After I finished watching “Dexter: New Blood” a few weeks ago, I realized that technically I could cancel my Showtime subscription.
But, I figured I’d check and make sure there was nothing else I might want to watch. I saw a handful of things (I’ll mention those later), including “Yellowjackets.”
I heard mixed reviews about it. I initially heard it included cannibalism and immediately put it in my “no” category. But, it was actually in the recommended section of Showtime, because it has similarities to “Dexter: New Blood.”
I’d also heard people say it was a high school drama, which I like. The official description of the show is:
Wildly talented high school girls’ soccer players descend into savage clans after their plane crashes in the remote northern wilderness. Twenty-five years later, they discover that what began in the wild is far from over.
Hmm. I decided to give it one episode, and if I didn’t like it, obviously I didn’t have to keep watching it.
Well, I watched 6 hour-long episodes on Sunday, and had to stop because it’s DARK, and I didn’t want to have nightmares.
“Yellowjackets” is the story of a competitive women’s high school soccer team from New Jersey that makes it to Nationals. They board the plane headed to Seattle for the big game and it crashes in a remote, wooded area somewhere between New Jersey and Seattle.
The show is divided into three parts: life before the incident, life directly after the incident when they’re trying to survive, and 25 years after the incident.
Each episode has scenes from all three of these “sections” and they weave together in a way that thickens the plot. It’s incredibly done.
The parts before the incident provide context into who the girls are, which lends itself to how they survive in the wild for… 19 months. 19 freaking months!
Some of the scenes in the remote area are spooky! I mean, rightfully so, but wow. These scenes really made me think about what I would do and how I would survive.
The survivors 25 years after the incident are still dealing with the baggage from all of it. Every time an anniversary comes around, reporters come lurking with questions. What REALLY happened out there?
What really happened is stuff they’ve all tried to forget, but something… or someone is making that impossible.
This show is fantastic — the writing, the production, the casting — chef’s kiss.
It IS a teen drama, but it’s “Jawbreaker” or “Heathers” -type of mean girl, plus an added layer of survival and paranormal. Some of the scenes were brutal to watch, and yes, there is a touch of cannibalism.
However, I am a HUGE wuss when it comes to scary stuff, and I was able to watch it. I may or may not have slept with my bathroom light on after the season finale, but I am NOT ashamed.
There are several unanswered questions at the end of the season, but there is a season two already in the works. It’s hard-telling if those gaps will be resolved in the next season or if they’re just massive plot holes.
Time will tell.
But, 10/10 would recommend. It’s a wild ride.
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