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Ready for the thrilling continuation of young female soccer players' adventures in the Canadian mountains?
If you’re a fan of suspenseful, survivalist series with a hint of mystery, you must have heard about Showtime’s phenomenon, “Yellowjackets.” For those who have already binged the first season, you’re probably eagerly waiting to unravel the fate of the female soccer team stranded in the Canadian mountains after a tragic plane crash. And if you haven’t dived into the series yet, now is the perfect time to catch up!
In this article, learn about “Yellowjackets,” a recap of season 1, the fascinating queer characters, a sneak peek at what to expect in season 2, and a glimpse of the cast, which includes more LGBTQ+ actresses than in season 1. Buckle up, it’s going to be quite a ride!
“Yellowjackets” is a gripping series created by married couple Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson and launched in 2022 that blends the genres of thriller, drama, and horror.
The show tells the story of a female soccer team that heads to the national championship in 1996. However, their plane crashed in the Canadian mountains, leaving them stranded in a hostile environment without rescue or communication. With no choice but to survive, they must endure hunger, cold, wild animals, and internal tensions that threaten to tear them apart. As time passes, their sanity disintegrates, and they resort to cannibalism...
The series also captures an intriguing interplay between the past and the present, with the adult survivors, who are now 25 years older, attempting to rebuild their lives, while hiding their horrific secret. But when they receive an ominous message, they realize that someone knows what they did and that they must face the consequences of their actions.
What sets “Yellowjackets” apart is its sapphic dimension, highlighting complex and diverse sapphic characters like Van and Taissa, who are not mere stereotypes or accessories but central to the plot and dynamics of the group.
“Yellowjackets” is an inclusive and socially conscious series that tackles universal themes such as survival, identity, guilt, and forgiveness. The show's characters experience love, friendship, rivalry, betrayal, and redemption while facing their fears, desires, regrets, and hopes. They are humans, with strengths and weaknesses.
“Yellowjackets” celebrates female diversity and solidarity without denying human violence and cruelty.
Yellowjackets’ first season introduced us to the show’s main characters, including Shauna, Jackie, Misty, Natalie, Taissa, Lottie, Laura, and Vanessa. It also featured their harrowing airplane crash and subsequent survival in the wilderness. Through the season, we got a glimpse into their current lives, 25 years after the crash. This added further depth and complexity to their characters.
Shauna, who was pregnant at the time of the crash, finds herself in a complicated situation. She develops an ambiguous relationship with her best friend Jackie, who is also her rival. The reason is that Shauna is romantically involved with Jeff, Jackie’s boyfriend, and the father of her unborn child. Despite this, Shauna quickly adjusts to life in the wilderness after the crash and forms an unlikely bond with Taissa. However, the harrowing experience of surviving in the woods, which includes violence and cannibalism, leaves a profound impact on her psyche.
In 2021, Shauna is married to Jeff and has a teenage daughter named Callie. However, she feels dissatisfied with her life as a stay-at-home mother and has a strained relationship with her daughter. When Shauna suspects Jeff may be having an affair, she is drawn to Adam, a mysterious and unexpected acquaintance who appears in her life. Unfortunately, things take a dark turn when she discovers that Adam has been digging into her past in the forest. After a deadly altercation, Shauna is left to deal with the aftermath, all while being tormented by an elusive and menacing crow who seems to know all of her secrets. With the help of her former teammates Misty, Taissa, and Natalie, Shauna navigates the dangerous path ahead, working to protect the truth and their shared history.
Meet Jackie - the charismatic captain of the Yellowjackets women’s soccer team, Shauna’s best friend, and Jeff’s love interest. While Jackie’s ambition and beauty are undeniable, her manipulative and self-centered nature often leaves those around her feeling uneasy. Though she’s supposed to be a role model for her team, Jackie hides a deep, dark secret - she’s been carrying on a forbidden relationship with Ben Scott, the assistant coach of the Yellowjackets soccer team.
When tragedy strikes, and the team’s plane crashes in the middle of nowhere, Jackie’s survival instinct kicks into high gear. She becomes fixated on reuniting with civilization and pursuing fame at any cost. Jackie clashes with the other girls, who embrace their new environment and adopt unconventional practices to survive. This puts her at odds with Natalie and even causes her to question her friendship with Shauna.
But Jackie’s desire for fame only heightens tensions, and her manipulative nature threatens to tear the group apart. And in a shocking turn of events, Jackie tragically succumbs to hypothermia in the final episode of season 1 after spending the night outside following a heated altercation with the other survivors. Despite her faults, Jackie’s complex, multifaceted character leaves a lasting impression on those around her, and she’ll be sorely missed.
Misty is a solitary and obsessive nurse in the present, but in the past, she was a dedicated, yet marginalized teenager. Her medical expertise proves to be a valuable asset for the other girls. However, her tendency to manipulate also makes her a potential threat. As the first season concludes, an FBI agent investigating the mystery surrounding the survivors confronts Misty. It is also revealed that she has been secretly monitoring her former friends through hidden cameras - a revelation that could change everything.
We follow Natalie’s journey across two timelines - her adolescence in the Canadian forest where she confronts hunger, cold, and danger, and her present as a drug-addicted rock star haunted by her past. Despite Jackie’s authority, Natalie is a rebellious spirit who fearlessly challenges it. After the crash, she becomes proficient with a hunting rifle and begins a relationship with Travis. She also bonds with Misty.
As the story unfolds, we learn of Natalie’s involvement in acts of violence, drug abuse, and cannibalism during her time in the woods. This leaves her with post-traumatic stress disorder and overwhelming guilt. Furthermore, she also becomes the target of a mysterious harasser who threatens to expose her secrets to the world. To face their shared past and an unknown enemy, Natalie reunites with her former teammates.
Taissa is a talented and ambitious soccer player who aspires to become a lawyer. She began a secret romantic relationship with Vanessa, also known as Van, just before the plane crash that left them stranded in the forest. Taissa finds an unlikely friend in Shauna amidst the crash chaos.
Fast forward to the present day: Taissa is now a married woman with two children and campaigning as a state senator for New Jersey. However, she struggles to conceal her sexuality and traumatic past from her family and constituents, leading her to hide behind a facade of lies.
Vanessa narrowly escaped death in the tragic plane crash. However, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of resentment towards Jackie for not helping her escape the fire.
As Vanessa processes her emotions, she finds solace in her secret relationship with Taissa. This relationship becomes public knowledge as the two kisses later in the season. Buoyed by their official couple status, Van and Taissa take their love to the next level. They succumb to their passion deep in the woods after being exposed to Misty Quigley’s magic mushrooms.
Meet Lottie, a rebellious and mystic young woman fascinated by occult and psychedelic experiences. Her curiosity leads her to consume hallucinogenic mushrooms found in the forest, which unlocks a world of visions and premonitions. Soon after, she becomes the leader of a cult that worships nature and practices bloody rituals.
In the present day, Lottie is a lonely and unstable woman who lives in a run-down motel, haunted by mental health issues. As she contemplates suicide, a group of four individuals barge into her room and kidnap her, forcing her to confront her past and confront the dark forces that have haunted her ever since.
Laura, a pastor’s daughter, is a devout believer who finds solace in her faith after the crash. She continues to hold deep convictions and moral values despite the horrors she must face. She befriends Lottie, who comforts her in this difficult situation. Unfortunately, her adventure ends tragically when the girls find a plane in the woods. Laura then learns how to fly the plane, successfully, but dies in the ensuing explosion.
“Yellowjackets” season 1 was a massive hit that captivated audiences, leaving us eager for more.
The highly anticipated second season of “Yellowjackets” picks up where the last one left off, with the cliffhanger that left us all on the edge of our seats. What’s in store for Shauna, Taissa, Misty, and the rest of the survivors? Who is the mysterious hunter tracking them in the present? And what secrets from their past remain to be revealed?
Showtime has unveiled the official synopsis for season 2 of “Yellowjackets,” promising further exploration of the survivors’ return to civilization and the internal and external threats they face. Here is the official synopsis of “Yellowjackets season 2”:
“The Yellowjackets barely made it through summer, but now as winter begins to bite, we’ll see if hunger and desperation turn into full-on psychosis. Meanwhile, 25 years later, each survivor must determine if the darkness is coming for them or from them.”
Jonathan Lisco, the executive producer and one of the writers of the show, revealed in a recent interview that season 2 examines societal breakdown and women’s quest for self-discovery. It revolves around the raw emotions of frustration and anger while highlighting the personal struggles women encounter in a world still mostly ruled by men. Through its exploration of female rage, season 2 guarantees to provide an intense and thought-provoking experience, offering insight into modern society's complex gender dynamics.
“Now we’re really exploring female rage,” he told Empire. “In the past, it’s about the falling away of social constructs, even more than last season. In the present, I think each of these women is being forced to reckon with who they really are, which they’ve been able to deny most of their adult lives.”
“Yellowjackets” has an outstanding cast of talented and charismatic actresses, making it a true force to be reckoned with. Without further ado, here’s the list of the main characters of season 2 and the incredible actresses who brought them to life:
As the captivating second season of “Yellowjackets” unfolds, a host of intriguing recurring characters join our main cast. It includes:
And here is the list of guest stars in “Yellowjackets” season 2:
The official trailer for “Yellowjackets” season 2 leaves us eagerly anticipating the upcoming episodes. In short, this trailer promises even more tension, mystery, and horror!
The second season of “Yellowjackets” has been streaming since March 24, 2023, on Showtime and Paramount+, and since March 26 on the Showtime channel. The series is also available on SKY in the United Kingdom and Canal+ in France.
The second season will consist of eight episodes, like the first season, with each episode lasting approximately one hour.
The third season of “Yellowjackets” has officially been confirmed! But that’s not all - the showrunners have taken an unorthodox approach to the show’s length. Rather than adhering to a set number of seasons, they plan to let the story unfold naturally and dynamically before making any decisions. Originally intended to be a five-season story, co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson are open to extending or shortening the series depending on how the story progresses. No matter what happens, one thing’s for sure - you can anticipate more thrilling and suspenseful entertainment in the near future.
If you haven’t watched “Yellowjackets” yet, I highly recommend it! This original, captivating, and bold show features complex and diverse female characters. The new season of “Yellowjackets” has just started, and I can’t wait to discover what’s in store for these extraordinary women. What do you think happened in the woods? And what are your expectations for the new season? Feel free to share your comments below!
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