‘Yellowjackets’ episode 2, defined: The complicated starvation of youth friendships turns into literal

Who knew cannibalism may very well be so lavish? 

We’ve all been ready for the Yellowjackets to formally flip into flesh-eating comrades, after Season 1’s many hints, and our remarkably regarding needs come true in Season 2 episode 2, “Edible Complicated.” All of us noticed it coming, however boy, did we not count on it to be fairly like that.

Performed out as a lush bacchanalian banquet juxtaposed with the ruthless actuality, the Yellowjackets munch their means by way of Jackie’s (Ella Purnell) toasted corpse in a no-frills feast the place no a part of her is off the menu. Nonetheless, their delightfully dreadful dinner hadn’t truly been a part of the plan; the crew had been making an attempt to cremate Jackie’s physique as a way to let everybody — however particularly Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) — transfer on. As an alternative, a pile of snow lands on Jackie’s burning corpse, snuffing out the hearth so her flesh is slow-roasted as a substitute. Following their noses and their tummies, the crew slowly shuffles in direction of Jackie’s physique with a salivating Shauna boldly declaring, “She desires us to.” 

Now, everyone knows Shauna’s been tempted to have somewhat chew for some time. Her small snack in Season 2’s first episode did in truth scream, “Hey! They’re about to begin consuming one another!” All of it makes a number of sense contemplating that they’re ravenous, and Shauna’s being pregnant means she’s actually consuming for 2. However with Shauna’s extremely questionable habits since Jackie’s loss of life, is it potential that she at all times knew — and even hoped — the crew was going to should eat her sooner or later? Let’s rewind. 

At the beginning of Season 2, we discovered that it’s been two months since Jackie’s loss of life. As an alternative of burying her or cremating her proper after, the Yellowjackets determined to let Shauna mourn in her personal particular means — maintaining Jackie’s corpse in the group’s meat shed and letting Shauna spend hours on finish along with her in it on a regular basis. Shauna’s been imagining conversations with Jackie, posing her corpse, speaking to it, and even enjoying gown up. Whereas part of Shauna’s hallucinations relies on her notion of Jackie, one other enormous a part of it’s Shauna’s inner psyche projecting onto her pal. We’re actually listening to Shauna’s inner ideas and conflicts in these conversations, and in episode 2, we begin listening to the satan and angel on Shauna’s shoulders talking in actual time. 

Her conversations with Jackie slowly begin to get extra twisted, with Jackie tempting Shauna to eat her. This imaginary Jackie is sort of validating Shauna’s darkest ideas, reassuring her that she doesn’t want her physique anymore, the infant must eat, and that Travis (Kevin Alves) and Nat’s (Sophie Thatcher) searching endeavors are a moot level.

However we’re actually listening to Shauna making an attempt to justify her cravings in these moments, and imagining an unimaginable consent to cave into them. The temptation reaches a climax when Shauna by chance peels off a layer from Jackie’s pores and skin, which just about undeniably suggests {that a} deeper a part of her was able to eat Jackie’s physique regardless of her surface-level reluctance — which makes her response to Jackie’s funeral all of the extra telling. 

RIP Jackie, however probably not.
Credit score: Kailey Schwerman/SHOWTIME.

Simmering beneath Shauna’s craving is a closely alluded-to crush in direction of Jackie. You won’t see it for those who haven’t skilled it, however Shauna and Jackie’s relationship completely encapsulates the distinctive, difficult sort of queer awakening that may come up between same-sex biggest pals at that age. Your entire expertise is a large number of emotions, a relentless see-saw between “Wait, do I simply actually need to be like her?” or “Whoah, do I need to be with her?” (Shauna sleeping with Jeff may very well be seen as one other facet of this push-pull want.) Perhaps by consuming Jackie, Shauna thought she might maintain on to a chunk of her pal without end — bones and all, as they are saying.

When the Yellowjackets recommend burying Jackie, Shauna defensively rejects the thought saying the bottom is just too chilly to dig by way of (one thing that was additionally eerily stated by one other onscreen cannibal we’ve seen this yr). Was Shauna’s response actually out of not desirous to let go of Jackie but, or was she scared that the crew was about to waste her secret useful resource?

Or was it truly each? Shauna’s eulogy for Jackie begins “I don’t know the place you finish and I start,” which quickly turns into literal in each means when Shauna consumes her, nevertheless it rings true emotionally; one thing closely implies she’s at all times seen herself and Jackie as one, infinite, non-negotiable vessel — whether or not that’s as pals, crushes, or meals. By consuming Jackie, she’s ensuring that vessel stays afloat.

Even when the Yellowjackets had determined to maintain Jackie’s physique within the meat shed, Shauna certainly was going to have one other chew of her sooner or later. Based mostly on her conversations with Jackie, the ear snack, the pores and skin peeling, and all of the subliminal love and want brewing beneath the floor, consuming Jackie was at all times going to be an finish aim for Shauna, whether or not or not she would ever admit it. The group deciding to cremate her simply expedited the method. And when Jackie’s physique by chance cooks as a substitute of chars, Shauna doesn’t miss a single beat, taking it instantly as an indication to dig in. 

Perhaps the build-up to Jackie’s devouring might have been a coincidental flip of occasions, however that is Yellowjackets, and it isn’t too farfetched to consider that part of Shauna at all times knew this was going to occur and was simply ready for the best time. The forest sending that gust of snow was all she wanted to reaffirm her want — the ultimate seal on a deal she’s been making an attempt to make for 2 months. And by the Yellowjackets’ mutual willingness, it virtually looks like consuming Jackie was an unstated settlement the crew’s had for some time, they have been simply ready for Shauna’s blessing — and boy, did she give it to them. 

Yellowjackets Season 2 is streaming on Showtime, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays(Opens in a brand new tab). Episodes additionally air each Sunday on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET.