A review by Miranda Martin
*Note: spoilers for the Showtime series ‘Yellowjackets’ ahead.*
Showtime’s latest new series ‘Yellowjackets’ has taken the world by storm, and I’m certifiably obsessed myself. This show is a masterclass in screenwriting, atmosphere, and mystery, but I have one crucial question– will it stay that way?
Season 1 of ‘Yellowjackets’ recently ended with a bang, and, spoiler alert, we learned the answers to many questions that had been posed throughout the season, including how Jackie died in the wilderness, who may be running the larger blackmailing enterprise in the present timeline (we see you, Lottie), and the identity of Adam Martin, who ended up being harmless (albeit a near-miss nuclear weapon in Shawna’s fragile marriage). We also learned more about Taissa Turner, and things got a little freaky in that storyline… However, for all the answers we did receive, there were still plenty we didn’t (and lots of new threads opened), which leads me to ask: will ‘Yellowjackets’ remain this good, or will it pull a ‘Lost’ and lose its way entirely?
Let me backup and explain my position a bit more clearly: when I first started watching this series, I assumed it was going to be a miniseries with a singular season and plot threads that would be introduced then neatly tied up in the span of ten episodes. After I got a few episodes in, however, I realized more new questions were being posed than answered, and then I heard the news that the show was greenlit for a season two. “Oh,” I thought, “That explains a lot.”
This series isn’t meant to be a limited run stint, which makes sense– there are still so many things we viewers don’t know, and so much the showrunners can explore in season two (including more about Lottie’s homemade wilderness cult and Shawna’s baby in the 1996 timeline, and Travis’ supposed murder in the present), but I have a sincere fear that things will, well, fly off the rails if the show runs for too long.
Well, let’s put it this way– too much of a good thing isn’t always great, and sometimes shows can be ruined by their own grandiose ambitions (or the studios’ desire to generate revenue for as many seasons as they can possibly muster, frankly), and it can stunt a series creative growth if the plot becomes stretched too thin.
In this first season, ‘Yellowjackets’ confronted viewers with the harsh realities of coming-of-age truths in the midst of tragedy, and how trauma can shape the rest of our life experiences. In short, season one was amazing and likely the most original television program I’d seen in years. From Taissa’s sleepwalking and creepy dual-personality plotline to Shawna’s affair and guilt surrounding Jackie’s death (and having Jeff’s baby, and marrying him, and…) to Natalie and Travis’ whirlwind romance, to crazy Misty’s strange character motivations and cunning decisions, this series has it all in terms of creating compelling characters entwined in mysteries that viewers are chomping at the bit to unravel– but maybe that, in the end, will be this series’ downfall.
I hope I’m wrong. I sincerely hope this series remains as stunning and compelling as it was in its debut first season (which was 10/10 incredible, IMO) and doesn’t “fly off the rails” by engaging in an attempted 8+ season stint (looking at you, ‘Lost’ and ‘Game of Thrones’, which both ended horribly after a strong start). I hope this series remains gritty, raw, and engaging in an appropriate amount of time and doesn’t result in endless questions being posed without sufficient answers– I hope, I hope, I hope.
In the meantime, I recommend everyone watch season one because, like I said, it truly is a stunning endeavor and one of the most original series I’ve watched in ages. The acting chops of Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci and co. do not disappoint, and the series itself is masterfully crafted. Watch the first season, and let’s all hope this show doesn’t get “lost in the sauce” like so many potentially great series before it in season two, and possibly beyond.
