Review SkyShowtime Series ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2
From the occult to the full-blown cult, the Yellowjackets mysteries continue to eat away at each episode.
Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Ben Semanoff, Anya Adams, ea | Cast: Melanie Lynskey (Adult Shauna), Courtney Eaton (Young Lottie), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Young Taissa), Christina Ricci (Adult Misty), Juliette Lewis (Adult Natalie) and others | Episodes: 9 | Time to play: 51-61 minutes | Year: 2023
The story of the soccer team stranded in the desert continues, only with more alienating scenes, cult-like mentality, and supernatural influences than ever before. What influences the behavior of young footballers also remains a mystery in the second season. Perfect for anyone who enjoys survival stories, gory scenes, and supernatural mysteries.
There is something that constantly influences girls, but no one knows exactly what it is. Possibly a supernatural force in the forest where they crashed earlier or maybe just simultaneous hallucinations of hunger. This mystery gives the viewer a lot of freedom of interpretation and keeps the arc constantly taut. It also ensures that the series gnaws at viewers long after the final episode, because how many of the gruesome actions can be attributed to the supernatural rather than the girls themselves?
In addition to the part that takes place in the forest in the past, there is a part that tells the present about the survivors. This shows very well how each has traveled their own path after the shared trauma. The second season offers a glimpse into the life of Lottie, who has established a commune on her own. Of course, nothing is as it seems and the commune soon becomes a cult run by rules similar to those of the forest.
Although in some ways this story is quite obvious, this added layer only provides more depth to the story and insight into the actions of the characters. At the same time, the credibility of the characters’ insanity defense is constantly questioned. If it were just external forces, it would arouse empathy too easily and the series wants to make the viewer fight a little more. It causes some discomfort when the series asks the viewer to identify with the characters.
The only unfortunate thing about this split in the story is that there is a clear difference in quality between the two parts. This is mainly due to the overly simplified acting in the adult versions of the characters. When focused on the major emotional plot points, the awkward and often rushed buildup of scenes creates little viewer identification. So even when characters die, it doesn’t stir up much emotion, which unfortunately partially undermines the series.
For their part, the younger actresses provide a beautiful and above all human interpretation of their characters. This causes the viewer to constantly fluctuate between sympathizing with the team and repelling it. This is particularly the case for cannibalism, which is explicitly mentioned several times. These scenes are not suitable for people with stomach problems, but they are so artistically rendered that they have more than just the wow factor. It’s a real addition to the often absurd situations the group find themselves in, which isn’t often said about cannibalism.
yellow jackets can be seen in SkyShowtime.