**’Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Struggles to Regain Its Former Brilliance**

In its first season, *Yellowjackets* mesmerized viewers with an intense blend of survival thriller themes, captivating enigmas, and the harsh realities of high school camaraderie, establishing itself as essential viewing. Season 2 fulfilled expectations with its much-anticipated cannibalism and examined the trauma experienced by the adult survivors. However, inconsistent pacing and a tepid contemporary storyline hindered it from achieving the excellence of its forerunner. This prompted speculation: Was the series losing its spark, or was Season 2 merely a stumble?

After viewing the initial four episodes of Season 3, the unfortunate conclusion appears to lean towards the former.

### *Yellowjackets* Season 3 Lacks Direction

While there are sporadic shocking moments, *Yellowjackets* still feels untethered, especially in its modern-day storyline. The series seems unsure of how to manage several crucial characters, and a significant portion of the plot appears to be at a standstill, waiting to coincide with the chilling cold open from Season 1.

### What Transpires in *Yellowjackets* Season 3?

Season 2 wrapped up with the teenage Yellowjackets losing their cabin to an inferno—likely ignited by Coach Ben (Steven Krueger)—forcing them to brave a harsh winter without shelter. Season 3, however, leaps forward to summer, unveiling that the group has established a prosperous commune complete with animal enclosures and well-built shelters. Van (Liv Hewson) delivers a speech during a summer solstice festivity, summarizing the events of the time jump and Season 2 in a manner that feels more like a forced self-mythologizing than a natural storytelling decision.

Meanwhile, Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) rejects Van’s glossed-over version of their shared history, still grappling with her baby’s loss. Her sorrow and resentment, frequently aimed at the unbearable Mari (Alexa Barajas, who takes on a larger role this season), create friction within the group and challenge Natalie’s (Sophie Thatcher, *Companion*) leadership. Natalie, in turn, finds it challenging to shield Coach Ben from teammates seeking retribution.

In the present, the adult Yellowjackets mourn Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) demise—at least Misty (Christina Ricci) does. Aside from a fleeting moment of collective sorrow, Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), and Van (Lauren Ambrose) seem to advance surprisingly rapidly. While it is logical for Misty to bear the heaviest emotional weight given her part in Natalie’s death, the others’ lack of emotional depth diminishes the significance of Season 2’s greatest tragedy.

Regrettably, the characters don’t transition into anything especially engaging. Shauna grapples with her daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) probing into the past, as well as a mysterious individual reaching out to her—an uninspired rehash of Season 1’s blackmail subplot. Simultaneously, Tai and Van revive their teenage romance, but despite the strong chemistry of Cypress and Ambrose, their storyline feels like a sluggish side quest in an already fragmented contemporary narrative. The show excelled when the adult characters collaborated; now, they seem disjointed.

### *Yellowjackets* Season 3 Struggles to Fully Utilize Its Cast

One of the series’ primary challenges this season is its inability to effectively leverage its ensemble cast. (*The White Lotus* faced a comparable issue in its disappointing third season.)

In any ensemble show, certain characters inevitably receive less attention. However, in *Yellowjackets* Season 3, even those positioned for significant roles are sidelined. Teen Tai and Van frequently experience the same neglect as their adult counterparts, rendering once-meaningful connections, like Shauna and Tai’s Season 1 friendship, faint echoes of the past.

Lottie (Courtney Eaton as a teenager, Simone Kessell as an adult) also suffers from a diminished role. Without the desperate circumstances of winter compelling the group to accept her spiritual guidance, teen Lottie is confined to vague rituals and ominous visions that seem more like padding than substantial growth. Adult Lottie, who was presented as a prominent figure in Season 2, barely registers in Season 3.

Other characters, such as Melissa (Jenna Burgess) and Mari, gain more screen presence but fail to leave a lasting impression. A single quip about Melissa suddenly having a personality doesn’t genuinely provide her with one. This disparity becomes even more noticeable in interactions with Shauna, who remains the most fully realized character across both timelines. Her exchanges with Misty in the present offer some of the season’s most enjoyable moments, yet they also underscore the rich character dynamics the show could be exploring if it were to better