Warning! Spoilers ahead for Yellowjackets season 3, episode 4, “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis!“Yellowjacketsseason 3, episode 4, “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,” sees the show dabble inLaw & Orderterritory. However, the courtroom drama that unfolds in the wilderness, where there’s a distinct lack of courtroom, is far from a fair trial, as emotions run high in the woods with Coach Ben Scott’s return to camp.Yellowjacketsseason 3, episode 3, saw the girls go after Ben and have some exciting hallucinations, but I wanted more from their emotional arcs. Luckily,episode 4 provided stronger scenes in the woods, though the present-day stories took a hit.
“12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” is the least action-packedepisode ofYellowjacketsso far, and the show takes advantage of what could be a lull by pushing its characters.Steven Krueger has been in the backgroundof the first few installments.He rises to the forefront of episode 4,pulling out a weighty emotional performance I came close to believing. Ben has no illusions about the outcome; he leaves because he knows what these girls are capable of. However, we know he didn’t burn down that cabin last season, creating some expert dramatic tension.
“12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis” Pulls Off A Surprisingly Emotional Story
Though The Trial Wasn’t Perfect, I Was Moved By The Performances
Krueger’s Coach Ben is the MVP of the episode. After watching the characters, mostly Shauna, air their grievances at him for most of the episode, he stuns them with a strong emotional appeal and vulnerable confession.Ben has consistently been the reminder that these girls didn’t always worship the wildernessand that the world is still revolving out there somewhere. His speech brings many of the characters back down to Earth, if only for a moment, and lets them process some of the trauma they’ve endured.
Grief is a huge part ofYellowjackets,and this was the first time this season the show grappled with it. I was slightly shocked by how much the adult characters took Nat’s death in their stride at the top of the season. They might be desensitized, but losing one of their own should’ve had more fallout. It wasn’t happy to see the young women in the woods take a moment to miss their lives, but it was a beat that needed to happen. For all they’ve built, these girls are still in hell and can’t forget it.
No matter what she says during the trial, we know she’s desperate to be queen, and the taste of power and persuasion will only fan the flames of this obsession.
The question of who burned the cabin down will likely plague the young women in the wilderness and could be Shauna’s way to dethrone Nat. No matter what she says during the trial, we know she’s desperate to be queen, and the taste of power and persuasion will only fan the flames of this obsession. In the present, adult Shauna reflects on losing this spark, but it feels like a rehash of what we already know.Both Shaunas are poised to make big decisions,and I want to seeYellowjacketspush them even harder.
Van and Tai’s arc in the present escalated extremely quickly,with the pair more than happy to keep feeding the wilderness what it wants to keep Van’s cancer away. It seemsYellowjacketsseason 3 has entirely forgotten about Tai’s wife and child, but for now, I’ll let that go. However, each of the women in the present is in a bit of a holding pattern, attempting to hold on to the threads of their normal lives as it becomes more clear the wilderness has grabbed hold and won’t let go. Everyone is too calm and collected.
Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 4 Slows Down The Action, Building To Something Bigger
I Hope Yellowjackets Has Exciting Plans For The Upcoming Midway Point
Yellowjacketsstill hasn’t found the right balance between its past and present storylines, and with only ten episodes in the season, the upcoming midpoint needs to pack a punch. It doesn’t bother me there wasn’t running, screaming, or cannibalism. The series needs to take a break so those significant moments land. However,slowing down the momentum must meanYellowjacketshas something unforgettable planned for episode 5that will start to fit the pieces together. I’m ready for confirmation of the supernatural elements, and I think the characters are, too.
It’s becoming a recurring theme forYellowjacketsseason 3 to end on a huge cliffhanger with every episode, and “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” is no exception. The big twist in the episode’s final moments was shocking, but I’m not ready to believe it yet, asYellowjacketshasn’t been afraid to trick me before. However, what I am looking forward to is the fact that if this narrative turn can be taken at face value, it will bring the present-day characters back together and give them something to investigate, which is an arc season 3 desperately needs.
Yellowjacketsairs weekly each Friday at 3 AM EST/12 AM PST on Paramount+ and on Sundays at 8 PM EST/5 PM PST on Showtime.
Yellowjackets
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.
