“No Limit to the Darkness”: Yellowjackets Star Teases Villainous Turn in Season 4

Spoilers for the Season 3 finale of Yellowjackets below

Yellowjackets star Sophie Nélisse has addressed the riveting Season 3 finale moment that made her believe that the darkness in her character is far from over, offering a chilling tease for the show’s fourth season.

Season 3 of Yellowjackets came with a lot of revelations. But the biggest of them all was how young Shauna (played by Nélisse) was crowned the Antler Queen. Meanwhile, the adult Shauna (played by Melanie Lynskey) lets her guard down and finally gets the chance to feel what she actually wants to feel. Both these moments are quite pivotal to the story and showcase Shauna’s real nature and how she could be a force to be reckoned with. Although viewers might take the darkness in her in a negative way, for Nélisse, it is the opposite, and she believes that the darkness haunting her character is only deepening.

‘No societal rules for her when she’s in the wilderness’ teases Yellowjackets star

Speaking in an interview with Variety, Nélisse opened up about her character and noted that she doesn’t let the badge of “villain” affect her. Instead, she feels really good when viewers call Shauna a villainous character. Moreover, the actor stated that the darkness within her is real and often misunderstood. Nélisse said, “The darkness that is within her is real. I think it’s seen as something so negative, but like, why? I don’t think she’s channeling it right, but that’s because she doesn’t have the resources and the people around her to let her voice it.” On the other hand, the Yellowjackets star made it clear that whenever Shaun is in the wilderness, she believes that she is home and far from all the societal pressures, making her somewhat indestructible. She added, “So when she gets into the wilderness, and there are no societal rules and there’s no form of parenting or any boundaries that are set. There’s just no limit to where that darkness can go.”

Her comments come after the final episode of Yellowjackets Season 3 showed how young Shauna became the Antler Queen. For those who have been watching the series from the beginning know how the show has been teasing the rise of the Antler Queen as a symbol of ultimate power and descent into savagery. The Antler Queen has been one of the most pivotal characters throughout the series and appeared in many visions. However, the show took three whole seasons to finally confirm the identity of the Antler Queen, and it certainly shocked fans, making them believe how terrifying Shauna can be. Moreover, the reaction of adult Shauna, when she realizes that her husband and daughter have left her, is another indication that she is now free of all the societal pressures and can become who she really is. In the final moments of Season 3, adult Shauna returns to find the house empty and discovers the torn note that once came with the DAT tape. Frustrated, she rips it up and writes in her journal about wanting to take back her power. She wrote, “The person I was back then — not a wife or a mother. I was a warrior. I was a f****ng queen.”

The Season 3 finale of Yellowjackets sets the stage for a much darker Season 4. With young Shauna now revealed as the Antler Queen, the story hints at a deeper descent into violence and power struggles in the wilderness. Additionally, the phone call made by Hannah for a rescue would turn out to be a pivotal moment for the group and how they would be brought back to the human world. As each character faces their own inner demons, it’s clear that the worst may still be ahead. With the show already being renewed, Season 4 promises to explore just how far they’re willing to go to survive, and what that will cost them.

All three seasons of Yellowjackets are available for streaming on Showtime.

Yellowjackets

Release Date

November 14, 2021

Network

Showtime, Paramount+ with Showtime

• 

  Melanie Lynskey

  Shauna Sadecki

• 

  Tawny Cypress

  Taissa Turner

• 

  Sophie Nélisse

  Teen Shauna Shipman

• 

  Jasmin Savoy Brown

  Teen Taissa Turner

Source: Variety