Pilot

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.

"Yellowjackets" has one of the best pilot episodes of any show I've ever watched. Right from the opening scene, viewers can feel the intensity and fear of the victim and it makes you wonder, "how did this happen?" I also think this episode does a remarkable job setting up the characters and their dynamics with each other, both prior to the crash as well as in the current timeline. Every single character is intriguing and has dealt with their trauma differently. Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson did a brilliant job writing this episode. Karyn Kusama was also a great pick to direct this episode, and I hope she returns to direct more episodes in season 2.

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!

Okay so first off, let me say that I am posting this review in March of 2024, as I not-so-patiently wait for season 3, which is many months away. I recently decided to re-watch YJ's first 2 seasons. After re-watching the pilot, I came to a realization, which prompted me to write this review. Until recently, I would have said that either "Alias," "Lost," or "24" has the best pilot, but YJ's S1E1 now has the title. From the instant-classic truly brutal cold open, to the riveting montage as the girls prepare to leave (accompanied by Paloma Faith's excellent cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart"), to the spine-tingling climactic campfire scene, this is pure gold from beginning to end.

It doesn't take too long for viewers to find out that this nice group of supposedly squeaky-clean soccer-playing girls is anything but. Shauna and Jackie seem like life-long besties until we're shown a shocking act of behind-the-back betrayal. Another girl, who is supposedly one of the leaders of the team, commits a brutal act of violence on a teammate that will ironically turn out to be the best thing she could do for her. Another girl is a paranoid schizophrenic who has to be forced to take her meds, which will of course run out when they're stranded. Yet another girl is clearly a sociopath (she likes throwing rats in her pool and watching them drown; as an adult, she enjoys inflicting mental and emotional abuse on her patients, as she is a nurse at a nursing home). There's also an alcoholic drug addict on the team. Yeah, so we're taking a group of unstable teenage girls and putting them into basically hell on earth (cold instead of hot). Talk about a recipe for disaster.

I saw an interview with producer Jonathan Lisco, who said they have faced some criticism from some who have said the 3 or 4 infamous scenes from the pilot (no spoilers, but most of you will know the scenes I am talking about) give away too much. His response was that the show is not to be about IF they get to that point, but HOW and WHY. This show would not work if they didn't have those scenes. Even though - through the end of season 2 - S1E1 is the only episode to have scenes from that point in the story, these scenes hang over every second of the entire show. In the past, we know what fate is in store for these girls, and how bad it will get for them, and it's terrifying. In the present, we know that - even 25 years later - survivors of such a horrific situation will be permanently scarred and haunted by these events. Yes, the producers took a huge risk doing it this way, and it's utterly brilliant.

One more quick note: I would say that YJ has easily one of the best casts of any show ever, particular the younger cast. In the hands of lesser actors, a show with such a brutal and bizarre premise would come off as campy and absurd. The whole cast is great, but my personal fav is Sophie Thatcher (young Natalie) whose performance, especially in season 2, is jaw-dropping.

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.