‘Yellowjackets’ Is The Survivor Drama We All Need Right Now

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Have you ever watched a trailer for a show and thought “This was made specifically for me?” 

Yellowjackets is that show. 

It premiered on Showtime on Nov. 14 and even though the trailer hooked me, the first episode had me glued to my couch. 

I didn’t pick up my phone once to scroll through social media, which is my usual MO, so you know I was completely spellbound. 

And with the critical acclaim and reviews it’s receiving, a lot of people feel the same way I do — it’s the show we’ve been waiting, and wishing, for. 

The only problem I have with Yellowjackets is that we have to wait a week — yes, an entire week — for new episodes, which feels like an eternity in the age of binge-watching. 

If I knew someone who worked at Showtime I would offer them shameful things to get my hands on all the episodes, and I’m not embarrassed to admit that. 

Although it feels like a punishment, it does make me look forward to the dreaded Sunday night anxiety that creeps in around 6 pm without fail. 

Look, I’m trying to do the glass half full thing here, OK? 

But seriously, if anyone reading this can hook me up, I’ll make it worth your while. 

The Story

Yellowjackets, created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, tells the story of a plane carrying a girls soccer team — called the Yellowjackets — crashing into the wilderness. 

The vibe is Lord of the Flies meets Alive, and alternates between the timelines of 1996 and 2021 — before the crash, after the crash (and what happens during their time being marooned for 19 months), and present day. 

Only two episodes have aired, so if you’re not caught up, stop reading — there are spoilers ahead. 

Wilderness Survival

The team is on their way to nationals when the plane crashes in a remote Canadian area, and the survivors are forced to reckon with injuries, potential starvation, and the harsh elements of a mostly uninhabited wilderness. 

There are wolves, but I only know that from the previews, and that can’t be good! 

In the first episode, we see one of the teammates being hunted, killed in a trap obviously set for her, and then eaten. 

Yup, we have cannibalism. We only know of one girl being killed and eaten, but it’s early days and they are stuck there for 19 months. It’s a safe bet they’ll eat more of their own. 

It not only tells the story of what happens in the wilderness but what happens to them after they’re rescued and forced to live and reckon with what happened while they were stranded. 

The Cast

First of all, the cast is stacked. 

They gave us Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, and Tawny Cypress in the 2021 timeline. 

They nailed the casting with their 1996 younger selves — Lynskey’s teenaged character, Shauna, is played by Sophie Nèlisse. 

Taissa “Tai” is played by Tawny Cypress, with Jasmin Savoy Brown cast as the teenage version. 

Juliette Lewis plays 2021 Natalie, with Sophie Thatcher stepping in as her 1996 self. 

And in the “holy shit, this chick is not well” category, we have Christina Ricci as older Misty and Samantha Hanratty as her younger self. 

Girls Gone Wild

What I love so much about Yellowjackets is that it shows how girls can become savagely violent — it’s not just for boys!

The sense of dread and unease permeating the show, along with the excellent cast and plot, make it a must-watch. 

What happens in the wilderness won’t stay in the wilderness, because the main storyline is that 25 years later, the central characters mentioned above are being threatened with what happened. 

The survivors have taken a vow of silence, but someone wants to spill their secrets, leading up to a reluctant reunion in order to find out who is talking. 

Is it one of them? Another survivor? That remains to be seen, so stay tuned. 

I know I will. 

Have you seen the first two episodes of ‘Yellowjackets?’ Do you love it as much as we do? Tell us in the comments!

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