Yellowjackets Review: Doomcoming (Season 1 Episode 9)

Yellowjackets Season 1 Episode 9, “Doomcoming,” is an exhilarating penultimate episode that showcases the yellowjackets’ descent to madness and the notion of true love.

“Doomcoming” does exceedingly well to answer what burning questions it can before the finale, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi,” and set up the next conflict.

A few weeks have passed since Laura Lee’s unfortunate demise, and everyone seems to be dealing with it as well as they can. Some are worse off than others.

The excitement, determination, and morale in the group are essentially gone after Laura Lee’s attempt to escape. Failure after failure instills the belief in everyone that there is no escaping, and they’ll most likely die while stranded.

In the spirit of accepting everything crashing down around them, and Mari’s homemade booze, Jackie pitches the idea of having a party. You know, why not?

There’s nothing else to do, and death is slowly creeping up, so what can it hurt? Besides that, who wants to imagine their future surviving off boiled worms and praying someone eventually comes to the rescue? Nobody.

Possession?

While the Doomcoming celebration may start with cheers of applause for Taissa and Van’s relationship confirmation and fun, it ends with blood spilled, lines crossed, and possible possession.

Yellowjackets has left hints and clues throughout the season to the entity living in the woods, foreshadowing the girls’ fate from the beginning. The supernatural has everything to do with their descent into madness, as “Doomcoming” so obviously unveils.

The euphoric feelings that bring about laughter and curiosity to the yellowjackets is the work of Misty’s mushrooms. However, their ravenous attack on Travis and Jackie has to be the work of something more sinister.

Natalie and Ben are enjoying themselves as the high kicks in and never once resort to animalistic behavior. And, neither does Javi or Jackie. Besides Jackie, their ability to keep their cool throughout the high proves that something else is at work.

Shauna’s demon-like tone towards Javi is also natural proof that something is afoot.

The Antler Queen

Lottie has been the superior choice for Antler Queen, to me, all season long, which makes me doubt its authenticity. Her gift of sight is a great tool to lure the girls into leaving the idea of society they’re used to behind, forcing them to start their downward spiral into barbarity. However, it more than likely won’t last.

We’ve yet to see an adult version of Lottie, which with Yellowjackets could mean absolutely nothing. But, it’s more probable that she won’t make it out alive. Because of that simple fact, I theorize that the Antler Queen’s identity may change as their time in the woods continues.

As of Season 1 Episode 9, “Doomcoming,” it’s been around four to five months since the yellowjackets were first stranded. There is still a whole year of them being lost to explore, and honestly, I don’t see everyone following Lottie the entire time.

I continue to think about the opening scene of the series that showcases Misty feeding the team and awkwardly smiling. What if she is the leader in that particular moment instead of it being the Antler Queen? It feels like just the twist the show would throw at us.

Trippin’

I don’t think this is the last we’ll see of their hallucinogenic usage. Lottie is the only one who has been able to feel the presence in the woods, but on the shrooms, the others are more susceptive and follow suit.

It’s possible that Lottie uses this to her advantage and coerces the others into partaking again, with Misty’s help, of course. After all, she’s the one who knows how to find them and found enough to tuck away for whatever she had planned with Ben.

Pack mentality is a real thing, and with their ability to think critically out the window on the shrooms, the other girls are easy to manipulate.

My belief is that the hallucinogens will make another appearance and play a critical role in hunting one another. The drugs make it easier for the forest to take over, but it also gives a valid excuse for their actions. Being on the shrooms could justify forgiving themselves of what they have to do to survive.

One theory I also have is that the girls are on hallucinogens in the opening scene of the season, where we’re first introduced to their savagery. Van and the others make the same exact pack noises on “Doomcoming” as they do in the beginning scenes of the pilot when “pit girl” is being chased.

Blackmailer Unmasked

Jeff’s reveal as the blackmailer isn’t much of a shock but provides some much-needed comedic value and gives Jeff the funniest delivery of the season.

I can’t believe you thought I was going to book club this whole time. – Shauna

What!? There’s no book club? – Jeff 

While Jeff may be the “mastermind” behind everything and why they’re in the situation, he also proves to be one of the best characters. Shauna has been sneaking around, cheating on Jeff, lying, involving Callie in her lies, and has killed someone. Yet, Jeff still loves her and is willing to go to jail for her.

Part of his decision to take the fall has to do with the fact that Adam died because of him, but his love for Shauna is the deciding factor.

Jeff is the epitome of a ride or die and good spouse, you know, besides lying about the loan sharks and blackmailing her friends for money. He breaks down too quickly and it’s quite hilarious because he has no poker face whatsoever. All it takes for Shauna to break him is ask one question and stare him down; there’s no way he’s surviving a police interrogation.

Shauna’s shellshocked reaction to Jeff knowing what her journals say leads to her having an episode, suggesting something sinister happens between her and Jackie. Yes, she did other unspeakable things while stranded, but Jackie’s fate is the most relatable thing between the two.

Whatever happened between Jackie and Shauna, the truth is enough to send Shauna into a mild panic attack upon realizing that Jeff knows the truth. Her whole demeanor changes and she freezes up, unable to believe that he could still love her after knowing.

I don’t want a complete reveal, but I want some answers for what happens to Jackie in the season finale. Does she make it out alive, or does she meet her maker in the woods? I need there to be a scene with someone talking about Jackie and how she died because if her journals are any indication, she made it out, but didn’t last very long back in the real world. 

Other Thoughts:

• Jackie starving herself is relatable. I’d accept the idea of death and starve myself if I were stranded and living off boiled worms and insect stew.
• Van and Taissa are beyond wholesome. Their “coming out” at the party is sweet and filled with so much love from them and their teammates. I know that Van more than likely won’t make it, but part of me hopes that she does. I’d rather she and Taissa split ways versus being ripped apart.
• I feel like Mari and Akillah will play more significant roles in Season 2. There’s too much eluding to their characters during small moments that suggest we’ve seen nothing substantial about them yet.
• Ben mentions to Natalie that she needs to tell Travis about her love for him because he can save them all. I’m not sure where this will come into play, but it’s essential to the storyline; I can feel it.
• Misty keeping a secret folder full of medicinal plants and information is grimy but expected. Misty will do anything to keep them stranded and Ben under her control.
• Misty says to Jessica that they couldn’t say anything once they got back because they couldn’t betray their teammates. Could this be confirmation the theory that they left people behind is true? Only time will tell, but a major twist is coming.
• Juliette Lewis wasn’t kidding when she said Natalie devolves over the season. I hope that this issue is rectified in Season 2, assuming she lives, because Lewis is too talented to be underutilized as she has been.
• Jackie sleeping with Travis is disgusting. I know there needs to be a further conflict between her and the group, but she goes too far. One thing is for sure; karma catches up to her in the end.

Favorite Quotes:

• “Shauna, of course, I still love you.” – Jeff. 
• “And of course, when we came back we couldn’t get help, we couldn’t betray the team.” – Misty. 
• “I mean, so you guys ate each other. I mean, that is what happened, right?” – Jessica. 
• “It’s in all of us, you know, even him, even you.” – Lottie. 

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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