Dislocation

The second episode of Yellowjackets Season 3, titled "Dislocation," directed by Bille Woodruff and written by Rich Monahan and Ameni Rozsa, continues to unravel the tense and psychologically fraught narrative that the series is known for, further intensifying themes of survival, fractured loyalties, and the long shadows cast by trauma. With its dual timelines-set in the brutal 1996 wilderness and the complex aftermath in 1998-the episode deftly explores both physical and emotional dislocation through compelling character work, a deliberate pacing, and a blend of suspense and unsettling drama.

The episode opens in the 1996 timeline plunged back into crisis as Mari, portrayed with raw urgency by Alexa Barajas, screams from the bottom of a pit trap where Coach Ben has her trapped. Her injury-specifically a dislocated knee-initiates one of the episode's standout sequences: the coach, visibly strained and increasingly unhinged, methodically coaches Mari through the agonizing process of popping her knee back into place. This intense medical moment blends visceral discomfort with survival pragmatism, characteristic of the show's unflinching approach to depicting the brutal demands of wilderness endurance. Mari's terror and Ben's frustration underscore the fragile trust and paranoia permeating this timeline, as she pleads for death to end her suffering while Ben dismisses her fears with brusque irritation, creating a chilling dynamic of power and desperation.

Parallel to this, the remaining survivors grapple with the fallout from Mari's disappearance and their fractured social order. Shauna remains emotionally raw, secretly exhuming and reburying her stillborn baby's remains, a haunting ritual underscoring her fight to maintain agency and claim identity amid the group's cult-like drift under Lottie's growing influence. Travis, increasingly unsteady, experiences a hallucinatory episode tied to the "presence" suggestive of the wilderness's supernatural menace, while Misty and Natalie search anxiously for Mari, their alliance shadowed by suspicion of Nat's possible withholding of truth about Coach Ben's fate. These intricate relational tensions reinforce the ever-shifting power dynamics and the compounds of fear, grief, and control shaping their survival landscape.

The adult timeline in 1998 layers further complexity onto the narrative, focusing on Shauna's strained attempts to navigate her fractured life, now complicated by a surprising romantic development-a kiss shared with Melissa during a heated confrontation, a moment that caught many viewers and critics alike for its unexpected emotional depth and boldness. This act signals potential new directions for Shauna's character, reflecting the series' ongoing interrogation of identity, trauma, and fluidity within relationships forged under duress. Meanwhile, Lottie's reentry into Shauna's life hints at renewed conflicts and power play, with the episode shading these interactions with a mix of spiritual mysticism and psychological manipulation.

Director Bille Woodruff handles the episode's tone with a measured balance of suspense and introspection, applying a muted, cold visual palette that evokes the relentless harshness of the wilderness and the emotional chill binding the survivors. The cinematography emphasizes close, intimate frames that heighten the emotional stakes in scenes of crisis and confrontation, while the editing paces the narrative deliberately, allowing tension to simmer and character moments to land with weight. The interplay of quiet dread and sudden physical strain crafts an immersive atmosphere that holds the viewer in a state of uneasy engagement.

Performances anchor the episode's emotional core. Alexa Barajas's Mari delivers a gripping portrayal of fear, pain, and resilience, particularly in the pit scene where vulnerability meets desperate will to survive. Melanie Lynskey's Shauna continues to embody a complex mix of grief, hardness, and tentative exploration of new emotional territories, with the kiss scene adding nuanced layers to her character arc. Sammi Hanratty's Misty captures the fractured loyalty and desperation gripping the group, while Juliette Lewis's Natalie balances suspicion and pragmatism with a simmering intensity. Courtney Eaton as Lottie exerts a haunting charisma that propels the group's cultic narrative thread forward.

Thematically, "Dislocation" masterfully explores the literal and figurative ruptures fracturing the characters' worlds-dislocated bodies, disrupted trust, fractured identities, and the painful divide between past trauma and present survival. The title resonates on multiple levels, underscoring how physical injury and social upheaval interplay with psychological disorientation. The episode probes how survival distorts relationships and senses of self, questioning the bounds of loyalty and reality in extremis.

Several scenes stand out for their significance and impact: the knee-popping sequence with Coach Ben and Mari encapsulates Yellowjackets' gritty commitment to raw survival realism; Shauna's secret burial ritual poignantly conveys grief's persistence; and the surprising kiss between Shauna and Melissa challenges character and audience expectations, injecting fresh emotional complexity. Additionally, the ongoing mystery surrounding Coach Ben's true role in the cabin fire injects renewed suspense and ambiguity, correcting previous narrative assumptions and enriching the series' mythology.

Contextually, this episode situates Yellowjackets firmly within the survival horror and psychological thriller subgenres, while continuing to push boundaries by centering adolescent female experience and trauma with depth and nuance. The series echoes literary and cinematic traditions such as Lord of the Flies and Mare of Easttown, yet distinguishes itself through feminist perspectives, complex character studies, and supernatural undertones. Its blending of visceral physicality and psychological horror resonates with contemporary audiences' appetite for layered, character-driven storytelling.

While generally praised for its atmosphere, performances, and thematic richness, some critics have noted moments where character motivations feel underdeveloped or pacing slightly uneven, particularly in the web of shifting alliances. Nevertheless, these are often seen as reflective of the characters' psychological fragmentation and the series' deliberate slow-burn style.

"Dislocation" stands as a compelling and thematically dense second episode in Yellowjackets Season 3. Through visceral portrayals of pain and survival, intricate character dynamics, and strong direction, it deepens the series' exploration of trauma's enduring fractures-physical, emotional, and social. The episode challenges viewers to contend with the precariousness of trust, identity, and connection in extreme circumstances, promising a season rich with suspense, complexity, and unsettling revelations.

Not a good convincing continuation for season 3. The episode basically brings nothing that we already know, besides hot chocolate and protein bar discovery, or can more or less guess in the near future. As much as I like their adult and teens counterparts, the way the scenes and flashbacks are arranged in the timeline isn't very neat and it's border dull sometimes.

Also, what makes the whole series miserable so far is the lack of decent narrative, conversations and kissing. Add to that average romantic scenes set in the present and past, then you start having the feeling that we are just offered scenes, more or less uninteresting developments and events.

So far, I like adult Shauna, next comes adult Misty. Looking forward to a better 3rd episode.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 6
• Production value/impact: 7
• Development: 7
• Realism: 6
• Entertainment: 6.5
• Acting: 7
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 6.5
• VFX: 7
• Music/score/sound: 6
• Depth: 6
• Logic: 3.5
• Flow: 6
• Drama/psychological/mystery/thriller: 6
• Ending: 7.