Yellowjackets the most addictive new show of last year is coming back — and not a moment too soon.
*contains explanations of sexual abuse
Paramount Plus will be bringing us the delicious second season of the drama series in due course. But for those who perhaps missed the first season (or have forgotten the ins and outs of the story in the interim time), here's a recap of Season 1 to get you ready for the next dose of yellowy goodness.
The series takes place over two time periods: 1996 and 2021. In 1996, we follow the girl's soccer team known as the “Yellowjackets” as they travel from Seattle to a national tournament. While flying over Canada, their plane crashes and the surviving members are left to fend for themselves in the wilderness. In 2021, we follow four surviving Yellowjackets in the present day, as echoes of the past come back to haunt them.
In 1996, the captain of the Yellowjackets (Jackie Taylor, played by Ella Purnell) had her life exactly where she wanted it. She was accepted into Rutgers University, had excellent leadership qualities, a close firm, and a boyfriend — Jeff. The crash exposes her insecurities, and the fact that her boyfriend Jeff was having an affair with her best friend Shauna who we discover is pregnant with his child.
The survivors of the crash also include Ben Scott (Steven Krueger), the assistant coach and only surviving adult of the crash. His leg is amputated by Misty (Samantha Hanratty) following intense injuries. Vanessa “Van” Palmer (Liv Hewson), the goalkeeper of the team begins a relationship with Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) in the forest. Lottie Matthews (Courtney Eaton), a schizophrenic team member begins experiencing intense visions when her medication runs out. Travis Martinez (Kevin Alves), the older son of the Yellowjackets' now-deceased Coach begins dating Nat. Laura Lee (Jane Widdop) is a devout catholic member of the team who begins a friendship with Lottie in the crash. These main characters are rounded off with Javi Martinez (Luciano Leroux), Coach Martinez' younger son.
Following the crash, Misty finds that she is an invaluable member of the group thanks to her survival skills, and in a moment of self-interest, destroys the plane's emergency locator transmitter. The group hike towards a nearby lake, and as tensions reach a fever pitch, they discover a cabin with a dead body in the attic. Finding ammunition in the cabin, the group tries to get better at shooting. It becomes clear that Nat and Travis are the best suited to firearms.
When the group finds a functioning propellor aircraft, Laura volunteers to fly it to find help — but as she takes off, the plane appears to self-combust, killing her. The group experiment in seances, led by Lottie who begins to feel a connection to the woods without her medication. It's around this time that key relationships begin to form, with Natalie and Travis and Taissa and Van beginning to develop feelings for one another. As the group comes to believe that Lottie has premonitions, a number of the survivors attempt to leave the woods only to come face-to-face with several omens Lottie warned them of. Van ends up severely wounded by a pack of wolves.
When the survivors decide to hold a homecoming party everyone consumes hallucinogenic mushrooms — except for Jackie. Jackie and Travis have sex, despite Travis' feelings for Natalie. The group becomes enraged when they find Jackie and Travis and the group tries to rape him, causing Travis to flee. When cornered, Lottie demands that Shauna slits his throat. Only then does Natalie intervenes.
In the present day, we find Shauna is married to Jeff and they have a daughter together. Despite this, Shauna is miserable and begins an affair. Taissa is married and running for senate, Misty is a geriatric nurse, and Natalie has completed rehab. Slowly, Shauna begins to suspect her lover Adam (Peter Gadiot) is extorting the four survivors with anonymous messages. Meanwhile, Taissa's son Sammy begins drawing disturbing pictures that appear to be related to the events of '96, worrying Taissa's wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard). Both Misty and Nat reconnect and begin investigating the notes, discovering Travis has been murdered and it is connected to a ritual.
We begin to discover the truth that Jeff is the blackmailer, having got himself into debt. Adam is not who he claims he is, and Shauna kills him with the other three helping her to dispose of the body. As their lives begin to fall apart, the group attends the 25th school reunion where all eyes are on them. Eventually, Taissa wins the senate race after performing a ritual in her basement, while Natalie is kidnapped. We then discover that Lottie (in the present) has emptied Travis' bank account.
Jackie's fate then becomes clear. In '96 after the homecoming attack, she confronts everyone and reveals she knows the truth about Shauna's affair with Jeff. Outraged and hurt, Jackie leaves the cabin and sleeps outside.
In the morning the survivors discover that Jackie has frozen to death.
What happens next? Your guess is as good as ours.
Yellowjackets Season 1 is currently streaming on Paramount Plus. Catch a teaser for Season 2 below:
Podcast
