Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the finale of Yellowjackets Season 3.Since Season 1,Yellowjacketshas been teasing the presence of the “Antler Queen,” who is meant to be the ultimate leader and guiding light of the Yellowjackets during their time in the wilderness and beyond. We’ve seen it alluded to in many different ways, such as Lottie (Courtney Eaton) standing just beneath a set of antlers, making it look like she’s wearing them like a crown, as well as constant visions and imagery of the figure. But we’ve never actually known who, or what, the Antler Queen is — until now.
The Season 3 finale answered many questionswe’ve had about the show, such as Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) murder and the identity of Pit Girl. It’s also revealed that Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) is the infamous Antler Queen, and we watch as the team crowns her as such.It’s a huge reveal, but it may prove to be the team’s worst mistake yet.
Natalie Is Stripped of Her Leadership in ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3
After Lottie finds herself unable to speak to or hear the wilderness anymore in Season 2, she bestows her leadership onto Natalie (Sophie Thatcher). When we pick back up in Season 3, we see that, although initially hesitant, Natalie has taken on the role in stride and has made the most of an absolutely awful situation. The team has impressive shelters, lush crops, and wildlife they’re raising, and everyone is living in harmony (aside from Shauna, who is on a path of her own). But then the team finds Coach Scott (Steven Krueger) still alive out in the woods and learns that Natalie has known his status the entire time, which puts her on the outs. She manages to keep hold of her reign untilshe kills Coach Scott in an act of mercywithout consulting the rest of the team, and immediately,she is stripped of her title as leader, with Lottie passing it on to Shauna instead.
At first, this doesn’t seem like an entirely bad thing.Yes, Shauna has taken a complete turn in her character this season and has become quite dark and cruel, but at this moment, we saw her show a flicker of humanity and sympathy toward Natalie. She covered Coach Scott’s face when Natalie had to prepare him for the feast. She walked her through how to do it, and it seemed like she might actually be turning over a new leaf with the title.Having lost Jackie (Ella Purnell)and her baby, Shauna doesn’t have much else to lose, so she’s willing to do whatever needs to be done for the betterment of the team and doesn’t fear angering anyone. After all, she’s done that on her own without being in power. However, it has now become clear that she’s let her new authority go to her head, and there’s no thought of what’s in the best interest of the rest of the team.Shauna’s on a power trip, and she wants vengeance to heal her brokenness. It’s as sad as it is dangerous, and her being crowned Antler Queen dials this up to new heights.
What the Hell Is Going on With Shauna in ‘Yellowjackets’?
Remember when her biggest problem was Jeff?
Shauna Being Antler Queen Spells Trouble for the Yellowjackets
As soon as Shauna put the kibosh on the team seeking rescue, it became clear that she was beyond saving. At least her cruelty towards her teammates and her hatred towards Coach Scott were understandable in some way. But actively turning away rescue, and not just for herself, but for everyone? It was the moment when Shauna truly let the power get to her head and became a tyrant. Cut to the Season 3 finale, and she’s at least partially to blame for Mari’s (Alexa Barajas) death. When she catches on that Tai (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Van (Liv Hewson) tampered with the cards, rather than calling them out on it and demanding they shuffle and redraw, she switches spots, throwing off the order and condemning Mari to pull the Queen of Hearts that was intended for Hannah (Ashley Sutton).She doesn’t even have any remorse about it; she just looks at Mari and shrugs, saying, “Tough break, Mar,” calling back to their early-season feud and making this moment feel all the more intentional.
Then, when Mari does die, revealing herself to be Pit Girl in a horrific and gruesome death,Shauna calls for the team to drag her body back to camp where they hang her like an animal(unlike how they would carefully lay out the other teammates), and demands Natalie bring her Mari’s hair after her body is prepared. We now know it’s Mari’s hair that makes up the Antler Queen costume, and it all feels so animalistic and feral. It’s frightening to think that the team will be subjected to more of thisnow that Shauna is in power. If she’s already caused this much chaos in such a short time, who knows what’s in store for the team going forward? Likely nothing good.
Shauna Has Nothing to Lose on ‘Yellowjackets’
With winter in full swing now,Shauna won’t hesitate to keep them alive by any means necessary, now that she’s Antler Queenand can call for a hunt anytime she pleases. Sure, this means they’ll make it through the winter and won’t struggle as much as they did in Season 2, but it’s bound to leave a lasting scar behind as they start killing for fun and for sport. That’s exactly what Mari’s hunt was: fun. There wasn’t any actual need for it, but asShauna (Melanie Lynskey) writes in the present-day timeline, she found a thrill and fun in the things they did out in the woods.
We’ve repeatedly heard Shauna’s fellow survivors discuss how she is still haunted by the wilderness and allude to the horrible things they did both in the woods and when they got back. So it’s likely that Shauna’s turn as Antler Queen is the catalyst for all of that. She even says that she let it all slip away, and that it’s time to start taking it back.Shauna is about to get a lot more dangerous, not only in the wilderness but in the present as well. She quite literally has nothing left to lose.
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