Why ‘Yellowjackets’ Needs That Bonus Episode to Save Season 3!

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  • Another Direction a ‘Yellowjackets’ Bonus Episode Could Go
  • Is the ‘Yellowjackets’ Bonus Episode Still Happening?

For those who enjoy the series “Yellowjackets,” it’s worth mentioning that unlike the first season and the ongoing third season, the second one consisted of only nine episodes instead of ten. After the Season 2 finale, fans were given a tease about an additional episode that would bridge the gap between seasons. However, as time went by, months turned into over a year, approaching two years, and this bonus episode never materialized. The third season premiered, leaving the bonus episode seemingly stuck in television limbo.

The enigmatic extra episode remains unconfirmed for release, and given that Season 3 is now in progress, the chance of its emergence seems to be dwindling. Yet, it was essential. In a way, there’s a possibility it might still materialize.

Read Our Season 3 Review

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Skips Over a Pivotal Time Period

By the finale of Season 2, these women have grown remarkably ruthless. They’ve resorted to cannibalism and even use a card game to decide who’s their next victim for consumption. Instead of saving Javi (Luciano Leroux), they chose to let him perish, interpreting it as a sign that he was destined to be their next meal.

Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger), overwhelmed by what he witnessed, fled into the woods, where it turned out he had been residing in the cave that Javi discovered. In the final scene, we see Coach Ben watching as the cabin goes up in flames. Although he denies responsibility in Season 3, this suggests that he may have started the fire. However, the absence of shelter during the harsh winter months seems to put the women in an almost insurmountable predicament for survival. Yet, when Season 3 begins, it’s already spring.

Ashley Lyle, the showrunner, announced on Twitter after the Season 2 finale that an extra episode will air before Season 3. The specifics of this bonus episode’s plot remain undisclosed, but it may potentially bridge the timeline between Seasons 2 and 3 by exploring how the women managed to endure in harsh conditions without proper shelter or resources in freezing temperatures.

Instead of advancing to the spring, Yellowjackets move towards the more favorable spring weather, where they’re engaging in outdoor activities while soaking up the sun with tank tops on. They’ve constructed individual dwellings and are subsisting off the environment, hunting for game and even brewing their own wine.

Three significant ways are hinted at in the storyline about how the characters made it from the grim Season 2 finale to their current state. Firstly, Van (Liv Hewson) addresses her fellow strong-willed women during an enjoyable outdoor game, emphasizing that they endured a harsh winter by relying on their inner strength and resilience. Secondly, Shauna (Sophie Nelisse) writes about the ordeal in her journal, providing concise reminders of the events. Lastly, Mari (Alexa Barajas) offers insight during her captivity (or rescue) by Coach Ben. She shares that they persisted through the remainder of the winter because a fire burned continuously for 12 days, which likely kept them warm and allowed them to cook any available food. Once the fire extinguished, the weather had improved, signifying the end of the cold season.

It seems as though omitting this crucial part of the storyline is a rather easy solution, yet it denies viewers the grim reality of witnessing these women in their most challenging situations. Without any sanctuary, comforts like a warm home or fireplace are absent, leaving them exposed to harsh conditions. While such scenes might have been hard to depict as tough, unrealistic, or even dull, one must wonder what impact no shelter would have had on them if they were already struggling beforehand.

Another Direction a ‘Yellowjackets’ Bonus Episode Could Go

In my opinion, the extra installment didn’t necessarily need to delve into the interim phase, but it certainly could have. There are alternative directions it could have explored, keeping audiences engaged even as we move into Season 3. For instance, imagine a bonus episode that unravels the enigmatic history of the cabin. At some point in time, an individual ventured out into that desolate wilderness, constructed a cabin, and likely called it home.

Could it be that they were involved? What actions led to this situation? Did things appear unusual in the past? Was there a hidden agenda at play? And is there any connection between this individual and the Antler Queen? Given Coach Ben’s repeated denials of arson, fans are left speculating if the release of this bonus episode after Season 3 might be hinting at other potential suspects.

It’s possible that this event could be the reason behind all the peculiar occurrences, such as the trees appearing to make eerie sounds and Tai (Jason Savoy Brown) experiencing hallucinations. Given Javi’s (Luciano Leroux) and Coach Ben’s time in the cave, it seems they too encountered something unusual and unsettling, which they haven’t disclosed yet.

It’s been speculated that actor Jason Ritter, who is married to Melanie Lynskey (adult Shauna), was initially cast for a special episode of the show. Some believed he might have played the original creator or inhabitant of the cabin. Originally, both Elijah Wood and Ritter were intended for the series, but while Wood’s character has grown significant in Season 3 and had a crucial role in Season 2, Ritter’s character hasn’t appeared yet.

Is the ‘Yellowjackets’ Bonus Episode Still Happening?

There’s still some speculation and hope hanging on, but it seems increasingly unlikely that an additional episode will be released. This extra episode could have shed light on the origin of the cabin or shown us how the Yellowjackets team survived the rest of the winter with the dwindling fire. However, TV insider Matt Webb Mitovich, a reliable source for TVLine, has stated that this bonus episode is now considered a non-starter. The creators and those involved in Yellowjackets have been keeping quiet about this possibility, which could mean they’re holding onto some secret plans or it might indicate that the idea has been scrapped altogether.

As a devoted fan, I find myself eagerly anticipating whether there’ll be an extra episode following Season 3, or maybe a captivating flashback within the season itself. If it doesn’t materialize, I can only hope that the creators will shed light on the lingering mystery and clarify if this elusive bonus episode will ever come to fruition. In the event that it doesn’t, it’s a bit disappointing to know that Season 2 ended one episode short. However, I remain optimistic that Season 3 will more than compensate for that, even if it leaves us filling in some of those gaps with our vivid imaginations. Catch Yellowjackets on Paramount+ with Showtime.

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2025-02-22 03:02