of Shauna are not pleased with her actions, as Taissa (Tawny Cypress) holds Shauna responsible for Van’s death (Lauren Ambrose), and both Misty (Christina Ricci) and Taissa are planning to confront Shauna in the upcoming season 4 of “Yellowjackets.

After Yellowjackets Season 3, Check Out Melanie Lynskey In The Last Of Us Season 1

She Plays A Villainous Character In The Post-Apocalyptic World

In the first season of “The Last of Us,” actress Lynskey portrayed Kathleen, a ruthless leader who headed a rebellious faction that dethroned FEDRA in Kansas City, Missouri. On their journey, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) crossed paths with Kathleen and her followers in Kansas City. Although the danger of the infected was still present, Kathleen posed a unique menace to Joel and Ellie, making her one of the most formidable antagonists in “The Last of Us” season 1.

Fans who found Shauna’s transformation into a villain captivating in season 3 of “Yellowjackets” will likely appreciate Lynskey’s performance as Kathleen. From following Shauna’s story since before the plane crash in “Yellowjackets,” we’ve seen her journey from then to where she ended up in season 3, with both timelines revealing different stages of her tale. In contrast to Shauna, Kathleen was already a villain when introduced in “The Last of Us,” but there were hints about her past that shed light on the person she became.

Melanie Lynskey’s The Last Of Us Character Has Similarities To Shauna

They Have More In Common Than Becoming Villains

In challenging scenarios such as post-apocalyptic Kansas City and a soccer team stuck in the wilderness, both Kathleen and Shauna demonstrated they were capable of assuming commanding roles. Kathleen seized authority over Kansas City, while Shauna asserted her leadership with her stranded soccer team. They attained these powerful positions not just by displaying leadership qualities, but also through harsh methods that included causing harm and instilling fear in others.

Show Tomatometer Score
Yellowjackets 92%
The Last of Us 95%

Concurrently, Kathleen and Shauna skillfully concealed their genuine identities beneath guises of innocent personas. In her teenage years, Shauna’s true essence was masked by being Jackie’s underestimated and undervalued best friend. As an adult, Shauna maintained a disguise by appearing as an ordinary homemaker and suburban mother in the series Yellowjackets, seemingly posing no danger. For a comprehensive understanding of Kathleen’s narrative and comparisons with Shauna, viewers are encouraged to watch season 1 of The Last of Us.

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2025-05-03 12:27