Pilot

What does a talented teen girls soccer team on its way to a national competition have to do with a costumed, gothic ritual deep in the woods-which may or may not involve cannibalism?!? If you'd like to know that connection, I suggest you watch the Showtime series "Yellowjackets," the second season of which began yesterday, 24 Mar 2023. The unusual approach the show takes with its plot includes two parallel timelines: the first is the teens' harrowing survival experiences over their 19 months after the violent & tragic crash of their chartered plane circa 1996; the other timeline occurs 25 years later in the present day, as the (mostly) mature women deal with their families, addictions and the ongoing aftermath of their extreme traumas. Talk about your PTSD! The always interesting actors Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci, play three of the surviving women in the present. But the surprising revelation is the ensemble portraying them at high school age: Sophie Thatcher (who even lowers the register of her voice to match Juliette's more closely), Sophie Nélisse (who manages to capture the conflicting thoughts and emotions in this and so many of Melanie's characters) and Samantha Hanratty (whose HS tormentors declare her on the telephone to be "so weird," which Ms. Ricci undoubtedly heard at eight years old starring in "The Addams Family") I'm rating the pilot episode a 7/10, but the show has the potential to do/get/be even better!

At first, I was expecting another teen/ya series like "I know what you did last summer", but it actually is much more than that.

I really like the "adult" side of the story, especially with such a great cast.

I really hope the writing gets stronger and better as the episodes go.

Thoroughly enjoyed the pilot and I'm dying to see the next episodes to see where it's going. I don't find it confusing at all how they switch back and forth to the 90's and now. It's something a little different. Has two stories wrapped into one big story and you can't wait to see where it's going. I'm in.

SweeZ.

The pilot episode of "Yellowjackets," created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson and directed by Karyn Kusama, stands as an impressive and multifaceted introduction to this Showtime thriller drama series. This episode intricately weaves the eerie survival story of a New Jersey high school girls' soccer team stranded in the Canadian wilderness with the repercussions of their harrowing experience 25 years later. The storytelling unfolds across two timelines-1996, when the plane crashes, and 2021, revealing the long-term psychological scars haunting the survivors. The layered narrative framework immediately invites the audience into a complex exploration of survival, trauma, and identity.

From its opening moments, the episode sets a tone that is both foreboding and gripping. The cold open plunges viewers into intense, violent aftermath scenes that hint at dark, cannibalistic survival tactics, immediately establishing an atmosphere of tension and mystery. This ruthless and brutal introduction not only shocks but also serves as a compelling hook, prompting urgent questions about the circumstances leading up to such extremities. Kusama's direction here is taut and atmospheric, balancing suspense with emotional nuance, allowing the dread of the unknown to lurk beneath the imposing natural wilderness landscape.

The episode meticulously establishes its central characters, skillfully differentiating each young woman's personality and dynamics within the team prior to the crash. The cast's performances are a notable strength, with Ella Purnell's Jackie Taylor emerging as the determined, cohesive team captain; Sophie Nélisse's Shauna Shipman portraying an introverted figure grappling with inner conflicts; and Jasmin Savoy Brown's Taissa Turner presenting the character of a politically ambitious, focused young woman. These portrayals hint at complex psychological layers, which the show promises to unravel across timelines. Melanie Lynskey, in particular, shines brilliantly in her adult Shauna role, embodying the long-lasting trauma with subtlety and depth.

Narratively, the episode oscillates between moments of tension, character development, and eerie calm, which is masterfully paced. While the dual timelines might initially feel disorienting, they enrich the storytelling, allowing viewers to piece together fragments from past and present and engage with the characters' evolution across decades. The "campfire scene" is especially pivotal, a chilling convergence of vulnerability and terrifying desperation that beautifully encapsulates the episode's thematic focus on the fragility and darkness underlying adolescence and survival instincts.

The writing by Lyle and Nickerson is taut yet unapologetically complex, interspersing suspense with explorations of female friendship, betrayal, and identity crises. Unlike many series that lean heavily on sensational twists, the pilot demonstrates a commitment to authentic character work and psychological depth, subverting expectations by focusing more on character-driven storytelling than on mere plot mechanics. The narrative carefully balances a "Lord of the Flies" atmosphere with a modern coming-of-age trauma tale, making "Yellowjackets" feel both timeless and contemporary within the survival thriller genre.

Visually, the cinematography is atmospheric and haunting. The wilderness is rendered as a menacing, almost sentient presence, with muted color palettes evoking coldness and isolation. The contrast between the claustrophobic spaces of the survival timeline and the sleek, often sterile environments of 2021 underscores the alienation and fractured psyche of the adult survivors. Kusama's direction employs restrained but impactful editing, which maintains tension without sacrificing clarity, all while allowing moments of stillness to deepen emotional beats. The pacing, though slow in moments, serves the story's slow-burn unfolding of trauma and mystery.

Thematically, the episode critically probes the intersection of collective trauma, female psychology, and the social pressures of adolescence. It foregrounds the primal instincts born of desperation, tearing away the veneer of innocence from the all-girls soccer team and exposing darker human impulses such as betrayal, madness, and survival violence. The dual timeline structure further invites reflection on how trauma reverberates across lifetimes, shaping identity and relationships long after the physical wounds heal. This positions "Yellowjackets" not just as a survival drama but as a nuanced meditation on memory, guilt, and resilience.

Yet, the episode is not without its flaws. Some viewers might find the switching between timelines initially confusing, potentially diminishing narrative cohesion for those unfamiliar with multi-strand narratives. There is also a risk that the multitude of mysteries introduced-such as the identity of the "Antler Queen" and the exact circumstances of the community's descent into cannibalism-could overwhelm character focus if overly prolonged. Furthermore, certain character archetypes, like the "party girl" or "paranoid schizophrenic," are introduced rapidly, sometimes trading subtlety for immediate plot shorthand, which might undermine nuanced character development if not handled with care in episodes to come.

Within the cultural and cinematic landscape, "Yellowjackets" resonates strongly with a lineage of survival and psychological horror works. It calls to mind the thematic intensity of "Lord of the Flies," the narrative fragmentation reminiscent of "Lost," and the darker psychological explorations found in teen dramas such as "Big Little Lies" and "Mare of Easttown." The series also aligns with contemporary trends emphasizing complex female-driven narratives that interrogate trauma, identity, and social dynamics, thus contributing meaningfully to ongoing conversations about gender and survival in extreme circumstances.

The series' aesthetic combines the grim rustic wilderness survival with the urban sophistication of the present day, visually and narratively merging past and present to form a holistic tableau of trauma's timeline. Kusama's direction infuses this with a feminist sensibility that foregrounds female experience and resilience, along with the fractures born from shared pasts. This distinguishes "Yellowjackets" from more traditional survival stories by emphasizing the internal psychological terrains as much as the external physical ones.

The opening episode's soundtrack selection-such as the poignant use of Paloma Faith covering INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart"-enhances the emotional resonance, linking the past camaraderie and future fractures of the group, adding an aural layer that subtly narrates loss and the passage of time. Music here acts as a connective tissue between timelines, moods, and themes, complementing the visual and narrative elements with a nostalgic yet mournful tone.

In sum, the pilot of "Yellowjackets" is a compelling starting point that successfully builds intrigue and emotional complexity through its ensemble cast, layered timelines, and focused themes of survival and trauma. Its strengths lie in strong performances, sharp writing, and a moody directorial style that draws viewers deeply into the characters' harrowing and mysterious journey. While it carries the challenge of balancing multiple mysteries and rich character arcs, the episode instills a promise of complexity and depth that distinguishes it from typical survival dramas.

Ultimately, "Yellowjackets" pilot demands that viewers reflect on the nature of survival beyond mere physical endurance-highlighting the psychological scars and fractured relationships that emerge under extreme conditions. It challenges the audience to grapple not only with the primal horrors of abandonment but also with the lingering shadows cast decades later. The episode stands as a bold, mature examination of trauma's lasting imprint, compelling viewers to consider how past horrors shape present realities, especially among women who must navigate not only the wilderness but also societal expectations and inner demons. This makes the series a potent, original contribution to contemporary television, encouraging an engagement that transcends typical genre boundaries.

If the trajectory established here continues-with its emphasis on psychological nuance, narrative depth, and potent female performances-"Yellowjackets" has the potential not only to captivate but also to provoke meaningful cultural conversations about survival, memory, and identity in the modern age.

Rewatching the first season...

The opening scene is absolutely brutal, disturbing and terrifying. All the scenes in the wilderness really set up the rest of the season, it's hard to really appreciate during the first watch through. Bad sexual experiences are prominent, Jackie is basically scrubbed like a washboard, and Shauna has a moderately disturbing, and slightly depressing, moment on her daughters bed. The whole scene at the kegger in the woods is foretelling future scenes, especially Natalie. Man, those scenes in the woods.... just creepy.

I am biased because of age, this show has the best soundtrack of any series I've seen. I've watched some movies that were equally fantastic, as far as TV goes, this is it. Also, casting, so many shows do the transition from Young/Old so poorly, this show absolutely nails it.

My biggest knock is the Soccer scenes, not done particularly well. Pretty obvious with the cinematography, all the shots below the waist, the production was poor. Eitherway, Melanie Lynskey was something special, as was her fountain of youth doppelganger, Sophie Nélisse.