“Yellowjackets” feeds off of fear and humor
“Yellow Jackets,” first released in 2021, follows the story of a girls’ high school soccer team after their plane crashes on the way to national championships. They end up in the Canadian wilderness and attempt to survive and control their primal urges.
When queuing up the new season of this show, I had high hopes and I was not disappointed. The first season was a huge hit in my eyes and to say it left me wanting more is an understatement. However, the show’s second season fell short. It felt like the writers were running around in a circle, with the plot seemingly going nowhere. But, much to my surprise, the writers set fire, literally, to the season’s finale.
Although outlandish at some points, the comedic timing never fails to keep me on my toes. Warren Kole’s portrayal of Jeff Sadecki, husband of Shauna, manages to always leave a lighthearted feel in every scene where he is present. Jeff is so unironically serious to where, without even trying, he is hilarious. The writing does an amazing job of blending dark humor where it is needed to contrast the serious, and most times gory, circumstances.
Tawny Cypress as Taissa Turner, a player who was a part of the crash landing, blew my mind. Not only is she a perfect casting choice next to her teenager counterpart, played by Jasmin Savoy Brown, but Cypress embodies the incredibly dynamic two-sides of this character. The difference in performance is visible by the newfound reckless nature, heavily contrasting with her previous uptight persona during her day-to-day life.
The soundtrack for this show is one of the best I have ever heard. It is so refreshing to hear actual music that reflects the situation and not futile instrumentals that are used to fill space. Moreover, the background vocals in the tense scenes fuel the chilling moments in the series, whether the girls are teenagers in the wilderness or adults in their houses.
This new season of “Yellow Jackets” gave me what I had been looking for in the second season, primarily more humor and a fast-paced plot. The appetizing balance of horror, humor and grief is what makes this show hold a special place in my heart.
