REVIEW: ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Episode 4 — “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis”

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 is an aggravating watch, and for once, it’s because of the past storyline. The series has such constant can’t-look-away intrigue that it’s easy to gloss over some of its more notable shortcomings—of which there are many. However, in “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,” the biggest issue is glaring: almost none of the teenage characters are likable anymore.

Not that likability is a necessity. There are countless examples of male characters throughout history who are actively despicable. But it’s all about intent. We’re meant to care about the teen Yellowjackets. But as of right now,  of the main crew, it’s mainly Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) who we feel for. The writing pivoted into such severe shifts for these characters that it’s difficult to reconcile them with who we were first introduced to. In some ways, it feels as if this is all part of their means of survival. They must strip away their humanity to live to see another grueling day. But there needed to be a more graceful shift than the bludgeoning we get.

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 puts Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) on trial. Shauna, in an increasingly tiresome act of vengeful rage, suggests they burn him alive since it’s what he’d intended for them. Natalie intervenes, and through Tai’s support, they suggest a trial. While Tai (Jasmin Savoy Brown) runs the prosecution, Natalie will serve as the judge, and Misty (Samantha Hanratty) is selected as Ben’s defense.

The entirety of the trial spells out just how young these girls are. Yes, they’ve had to face immeasurable trauma and brutality throughout their time in the woods, but ultimately, here they’re playing make-believe. They’re wearing costumes and using jargon they don’t understand, yet Ben’s life is in danger. He pleads not guilty, and when Misty calls him forth, he does a good job of rallying the team. More than anything, he seems like the adult in the room despite his life being at stake.

Ben’s life hangs in the balance in Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4.

He pleads his case in the best moment of Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4. No, he didn’t love teaching, and being the assistant coach wasn’t a part of his original life goals. And no, he didn’t even particularly care about kids. But he was charmed by this team.

Ben covered for them and looked out for their best interests. Even more poignantly, he rooted for them and their scrappiness because they were underdogs, a feeling he resonated with as a gay man who didn’t have ties with his family. He wanted them to be able to rely on him and feel safe with him. Krueger is tremendous in the moment, compelling in the character’s sincerity and desperation. It makes the ultimate loss sting more.

Teenage Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) was once the best character in the series. Season 3 is actively letting her down. While her motivations and sense of loss are clear, it doesn’t explain the constant aggression and act first, think later mindset. She doesn’t want Ben to live—either because she believes he’s responsible for her baby’s death or because she’s succumbed to some feeling of bloodlust. Regardless, her bullying tactics work, and after vote after vote, where there are no two-thirds who win, they finally get a majority vote, where Ben is found guilty.

It seems as if something crucial is missing to make this dynamic shift where even Tai looks ready to find Ben guilty. Is it just because he isn’t “one of them?”  There’s a theory related to the color pallet of Season 3—at least as it pertains to the past. In the first few episodes, Yellowjackets paints itself in swaths of sunny golden hues. Yes, the girls have had to do heinous things to survive, but through their strength and perseverance, they’ve survived and created their utopia.

What is really going on in the past?

They’re in touch with nature and are healing from having to literally eat their friends to endure the brutal winter. They have miraculously crafted huts to live in, along with livestock and curated produce. There might be discontent, but it’s hardly the gray misery of winter.

But the idea is that this overlit saturation is a ploy to cover the truth. This is simply how the Yellowjackets are choosing to recall these days. And that the reality is much bleaker. The theory is further sold by Coach Ben’s reaction while walking into camp. On the one hand, he could be impressed by all they’ve achieved. Bitter even that, in comparison, he had to live in a cave and survive off of bats. But an interesting angle is to think that the shock is mixed with horror as he takes in whatever reality the girls (and Travis) aren’t seeing.

That sunlit framing works in contrast with the girls and their vitriolic nature. It adds a different layer of desperation to Ben when he praises them for surviving, and his line, “[I] may not understand your belief system, but I didn’t try to kill you.” Regardless of what’s happening, stronger writing needs to justify the character shifts.

The writing continues to struggle with Tai and Van. 

Meanwhile, the adult versions of the characters aren’t making much headway in their storylines. It is fun, however, to see that Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) continues to find ways to blame anyone for her problems. Even when it becomes abundantly clear that Misty (Christina Ricci) couldn’t have cut her brakes, she still tries to find reasons to be correct.

But Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 continues floundering with Van (Lauren Ambrose) and Tai (Tawny Cypress), especially the latter. There’s just no consistency. Tai believes that the forces that ruled them in the woods are back and that more sacrifices will help keep Van alive. So they drop a Queen of Hearts card and wait to see who picks it up. The intent is to kill whoever does, but how do we root for these characters if so? Where are their lines? They ultimately don’t, and Van has clearly grown a great conscience, but where they were all once interesting and layered characters who underwent unspeakable horrors, they’re now veering into caricature.

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 ends on a major cliffhanger that will uproot the characters and tip the story on its side as it moves forward. Here’s hoping that the characters will get more consistent writing despite the undeniable upheaval heading their way.

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 is streaming now, exclusively on Paramount+ with Showtime.

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