This article contains mentions of suicide.
Yellowjacketshas several deaths throughout season 1, each one contributing to the overall narrative. The first season of Showtime’s horror drama seriesYellowjacketshas finally come to Netflix, and rediscovering the intense drama has been exciting. From the evasive and intriguing introduction of cannibalism to the mystery of Jackie Taylor’s death, the show’s shifts between 1996 and 2021 set up plenty of present-day conflicts among the survivors. The show is acompelling narrative with many twists and turns that heighten the stakes, all building to theexplosive ending forYellowjacketsseason 1.
Considering that the show revolves around a high school soccer team surviving a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness,Yellowjacketshas its fair share of character deaths. This is especially true in the first season. In fact,Yellowjacketsseason 3will most likely bring even more shocking demises to the narrative, including cannibalism. The deaths in season 1 set the stage for those stakes, however. Here’show eachYellowjacketsdeath in season 1impacts the story and moves it forward, whether it is a central or minor character.
The Victim In Yellowjackets' Opening Sequence
Episode 1, “Pilot”: Unknown Girl Dies From Falling Into A Trap
Yellowjacketsis notorious for its opening sequence of an unknown girl running through the woods, eventually falling to her death in a pit. Another scene in the same episode reveals survivors from the plane crash hosting a ritual before devouring the girl’s body, effectively introducing cannibalism. It is a shocking beginning, but it setsthe stakes and tone for the remainder of the show. ThroughoutYellowjacketsseason 1, it is widely presumed that the dead girl isJackie Taylor because she is wearing her necklace.
Yellowjackets' Pit Girl: Who Gets Killed & Eaten In The Opening Scene?
Yellowjackets episode 1’s flash-forward depicted the girls eating one of their teammates, with only a few characters fitting the victim’s description.
However,Yellowjacketsseason 1 later reveals that Jackie Taylor dies from other causes,leaving Pit Girl’s identity a mystery. The show’s second season does not reveal her identity either, making this character one of thebiggest mysteries going intoYellowjacketsseason 3. There are several possibilities regarding Pit Girl’s identity, with the most popular theory being Mari, one of Lottie’s most fervent supporters. However, there are other contenders for Pit Girl’s identity, given that several members of the soccer team survived the initial plane crash. This includes characters like Gen and Melissa.
Yellowjackets' Unknown Plane Crash Victims
Episode 2, “F Sharp”: Several Passengers Die Upon Crashing
The first episode ofYellowjacketsends with the high school team’s plane dropping into the Canadian wilderness.Yellowjacketsseason 1, episode 2, “F Sharp,” confirms the plane crash casualties, which range in brutality. It appears that many of the passengers initially survived the crash, but there are still several fatalities. Misty finds the pilot and the captain with their heads smashed against the airplane’s front window. Misty also finds one of her team members still in her seat, fatally impaled through the throat by a metal object. A fire at the back of the airplane killed another unknown person.
Soccer Player (Goalie)
Liv Hewson | Lauren Ambrose
One of the main characters, Van, was also presumed to have died from the fire. However, the narrative later reveals she escaped just in time.The most shocking death from the initial plane crash was Coach Bill Martinez, the head coach of the girls' soccer team. As the plane crashed, he fell out of the aircraft, landing on a tree branch that fatally impaled him. Although his son, Travis, climbs the tree to determine if he is still alive, Coach Martinez is clearly deceased.
Travis Martinez
Episode 3, “The Dollhouse”: Travis' Cause Of Death Is Initially Suicide
At the end ofYellowjacketsseason 1, episode 3, “The Dollhouse,” an adult Misty Quigley and Natalie Scatorccio find Travis Martinez dead, hanging from a crane at his work site. Although the authorities believe Travis committed suicide, Natalie is convinced he was targeted and is determined to prove otherwise. This season 1 arc helpedestablish the suspenseful tonethat has largely driven theYellowjacketsstoryline focused on the adult versions of the plane crash survivors.
However, Natalie does not learn the truth about Travis until the second season ofYellowjackets. Despite her suspicions about Travis' death, it turns out to be more tragic than anyone expected. During a confrontation with Lottie Matthews, Natalie finds out thatTravis accidentally killed himself.Travis' death is a critical storyline inYellowjacketsseason 1. Natalie’s hunt for the truth inevitably leads to her kidnapping, as well as the shocking revelation that Lottie has been alive this entire time.
Laura Lee
Episode 8, “Flight Of The Bumblebee”: Laura Dies In A Plane Explosion While Attempting To Get Help
Laura Lee, one of the soccer players with a deep, unwavering faith in Christianity, dies shockingly inYellowjacketsseason 1, episode 8, “Flight of the Bumblebee.” Laura decides to fly a jet the girls find in the woods because she believes a bird flying away is a signal for her to fly the plane to find help. The girls prepare the jet for Laura’s departure, and she takes off shortly afterward. At first, her flight is seemingly successful, but her prized teddy bear in the passenger seat catches fire,quickly spreading throughout the aircraft.
Laura Lee’s death causes Lottie to spiral, losing herself to the darkness in the Canadian wilderness.
As a result, Laura inhales a significant amount of smoke. Her actual death occurs becausethe fire leads to the plane exploding altogether. Laura Lee’s death is a pivotal moment in the narrative, especially for her closest friend, Lottie Matthews. Lottie had been struggling because she ran out of medication and began having visions, and Laura Lee kept her grounded while encouraging Lottie and her visions in a healthy manner. However, Laura Lee’s death causes Lottie to spiral, losing herself to the darkness in the Canadian wilderness.
Adam Martin
Episode 9, “Doomcoming”: Shauna Stabs Adam After Believing He Betrayed Her
Adam Martin is a supporting character in the present timeline ofYellowjacketsseason 1. Shauna Shipman meets him during a fender bender. They eventually begin an affair because Shauna believes that her husband, Jeff, is also having an affair. However, Shauna quickly learns that Adam lied about his past, and a series of circumstances leads Shauna to believe he was blackmailing the Yellowjackets soccer team members. During their confrontation,Shauna fatally stabs Adam in his stomach. Unfortunately, Shauna learns that Jeff was the blackmailer because he needed money for his failing furniture business.
Shauna decides to protect her husband by allowing her friends to believe Adam is the blackmailer, and they subsequently cover up Adam’s murder. Adam Martin’s death sets up a storyline inYellowjacketsseason 2 that involves detectives pursuing the truth about Adam’s disappearance. Shauna is almost caught several times, but Jeff helps her get away with murder.Adam Martin’s death is critical to Shauna’s character arc. It underscores the fact that Shauna will always have a dark instinct to kill inside her, with or without the Canadian wilderness.
Gloria DeGenaro
Episode 10, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi”: Misty Quigley’s Elderly Patient Dies Of A Stroke
Gloria DeGenaro is not a very important character inYellowjackets. Initially, her only purpose in the narrative is to be Misty’s patient in an elderly care facility and help portray the depths of Misty’s appalling treatment. However,Gloria’s unexpected death serves a purpose in the larger narrative. This makes this minor demise important to a major overarching thread, even if Gloria still isn’t as significant as other characters.
At the beginning ofYellowjacketsseason 1, episode 10, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi,” Misty learns that Gloria has died of a stroke. After being brought into the conspiracy to help Shauna cover up the death of Adam Martin, Misty uses Gloria’s death as the ideal opportunity to hide the remnants of Adam’s body. Attending Gloria’s funeral,Misty successfully hides his body in Gloria’s coffin, effectively hiding the evidence of the murder.
Jessica Roberts
Episode 10, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi”: Misty Kills Jessica By Injecting Her Cigarettes
Jessica Roberts is another supporting character inYellowjacketsseason 1. She claims to be a journalist interested in investigating the soccer team’s plane crash. However, Misty Quigley suspects Jessica is hiding something, so Misty kidnaps her and holds her hostage in the basement. Although Jessica tries to bargain with Misty, she does not get anywhere until Adam Martin’s death because Misty believes that Jessica is the blackmailer. After Adam dies, Misty seemingly lets Jessica go, butJessica passes out in her car shortly afterward because Misty had spiked her cigarettes with drugs.
InYellowjacketsseason 2,Misty reveals that she “took care” of Jessica Roberts, implying that whatever Misty injected Jessica’s cigarettes with killed her. Jessica Roberts' death is critical to the narrative. Itreveals the lengths Misty will go to protect her interests, a consistent pattern sinceMisty destroyed the black boxin “F Sharp.” Misty also reveals that she learned what Jessica was after — Taissa had hired Jessica to evaluate the girls secretly in preparation for Taissa’s political career.
Jackie Taylor
Episode 10, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi”: Jackie Freezes To Death
Jackie Taylor was the most anticipated death inYellowjacketsseason 1. The 2021-set narrative suggests Jackie died during their time in the Canadian wilderness. The entire season built to that fateful moment. Although she was initially assumed to be Pit Girl,Jackie Taylor’s deathwas much simpler and darker. After confronting Shauna about sleeping with her boyfriend, Jackie storms out of the cabin and sleeps outside. However, it unexpectedly snows overnight, and Shauna wakes up the next morning to discoverJackie has frozen to death. Shauna screaming in grief as Taissa holds her is the most heartwrenching moment inYellowjackets.
It’s Time We All Admit The Truth About Jackie In Yellowjackets
It is now time to admit an undeniable truth about Jackie Taylor from Yellowjackets, one of the main characters from the show’s first season.
Jackie’s death was expected to be much grander, but the simplicity of it all is what makes it the most devastating. It is especially heartbreaking becauseShauna and Jackie never resolved their conflict. The last time they spoke to each other ended in an explosive fight that seemed to break their friendship. It is one of the many reasons why Jackie Taylor continues to haunt Shauna in the present, even though it is 25 years later. It’s one of the most effective dramatic beats inYellowjacketsseason 1, highlighting the different ways death impacts the narrative.
Yellowjackets
Cast
Yellowjackets is a television series exploring the survival ordeal of a high school girls' soccer team stranded in the remote wilderness after a plane crash. It interweaves psychological horror and coming-of-age themes, simultaneously depicting their harrowing transformation and its lasting impact on their lives 25 years later.
