‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Review: Spring Signals Tranquil Yet Eerie Renewal

“Yellowjackets” has captivated audiences since its debut in 2021 with its haunting blend of survival drama, psychological horror, and complex character development. The show has garnered widespread acclaim for its storytelling and performances, earning multiple nominations, including for Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

The Season 3 premiere of “Yellowjackets” continues to explore the show’s dual storyline, following the characters as teenagers stranded in the wilderness and as adults grappling with the aftermath of their traumatic experiences. The teenage timeline picks up a couple of months after the burning of the cabin, while the adult storyline begins with the aftermath of Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) funeral.

The introduction of the new wilderness timeline offers a striking contrast to where the show left off in Season 2. The first season followed the soccer team’s initial struggle in the wilderness throughout the summer and fall. The second season focused on the brutal winter, which led to starvation. Desperation drove Travis and the team to eat Jackie’s (Ella Purnell) and Javi’s (Luciano Leroux) frozen bodies, eventually bringing them to worship the wilderness through sacrificial rituals. Coach Ben (Steven Krueger), disgusted by their actions, retreated into the wilderness just before the cabin burned down.

The transition from winter to spring in Season 3 signals renewal. With the destruction of their cabin—a symbol of home and civilization—the girls begin to rebuild. Their chaotic world now has a sense of order: A makeshift society, complete with tents, an agreed-upon hierarchy, and farm animals. Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) and Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) have taken up leadership roles, holding frequent meetings to discuss the state of the camp.

This tranquil, almost idyllic atmosphere is a refreshing change of pace from the cannibalism and violence viewers have come to expect. Yet, knowing the nature of the show, the eerie undertones of the teenage storyline remain impossible to ignore. The cult-like, “Midsommar”-esque campsite, flower crowns, and structured system of shared labor suggest something unsettling beneath the surface. Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) serves as an ever-present reminder of a sordid past, and she still grapples with the deaths of her best friend Jackie and Shauna’s newborn child.

The slow pacing of this storyline allows for deeper exploration of the characters’ relationships. Coach Ben, who grows increasingly unhinged, remains the last vestige of rationality and morality in the group. Meanwhile, the girls, already descending into madness, see the wilderness as their god and narrate their experiences as though they were characters in a Greek epic.

The wilderness timeline remains far more captivating than the adult narrative, especially with the absence of the unpredictable and violent Natalie. The adult storyline lacks significant character development. Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) still acts impulsively, driven by anger, but the situations feel less consequential—lashing out at her husband’s business dinner rather than pulling a gun on her secret lover, Adam Martin (Peter Gadiot). Taissa (Tawny Cypress) continues to battle with her fractured identity, descending further into insanity. Misty (Christina Ricci) remains manipulated by those around her but seems to be the only one truly affected by Natalie’s death.

While the slow pacing enhances the teenage storyline, it only bogs down the adult one. The lack of a clear goal or common objective — such as survival — leaves the adult timeline aimless. By its third season, the show risks relying too heavily on the wilderness as its main intrigue. Without new revelations, this approach feels repetitive. Though eerie occurrences are teased — such as visions of a man with no eyes and the suspicious death of a waiter — there is no overarching goal to unite the adult characters.

The show also barely acknowledges the emotional weight of Natalie’s death, and the adult characters remain unnervingly calm as the wilderness makes an unwelcome return to their lives in the form of strange occurrences, including Tai’s visions and the sudden deaths. Taissa and Van (Lauren Ambrose), for instance, worship the wilderness in a desperate attempt to cure Van’s cancer. However, this sudden shift lacks the narrative buildup needed for it to make sense.

Given the nature of “Yellowjackets,” more violence and shocking twists are likely on the horizon. After stepping back from the chaos of cannibalism and death, the show is clearly building toward deeper tension and revelations that will ultimately reshape the story. Lynskey’s portrayal of Shauna, though subdued this season, adds an intriguing layer of internal conflict, while Cypress offers a standout performance as Taissa delves into madness.

“Yellowjackets” remains a tense, eerie meditation on survival, power, and the long-lasting effects of trauma. However, the adult narrative feels disconnected and lacks the urgency and depth that made the earlier seasons so compelling. The show risks becoming repetitive, relying on the wilderness as its main intrigue without clear objectives for the adult characters, ultimately weakening the impact of the overall narrative.

—Staff writer Julia J. Downey can be reached at julia.downey@thecrimson.com.