After three seasons filled with enigma, conjecture, and numerous fan theories, Yellowjackets has at last unveiled the identity of the notorious “Pit Girl” — the young woman whose death by trap set the series’ dark tone. In the Season 3 finale, aptly named “Full Circle,” we discover that Pit Girl is, in fact, Mari, portrayed by Alexa Barajas.
Although this reveal may not come as a complete surprise — Mari’s physical similarity to Pit Girl has been pointed out since Season 1 — the series skillfully built up to her tragic end throughout Season 3. The season commenced with an intense Capture the Flag match, where Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) pursued Mari through the woods. Later, Mari tumbled into the very pit that would eventually seal her doom — the same one Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) had previously found.
Mari’s demise brings the narrative full circle, tying together the show’s opening sequences and the various clues sprinkled throughout. It also represents a twisted form of retribution for Shauna, who earlier in the season had suffered at the hands of Mari’s cruelty. (Let’s just say, indulging in a meal featuring your tormentor is an extreme version of vengeance.)
However, Mari’s death isn’t the sole significant twist in “Full Circle.” The finale also uncovers the killer of adult Lottie, propels the group closer to salvation, and raises new inquiries about memory, identity, and the persistent trauma stemming from the wilderness.
Mari’s Demise: Beyond a Simple Hunt
The Season 1 premiere showcased Pit Girl — confirmed now as Mari — sprinting through the snow, pursued by her agitated teammates. At that point, it indicated a cohesive, cult-like group dynamic. Yet the Season 3 finale depicts a more fragmented reality. The Yellowjackets are split into factions: Shauna and Lottie (Courtney Eaton) embrace the pursuit and the notion of sacrifice, while Van (Liv Hewson) and Tai (Jasmin Savoy Brown) are reluctant but complicit.
Tai even attempts to manipulate the sacrificial card draw to target Hannah (Ashley Sutton), a researcher and outsider, but Shauna steps in. Despite Hannah being introduced as an important new character, her development is minimal — a missed chance, especially given her role as a mother and a potential contrast to the more primal Yellowjackets.
Meanwhile, Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) seizes the opportunity of the hunt’s chaos to pilfer the satellite phone Van has been fixing. She switches outfits with Hannah to mask her actions. Elsewhere, Akilah (Nia Sondaya), Melissa (Jenna Burgess), and Gen (Vanessa Prasad) attempt to shield Mari by distracting the hunters — even engaging them in hostility. Melissa tries to take down Shauna but hesitates, while Akilah follows Lottie to a cave, seemingly prepared to eliminate her. The outcome of that clash remains unclear, though Lottie later reappears unharmed, and Akilah is conspicuously absent during the feast.
A surprising twist reveals that Akilah and her crew were responsible for poisoning the animals in hopes of igniting a hunt. However, their motivations remain ambiguous. Were they aiming to divert Shauna? Was Mari’s death unintentional? These questions might get addressed in future seasons, but for now, the hunt sequence feels more perplexing than compelling.
Callie Takes Out Lottie
Another shocking revelation surfaces in the finale: the identity of Lottie’s murderer. Misty (Christina Ricci) initially suspects Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), but DNA evidence leads to Shauna’s daughter, Callie (Sarah Desjardins), due to shared mitochondrial DNA.
Callie reveals that she confronted Lottie after the latter pilfered a tape from her drawer. Lottie coaxed her to a candlelit basement and shared a cryptic monologue about the wilderness, stating, “It took our baby and gave us you.” In reply, Callie shoved her down the stairs, resulting in her death. While she exhibits remorse, there’s a chilling darkness in her gaze — perhaps mirroring the same savagery she perceives in her mother.
(One peculiar detail: Lottie’s vision post-mortem occurs in a morgue, unlike the plane backdrop for other characters’ death scenes. Is the death plane at capacity? Or is this a symbolic decision?)
Who Was Troubling Shauna?
Though the finale answers some questions, several remain unanswered — most notably the mystery surrounding who tormented Shauna all season. The show offers mundane theories: her car’s brakes failed due to age, Misty locked her in the fridge, and the phone playing “Queen of Hearts” was merely coincidental.
These explanations feel unsatisfactory, particularly the phone incident. It’s conceivable that the show is commenting on the perils of overanalysis — a nod to its own fanbase — but the absence of a gripping explanation is disappointing. Adult Melissa (Hilary Sw