Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4 Review: 12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis

Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 4, “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,” sees the survivors bring one of their own to justice while the Sadeckis try on charity for size. It’s not as strong as last week’s Lynchian homage, but the startling cliffhangers in both timelines, particularly for the adults, will undoubtedly pave the narrative road for the remainder of the season. 

12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis 

This episode presents a rather dialogue-heavy Wilderness arc, which makes sense given the 1957 film 12 Angry Men serves as inspiration. However, this critic wishes “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” showed the jury actually deliberate the verdict for Ben’s trial like the aforementioned movie. It would’ve made Shauna bullying the others into voting for that guilty verdict that much more impactful. 

That said, if there’s one thing this outing does, it’s make Shauna utterly detestable in both timelines. But that’s not a bad thing — Yellowjackets never shies away from showcasing women in all their colors, shades, layers, and complexities. It lets us be angry, messy, and unlikable.

As for Shauna, her teenage self is unadulterated rage, and as an adult, she’s finally allowing herself to express her anger. It’s all about losing control, which is happening for most of the characters in both timelines. Taissa and Van are prime examples of this in the present timeline.

What Do You Believe? 

In “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,” they tempt fate by subjecting innocent passersby to the Hunt. If you found yourself shouting at the screen during these scenes, you’re not alone. Tai grasping at anything to keep Van alive longer is heartbreaking. However, it’s Tai’s lack of guilt or hesitation in potentially killing someone that gives one pause. 

Clearly, she’s floundering. For starters, Tai impeached herself after winning her Senate seat. Then, her wife and son moved out. To top it all off, she learned the love of her life has terminal cancer. It makes sense why she would cling to the Wilderness and a newfound belief in “It.” Yellowjackets cleverly plays with religion here and our need to believe in something to rationalize what happens to us and alleviate our fear of the unknown. 

Performances 

What really carries “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” is the stellar performances, notably from Jasmin Savoy Brown, Samantha Hanratty, and Steven Krueger. In an episode like this, which is more action-lite, the performances truly shine. Brown is a force of nature as Teen Taissa. She embraces the “shark” lawyer stereotype, and you can see why Tai grows up to become an attorney.

What’s great about the trial scenes is you’re often questioning if you’re seeing Tai or Other Tai, especially in those moments when she turns away from the stand. Brown deftly plays with this possibility, seemingly (and seamlessly) switching in and out of these modes. She’s such a compelling screen presence. 

Hanratty steps up to the plate as Misty, leaning heavily into the character’s desperate need to please people. She also showcases Misty’s innate intellect and her cunning nature — and ability to manipulate — shines through. Side note: You can see why Misty gloms onto Nat when they’re adults. Nat is the only one who’s marginally nice to her in the Wilderness. 

As for Krueger, he’s an absolute scene-stealer. He’s easily the MVP for the Wilderness arc in Season 3. Ben’s speech on the stand should be Krueger’s Emmy submission. It’s equal parts raw and visceral — tender and heartbreaking.

We see Ben exercise influence over his team for the first time since the beginning of Season 1, and their reactions to his words remind us that they’re just kids. Kids enduring unimaginable, grisly circumstances. Their response to his speech makes their betrayal sting all the more. 

The Lottie of It All 

Lottie’s death (RIP) in the adult timeline is a shocker. However, one can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if the wonderful Simone Kessell stuck around longer. We were seeing the burgeoning (and intriguing) bond between Lottie and Callie unfold. Adult Lottie still had more to give. Plus, combined with the unseen figure tormenting Shauna, it feels like we’re treading old ground narratively. 

Of course, with Shauna, Tai, and Van in NYC roughly around the time she might’ve died, it’s clear the remainder of the adult timeline in Yellowjackets Season 3 will focus on the mystery surrounding her death. At least there are intriguing elements of her death, like the coat she’s wearing in the above photo. It looks suspiciously like the white and brown fur coat she wore in the Wilderness during the first winter. 

Secondly, there’s the location where Lottie died. It’s the same candlelit tunnel from Lottie’s vision during her baptism in Season 1. Did Lottie realize she was foreseeing her death as Laura Lee plunged her under the lake’s surface? On a separate note, was Lottie apologizing to herself in the mirror or preparing that apology for someone else? Hopefully, the series presents satisfying answers. 

The Outcome 

“12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” certainly sets the stage for what’s to come. In Ben’s case, death feels inevitable (as much as I don’t want that). The sketch Travis shows Lottie, which is “the outcome,” seems to predict the teens utilizing the pit in their subsequent Hunts. This could reignite interest in the mysterious Pit Girl’s identity. 

Lottie’s death will serve as an excuse to bring everyone together, and Misty, as a bona fide Citizen Detective, will take it upon herself to investigate Lottie’s mysterious passing. Here’s hoping we don’t fully abandon the Shauna tormentor plotline — even better if it ties into Lottie’s potential murder. 

Regardless, even in the midst of the narrative unknown, Yellowjackets continues to bless us with Jeff Sadecki as a constant comedic presence. He’s like our favorite comfort food — reliable and consistent. Well, that and the occasional Ghost Jackie appearance. Who would we be without Ella Purnell’s Jackie smirk? 

I rest my case. 

Stray Observations:

• I get the 12 Angry Men reference in the episode title, but what’s with “1 Drunk Travis”? He said maybe two words during the entire episode. 
• Jeff looking up how to reverse bad karma on wikiHow is peak Jeff. 
• Can you believe Emma Swan was at the helm for this episode (Jennifer Morrison)? She has a keen directorial eye. 
• I loved seeing the Antler Queen garb in its beginning stages, especially Nat’s crown. 
• “Bring me back a karma to-go plate.” I wish I was as funny as Callie when I was a teenager. 
• Akilah and Mortimer better skip out of the Wilderness completely unscathed when the survivors are rescued. I’m so serious.
• Jeff’s gonna kill the nursing home circuit when he goes on his standup tour.
• When Teen Misty mentions that Crystal could’ve burned down the cabin, I thought my eyes would roll all the way into my head. Girl, you know Crystal/Kristen’s d-e-a-d. 
• Nice to see that even when she’s Shauna’s psyche, Jackie’s still doling out insults like the rent is due tonight. 

What did you think of this episode of Yellowjackets? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Yellowjackets drops new episodes every Friday on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and airs on the network on Sundays at 8 pm EST/PST. 

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