Okay Yellowjackets fans if you thought season three was already wild buckle up because Hilary Swank just crash-landed into the wilderness and things are about to get even crazier. Swank's debut episode is here and let me tell you it is not for the faint of heart. We are talking blood mystery and maybe a little bit of forbidden romance thrown in for good measure. Let's unpack this seriously intense arrival.
Arm-Biting Mayhem? Hilary Swank's First Scene is Absolutely Bananas (Thanks Melanie Lynskey!)
So Hilary Swank literally jumped into the deep end of Yellowjackets. She joined the cast like two weeks before filming started in Vancouver. And her welcome to the show? Oh just a casual scene where Melanie Lynskey Shauna bites a chunk out of her arm and dangles it in her face. Yes you read that correctly. Arm-biting. In your face. Welcome to Yellowjackets Hilary!
Swank herself admitted she was "all in" from the start no hesitation no nerves just straight into the gory goodness. This is her first big project since having twins and what a way to jump back in right?
Her character Melissa aka Kelly is one of the younger Yellowjackets who everyone thought was dead. Surprise! She is alive but living a life built on secrets and lies. Shauna being Shauna breaks into Melissa's house and discovers Melissa is not who she seems and is hiding a whole lot from her wife including her real identity and past.
The confrontation between Shauna and Melissa starts off all tense and weird but quickly turns into an all-out brawl. According to Swank there was no other way to kick off her Yellowjackets journey. And honestly we wouldn't have it any other way.
Decoding Melissa/Kelly: Lies Trauma and a Quest for "Normal" in a Very Messed Up Way
Who exactly is Melissa? Swank describes her as someone "who has worked at healing and is trying to move on with her life". Keyword being "trying". She is married to Hannah's daughter. Remember Hannah the frog scientist who met a grim end in the wilderness? Yeah her daughter. It is all connected and all very Yellowjackets.
Melissa is living a lie pretending to have this "normal life" going to church everything seems fine on the surface. But underneath there is a ton of trauma and guilt. She even sent Shauna an incriminating DAT tape evidence of some seriously messed up Yellowjackets behavior. Why? Her therapist told her to let go of the darkness. Easy for the therapist to say right?
Swank explains that Melissa's character is all about exploring the psychological impact of trauma. How it can mess with your head make you do crazy things and how the past never really stays buried especially when your cannibal besties come back into your life.
Hilary and Melanie Buddy Cop Brawl? Behind the Scenes of That Fight Scene
Swank had never worked with Melanie Lynskey before but they jumped right into the intense scenes. Swank is a fan of Lynskey and found her acting choices "unique and interesting". They had a lot of dialogue and back and forth and apparently it felt like doing theatre in a way "invigorating especially stepping back into working after having my babies."
And about that arm-biting scene? Swank was totally game. She loves physical roles and action scenes. She mentioned the stunt coordinator walked them through how to do it safely how to pull hair without hurting anyone's neck. Melanie Lynskey was also concerned about safety. Then comes the fake blood. "They place that blood in your mouth. You just sit there and you open your mouth and they put it all in your mouth and you’re waiting for them to say action and then you start acting so that the blood comes." Movie magic folks.
Wait Is This a Queer Love Triangle? Melissa Shauna and Some Complicated Feelings
Okay Yellowjackets gets even more twisty. It turns out teen Melissa and teen Shauna had a "contentious situationship" back in the wilderness. And adult Shauna being completely out of touch asks adult Melissa if she is "still in love with her". Girl seriously?
But here is where it gets interesting Melissa is now married to a woman Hannah's daughter. So is Yellowjackets hinting at a very complicated very messed up very Yellowjackets-style Queer Love Triangle? It is definitely giving those vibes and fans are here for it. Swank herself called it a "female-driven project" and said it felt "powerful" working with so many women on set. "It's exciting having a lot more content out there. I think we’re seeing more—not just female but more genders across the board being depicted in a lot of different stories and different races. We’re finally seeing the more colorful world that we actually live in."
How to Dive into the Mayhem: Catch Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 8 and More
Ready to watch Hilary Swank get bitten? Episode 8 of Yellowjackets Season 3 "A Normal Boring Life" is already out on streaming.
Here's how to watch:
- Streaming: Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on. Episode drops Fridays at 3 a.m. ET.
- On TV: Showtime Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
- Free Trial: Paramount+ often offers free trials. FuboTV also has a free trial and Showtime add-on. Sling TV has a Paramount+ with Showtime package for $5 for the first month.
Don't miss out on the bloody action mystery and maybe queer romance of Yellowjackets Season 3 and Hilary Swank's wild ride.
Key Takeaways from Hilary Swank's Yellowjackets Debut:
- Hilary Swank is Melissa/Kelly: She plays the adult version of "hat girl" from the teen timeline.
- Bloody Debut: Her first scene involves Melanie Lynskey biting her arm.
- Mysterious Past: Melissa is living a lie and hiding her Yellowjackets past.
- Trauma and Secrets: Her character explores the long-term psychological effects of trauma.
- Possible LGBTQ+ Angle: Hints of a complicated relationship between Melissa and Shauna and Melissa's marriage to a woman.
- Intense Scenes: Expect violence mystery and psychological drama.
Get Ready for More Madness: Yellowjackets Season 3 is Just Getting Started
Hilary Swank's arrival in Yellowjackets is just the latest twist in this already insane show. With blood betrayal and maybe even some unexpected romance season three is shaping up to be the wildest ride yet. So grab your snacks maybe not jerky though and get ready to dive back into the darkness of Yellowjackets. You will not be disappointed especially with Hilary Swank joining the chaos.