Yellowjackets Review: Bear Down (Season 1 Episode 4)
The beginning of Natalie and Travis’ friendship is explored on Yellowjackets Season 1 Episode 4, “Bear Down.”
Yellowjackets bounces back and forth between timelines seamlessly. There’s enough backstory and information given in each without one taking precedence over the other. Yellowjackets is meticulously detailed, cunning, and delivers all the aspects it needs to thrive. It is one of the best shows to air in 2021 and deserves all the hype it gets. Frankly, it deserves more.
Natalie and Travis’ relationship arc throughout “Bear Down” is beautiful. As kids, the two of them have more in common than either realized before their outing and were unaware just how much they needed someone to relate to.
It’s not unknown knowledge that Travis has been a royal dick to everyone since the moment they crashed. Notably, Javi has been getting the worst treatment. But it’s because he has no one to talk to; nobody who truly cares about what he’s saying or thinking, until Natalie, that is.
The bonding moments between the two while on their hunting trip cements the beginning of their fruitful and long-lasting relationship. Hopefully, Travis can learn to ease up as the season progresses. Him going out of his way to retrieve the ring off his dead father’s body for Javi means there’s something inside of him that cares.
As for Misty, she’s one weird cookie. Her fixation on Ben during her every waking moment is borderline psycho. He needs someone there for him as he continues to heal, but Misty gives off Misery vibes too heavily.
With no indication of Ben being alive in the present world or making it out of the woods, it’s safe to assume Misty will have something to do with his death. Realistically, she has all of the power over Ben, and there will come a day when he’s turned her down for the last time.
If Ben wasn’t convinced to watch himself before, he definitely is after Misty intentionally trips him. Nobody else caught it, but he knows clear as day that it was intentional.
An interview with creator Ashley Lyle confirms that there will be some instances of food poisoning throughout the season. While it may not be a confirmation on Ben’s demise, it sure seems like a hint at what’s to come. I hypothesis that Ben will be the first one to be eaten, ultimately plunging the girls into a new role for survival.
Misty is right where she wants to be, surrounded by people who need her for survival. The attention and gratitude she receives is unlike anything she’s used to, and she doesn’t want it to stop. That’s why she tore the wiring out of the flight recorder box, so she could continue to get praise.
The euphoric feeling that validation gives her is worth it to risk all of their lives, and that’s frightening in and of itself. Adult Misty is not any less intimidating. Her tracking abilities are off the charts, and based on Natalie’s car, it looks like she’s pulled quite a few more wires since her days in the woods.
There’s nothing that Misty won’t do to be involved with whatever Natalie’s up to, and that’s a red flag. It makes one wonder if she could know more about the postcards than one lets on.
Another dire question now looming in the air: what was Shauna and Travis’ connection? Misty’s decision to call Shauna is not one without a strategy behind it. Misty is manipulative and takes Travis’ death as an excuse to reach out to Shauna, even though she knows it would upset her.
Misty’s a little creepy all around, but her facial changes as Shauna goes silent on the phone, and her poised demeanor as she threatens Jessica Roberts is spine-chilling.
Antler Queen’s identity is still a mystery, but my gut is leaning towards Shauna. Between her fascination with the antlers in the cabin, the look in her eye as she slices the neck of the deer, and her constant level-headedness, it’s plausible that she could be the leader. If not, it could likely be Taissa.
One aspect of the show that seems a bit iffy is the supernatural. As of right now, the chances of a supernatural entity popping up in the woods seems high, but is it needed? While adding ghostly flares can sometimes be a fun thing in a horror aspect, it would be a waste of potential here.
Humans are very much capable of engaging in evil acts of their own accord, and not everything needs a supernatural element. The underlying ritualistic and primal elements spread throughout tend to excite me more.
I would prefer spirits, ghosts, or anything of that nature to not play a critical role in events that transpire while they’re stranded. But that seems to be where it’s heading. Which, if done correctly, my opinion could change about the idea.
Other Thoughts:
- It feels safe to say that Jackie is dead. Shauna hallucinating a teen version of Jackie telling her to quit doing reckless things is a pretty clear indicator as to why we haven’t seen adult Jackie.
- It’s evident that Taissa, her grandmother, and her son are all seers and can see what others can’t, which I think gives some pleasant individuality.
- What if the reason why they don’t want someone digging into the past is because they left people behind?
- The rolling theory now seems to be that Adam could be either a figment of Shauna’s imagination or Javi with a name change. I wasn’t too invested in either theory, until Adam’s tattoo. He has a tattoo of a map of the same mountains that’s on the postcard that was sent to Natalie and Misty. So, there’s a real possibility he could be Javi, but it seems too easy to guess for it to be correct.
- Shauna giving Javi the opportunity to collect his thoughts is such a touching moment. Since the crash, all he’s endured is trauma from the situation and his brother. He deserves to have a friend, so why not the potential antler queen?
- Justice for Caligula! It’s a shame we’re about to be halfway through the season and have yet to be introduced to her.
- Christina Ricci and Samantha Hanratty knew what needed to be done and came to serve. Week after week, they deliver stellar performances that leave me wanting more.
Favorite Quotes:
- “Yes, ma’am. I’ll perfectly calibrate my tone as I tell you to go fuck yourself.” – Taissa.
- “I know when you look at me, you don’t see someone you should be afraid of, but you’re wrong.” – Misty.
What did you think of this episode of Yellowjackets? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Yellowjackets airs Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.