Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets is a Showtime psychological horror and survival drama series that alternates between two timelines: 1996, when a high school girls' soccer team from New Jersey crashes in the Canadian wilderness, and 25 years later, as the adult survivors grapple with their past trauma and a deepening mystery. The show explores themes of survival, trauma, friendship, identity, and the darker aspects of human nature under extreme duress. It is known for its graphic content, complex character development, and genre-bending storytelling, blending elements of horror, mystery, and coming-of-age narratives. Due to its mature themes and explicit depictions of violence, sexual content, and substance use, "Yellowjackets" is intended for a mature audience.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighYellowjackets features significant LGBTQ+ representation. In the wilderness timeline, a prominent lesbian relationship develops between Teen Taissa and Teen Van. In the present day, Adult Taissa is married to a woman named Simone. The character of Coach Ben Scott is also revealed to be a closeted gay man. The cast includes openly LGBTQ+ actors, such as Liv Hewson (nonbinary) and Nicole Maines (transgender), contributing to the show's diverse representation.
Teen Taissa and Van's romantic relationship is a recurring and significant storyline, including scenes of intimacy and kissing in the wilderness. Adult Taissa is shown in a marriage with Simone, and their family life, including their son Sammy, is depicted in the modern-day storyline. Coach Ben Scott is revealed to be gay, with his secret boyfriend, Paul, appearing in the second season.
Violence
HighThe series contains frequent and graphic depictions of violence, which intensify across seasons. This includes brutal deaths, severe injuries, dismemberment, and explicit scenes of cannibalism. The violence is often visceral and central to the survival narrative, showcasing the characters' descent into savagery.
The pilot episode introduces ritualistic cannibalism with a character being hunted and consumed by others. In Season 2, the consumption of Jackie's remains by the starving survivors is explicitly depicted and graphically shown, marking a significant escalation in the show's gore. Misty kills Crystal in Season 2, pushing her off a cliff and later covering up the death, showcasing deliberate violence among the survivors.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighYellowjackets features explicit romance and sexual content, including nudity, suggestive dialogue, and depictions of sexual acts and infidelity. These elements are present in both the past wilderness timeline and the present-day adult storylines, often exploring complicated and morally ambiguous relationships.
Shauna engages in explicit sexual encounters with Jeff, Jackie's boyfriend, in the wilderness, leading to her pregnancy. In the present timeline, Adult Shauna has an affair with Adam, which includes scenes of graphic nudity and sexual acts. The pilot episode includes a scene where adult Shauna masturbates in her daughter's room while looking at a picture of her daughter's boyfriend.
Profanity
HighStrong and frequent profanity is a consistent element throughout 'Yellowjackets,' used by both teenage and adult characters. Explicit curse words are common in dialogue, reflecting the characters' intense emotional states and the harsh realities they face.
Characters regularly use the 'f-word' and other strong expletives, such as when Adult Taissa tells someone to 'go to f*** yourself' in Season 1, Episode 4. The dialogue in both timelines is heavily peppered with curse words, even in casual conversations, to convey stress, anger, and desperation.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighThe series heavily explores themes of witchcraft, occult practices, and ambiguous supernatural phenomena. Lottie emerges as a spiritual leader, initiating rituals, animal sacrifices, and blood offerings to 'The Wilderness,' which some characters perceive as a sentient, powerful entity. The blend of psychological and potential paranormal elements is central to the narrative.
Lottie performs rituals in the wilderness, including offering blood and animal organs, believing these acts appease an unknown force. The cabin where the girls shelter features a crucifix placed below a mounted stag's head, interpreted by some as a reversal of Christian symbols and having 'demonic overtones' within the context of the growing wilderness cult.
Substance Use
HighSubstance use, including both alcohol and illegal drugs, is a pervasive and significant aspect of the show. It is used by characters in both the wilderness and present-day timelines as a coping mechanism for trauma, leading to themes of addiction and self-medication.
Adult Natalie is depicted struggling with severe drug addiction, frequently using illegal substances like heroin and alcohol to self-medicate and escape her trauma. In the wilderness, the teenagers experiment with homemade intoxicants, such as fermented berries, and the discussions around Lottie's antipsychotic medication highlight reliance on substances for mental stability.
Scary & Intense Content
HighYellowjackets is categorized as a psychological horror and survival thriller, featuring consistently intense and frightening content. This includes graphic depictions of death, dismemberment, disturbing imagery related to cannibalism, jump scares, and pervasive psychological torment and body horror.
The show opens with a graphic and unsettling sequence of the plane crash, followed by gory aftermath and ongoing depictions of starvation and severe injuries. Psychological horror is manifest through characters experiencing vivid hallucinations, paranoia, and dissociative states, such as Taissa's sleepwalking alter ego engaging in disturbing acts like ritualistic animal sacrifice.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighThe series heavily portrays disrespect and rebellion, particularly among the teenage characters as social structures collapse in the wilderness. This includes open defiance against authority figures and the development of a rebellious, often self-destructive, ethos that carries into their adult lives.
In the wilderness, the team's dynamic quickly devolves from a structured sports team to a chaotic group openly defying Coach Ben, their lone adult survivor, especially as Lottie's influence grows and new leadership structures emerge. As adults, the survivors frequently exhibit defiant and disrespectful attitudes towards societal norms, legal investigations, and interpersonal relationships, as seen in Shauna's confrontational responses and Misty's manipulative behaviors.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile not overtly anti-Christian, 'Yellowjackets' depicts a significant departure from traditional Christian morality as the survivors create their own belief system centered on 'The Wilderness' for survival. Christian symbols are occasionally presented in a distorted or parodic context, and the show's themes contrast sharply with Christian ethical frameworks.
The survivors, particularly under Lottie's influence, abandon conventional religious practices to develop a 'religion of reciprocity' with 'The Wilderness,' which justifies their extreme actions like cannibalism. A crucifix is seen in the cabin, placed below a mounted stag's head, an image that some interpret as a deliberate reversal of Christian iconography and suggestive of demonic themes in opposition to Christian belief.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Not recommended for viewers under 17. The series features pervasive graphic violence, including cannibalism, explicit sexual content with nudity, consistent strong profanity, and disturbing occult themes. The psychological intensity and mature subject matter are unsuitable for younger audiences.
Additional Notes
The show frequently employs a dual timeline narrative, which can be challenging for younger viewers to follow. The psychological depth of the trauma experienced by the characters is a central element, and its impact on their adult lives is a consistent focus. The ambiguity of whether supernatural events are real or purely psychological manifestations of trauma is a deliberate narrative device. Viewers sensitive to body horror and psychological distress should exercise caution.
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