Okay Yellowjackets fans things just took a seriously dark turn in Season 3. If you are still reeling from the latest episode "Thanksgiving (Canada)" you are not alone. Coach Ben Scott's storyline reached a heartbreaking end and episode 7 is already teasing even more wilderness madness. Let's unpack the drama and get ready for what's next.
Poor Coach Ben No More: Steven Krueger Opens Up About His Character's Tragic Fate
We all felt for Coach Ben. From day one after that plane crash in the Canadian wilderness things have been rough for him. Remember Misty's ax leg amputation? Yeah that was just the beginning. Season after season Ben has been through it all starvation ostracization false accusations you name it. And now well now he is gone.
In a recent interview Steven Krueger who plays Coach Ben revealed that his character's death was planned from the start. He knew Season 3 would likely be the end for Ben. While Krueger admits he might have secretly wished for a grown-up Ben storyline in the present day he understands why it had to happen. As he put it "Ben’s death sets off this chain reaction this ripple effect. None of those things would’ve happened if he was still alive.”
Krueger also shared that finding out about his character's death wasn't a last-minute shock. The showrunners were upfront that Season 3 was the intended endpoint for Ben's story. Even though "no actor really likes to hear that they’re losing their job" Krueger gets that it serves the narrative. He said "It’s not me being killed off. It’s a character dying as part of the natural arc of the story." Respect.
And that severed head scene? Krueger's reaction to seeing it for the first time was priceless. He said "Wasn’t fun. I thought that it would be ‘Of course I want to see it. This is artistry.’ As soon as I saw it I had two very conflicting emotions: Wow this is an incredible piece of art and kudos to the people who did this because it looks exactly like me while simultaneously being like Get that thing away from me. This is actually creeping me out." Talk about meta!
Episode 7 Trailer Breakdown: New Faces New Victims? Things Are About to Get Messy
Just when you thought things could not get any more intense boom here comes the trailer for Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 7. And it is clear the wilderness is about to get even more crowded and way more dangerous.
Remember those two new characters who stumbled upon the Yellowjackets' cannibalistic feast at the end of episode 6? Yeah they are in big trouble. The trailer pretty much confirms their doom. Shauna is heard saying they can get rescued "without leaving any living witnesses." Yikes. And Lottie covered in blood? Not a good sign for the newcomers played by Nelson Franklin and Ashley Sutton.
The trailer also hints at the present-day timeline getting even more tangled with the past. Adult Shauna is planning to confront her stalker who she thinks is also Lottie's killer. Could these new wilderness characters somehow be connected to the present-day mystery? It's Yellowjackets so anything is possible and probably twisted.
Basically episode 7 and the rest of Season 3 are shaping up to be even more intense than we thought. Check out some key takeaways from the trailer:
- New characters are in serious danger: Survival odds for Franklin and Sutton's characters look abysmal.
- Shauna is not playing around: Her line about "no living witnesses" is chilling.
- Lottie's bloody appearance: Suggests she is involved in whatever is about to happen to the newcomers.
- Timelines are colliding: The past and present mysteries seem to be merging in dangerous ways.
Creators Tease "Big Questions" and Original Pitch Coming to Life in Season 3
Yellowjackets creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson have been dropping hints about what to expect and it sounds like we are in for a wild ride. They confirmed that the ending scene of episode 6 with the newcomers was actually part of their original pitch for the show way back when. Lyle even called it her "favorite moment in the show" and "my favorite moment in this season."
Lyle mentioned that starting with episode 6 things are really going to "ramp up" and that Season 3 will start "answering some big questions." Nickerson added that killing off Coach Ben was tough personally and creatively as they loved the character and Steven Krueger but it served the story. They described Ben's death as a "core wound" particularly for Natalie shaping the adult Natalie we see in Season 1.
It sounds like the creators are sticking to their long-term plan and Season 3 is going to be a turning point for the Yellowjackets story. Get ready for some major reveals and even more disturbing wilderness moments because according to Lyle and Nickerson "we’re all about making big moves on this show.”
Buckle Up Yellowjackets Fans: The Wilderness is About to Get Even Wilder
Coach Ben is gone but his death is clearly just the start of more darkness to come for the Yellowjackets. Episode 7 trailer promises more danger more mystery and potentially more victims. With creators teasing "big questions" being answered and storylines from their original pitch coming to fruition Season 3 is shaping up to be the most intense season yet. Are you ready for what's next? Because the Yellowjackets wilderness is about to get even wilder and we are strapped in for the ride.