Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 Review

A trial for the ages unfolds in Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4, which features incredible performances and will leave you stunned.

This week’s main plot takes place in the teen timeline where our teenage survivors put Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger) on trial for supposedly burning down the cabin they called home in the Season 2 finale. This leads to some unexpected developments within the group and several jaw dropping performances. 

Meanwhile in the adult timeline, Shauna (portrayed by Melanie Lynskey as an adult) has to deal with the fallout of her arguments with Misty (Christina Ricci) and Lottie (Simone Kessell). Then you have Taissa (Tawny Cypress) going to strange lengths to discover if she can prolong the life of Lauren Ambrose’s Van with another sacrifice to the wilderness. As always, I will try to avoid major spoilers just in case you have not been able to watch the episode yet. 

Ben’s trial in the teen timeline is the most compelling part of Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4, mostly because it provides so many characters/actors with the chance to shine. Steven Krueger gives a spectacular performance this week and once again, makes this writer feel for Ben Scott. It is honestly extraordinary how 4 episodes have made me do a complete 180 on this character. Do I still believe he burned down the cabin? Absolutely. However, Krueger portrays a broken man, shocked by the horrors that he has witnessed so well that I understand where Ben is coming from. Do not be surprised if you feel the same way and also believe him when Ben says that he still cares about these teens. 

Then you have Misty (Samantha Hanratty), thrust into running Coach Scott’s defense when not even she wants to do it. Hanratty conveys the unease that defense attorneys can sometimes face with the odds stacked against their client. It is their job to ensure they receive a fair trial and like she does with everything else, Misty is committed to making sure that is the case. Hanratty’s poker face during the trial is quite impressive because we as viewers know Misty is desperate to be liked by the group, but she has to put that aside for Ben’s sake and hits the team with some hard hitting questions on his behalf. 

Leading the prosecution is Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) who is absolutely ruthless in her questioning of everyone but even she appears to have some doubt about whether or not Ben burned down the cabin. Watching Savoy Brown and Hanratty go back and forth is a treat as they build narratives for the jury. 

Outside of Krueger, the most stirring performances in Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 come from Sophie Nélisse and Sophie Thatcher as teen Shauna and Natalie, respectively. Nélisse is absolutely heartbreaking when Shauna is forced to relive the trauma of her baby’s death on the stand. A lot of her teen storyline this season has centered on the aftermath of that tragedy and here, Nélisse mixes sadness and anger to create a performance that will shake your soul. In fact, I am tearing up just thinking about it. That being said, you can also see that anger beginning to feed into Shauna’s thirst for power and we will just have to wait and see to see if she gives into it and attempts to overthrow Natalie as the antler queen.

Speaking of, Natalie serves as judge during the trial and giving her this role allows writers Julia Bicknell and Terry Wesley to tap into how much of a toll leading the group is starting to take on her. She is trying to respect all sides, but it is becoming a difficult challenge and her closeness with Ben only adds to it as the trial unfolds. After all, Misty told Shauna that she believed that Natalie knew where Ben was earlier this season. Sophie Thatcher is brilliant in “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis”, walking a tightrope and you can see how difficult that has become for her through her eyes and shifts in tone. When the trial finally comes to a close, it is clear that Natalie, Shauna, and Ben will never be the same again. 

Let’s move on to the adult timeline and secondary plots. Melanie Lynskey’s Shauna finds herself thrown into a ploy to earn some “good karma” by her husband, Jeff (Warren Kole) which means volunteering at the nursing home where Misty (Ricci) works. This leads to further conflict, including Shauna winding up locked in a freezer. Someone seems to be out to get her and while Shauna is dead set on it being Misty or Lottie, that just does not add up based on the information we have. She will have to figure out who before it is too late. Kole provides some great comic relief during the emotional roller coaster that is Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4. Jeff’s dad humor may not be your thing, but trust me when I say that you will be thankful for it. 

Elsewhere, Taissa (Cypress) is desperate to make sure Van (Ambrose) stays healthy, leading both women down the complicated road of possibly sacrificing someone to the wilderness. Their plot is equal parts unhinged and sweet, and you will see what I mean by that when you watch the episode. Then you have Misty and Lottie dealing with their respective fallouts with Shauna, which leads to the most shell-shocking moment of “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis”. Not since Season 1 has my jaw been on the floor in a state of disbelief. Few will have seen this twist coming, which is part of what makes it such a masterstroke of genius. 

Even if the adult timeline only has a couple major developments, it makes sense that Julia Bicknell and Terry Wesley chose to focus on the teens. After all, whether Ben would face justice for possibly burning down the cabin was one of the biggest lingering questions from Season 2. The trial is used as a device in Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 to move the arcs of several characters forward, not just answer that question. The episode also gets us closer to how each of the surviving teens are depicted in the adult timeline. 

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 is an intense journey and homage to classic courtroom dramas with sensational performances. What unfolded this week will leave a mark on the rest of Season 3 and the series as a whole.

Season 3 Episode 4 of Yellowjackets is now available to stream with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.