Did Tai Do That?

The show started really great in the first season, but the present timeline slowly descends into a slapstick territory with sloppy writing that just lets me roll my eyes.

Almost all scenes with Elijah Wood are campy and ruin the mystery vibe that this show could develop.

This "citizen detective" storyline is so bad; and this episode where they dress up as cable guys are a new climax in stupidity. Does anybody thing this would ever work in reality? People freely roaming around in someone else's flat, not blowing their cover by picking on themselves all the time? This is just ridiculous.

I hope somebody does a fan edit with just the teenagers in the wilderness storyline. It has developed some pitfalls too, due to the unlikable character development and somehow unlogical decisions, but at least it's not outright silly.

The fifth episode of Yellowjackets Season 3, titled "Did Tai Do That?" and directed by Jeffrey W. Byrd, presents a tense and thought-provoking installment that deepens the psychological complexity and moral ambiguity permeating the series. This episode continues to navigate the turbulent dual timelines-1996 wilderness survival and the survivors' fractured lives in 1998-while probing the elusive boundaries between identity, agency, and the influence of a supernatural wilderness presence. It stands out for its measured pacing, strong character work, and moments that blend visceral horror with subtle mysticism.

In the 1996 storyline, the episode opens with the group wrestling with an agonizing "Old Yeller" moment, a grim decision that vividly illustrates how survival instincts gradually erode traditional morality and forge new, brutal codes of conduct. This moment marks a turning point for many of the young characters, cementing their descent into a rawer, fiercer existence in the frozen wilds. The decision, and its emotional fallout, is rendered with unflinching realism, underscoring the cruel dilemmas survival imposes and how loyalty and sacrifice become irrevocably intertwined.

A central thread involves Tai's escalating psychological torment, underscored by the manifestation of "Other Tai," a darker, more ruthless aspect of her psyche. This duality reaches a dramatic climax when Tai, holding a gun, appears poised to kill Coach Ben during a standoff reflecting the group's fracturing trust and desperate need for control. Her transformation into "Other Tai" signifies the profound influence of trauma and possibly supernatural forces shaping her identity. The episode's tension peaks as Travis intervenes, preventing the shooting, while Lottie disarms Tai, reinforcing the precarious balance of power and sanity within the group.

One of the most striking scenes is Tai's casual and almost ritualistic slaughter of a rabbit, an unsettling moment that symbolizes the group's grim communion with the wilderness and its hunger for blood. This act of killing as a means of bonding with the forest not only amplifies the episode's eerie atmosphere but also encapsulates the series' ongoing exploration of how the environment exerts a shaping, corrupting force on the survivors.

Meanwhile, Lottie steps into a mentor role as a new kind of prophet, guiding others such as Akilah and Travis in navigating the gas-filled caves that induce visions. Her cult leader aura remains potent, and her influence over the group's spiritual and practical decisions grows stronger, heightening tensions among the survivors and foreshadowing future conflicts. The tension between belief and survival pragmatism is keenly felt throughout these sequences.

In the present-day 1998 timeline, Misty continues her investigative pursuits, poking at mysterious deaths and the unresolved mysteries surrounding Lottie's death and the lingering supernatural elements influencing their lives. The episode also sheds light on Shauna's ongoing struggles, revealing new layers to her character as she navigates fraught relationships and dangerous secrets. Misty's refusal to cooperate with others and her playful but pointed manipulations inject dark humor and complexity into the narrative, reinforcing the fractured alliances and distrust underpinning the survivors' adult lives.

Jeffrey W. Byrd's direction is marked by a deliberate and atmospheric approach, emphasizing mood and psychological tension over quick plot developments. The cinematography favors muted, cold tones that accentuate the claustrophobic and forbidding wilderness atmosphere, contrasted with the sharp, often clinical lighting of the modern timeline scenes. Editing smoothly intercuts between timelines, allowing moments of quiet dread to linger while propelling key narrative beats.

Performances are a core strength of the episode. Jasmin Savoy Brown delivers a nuanced portrayal of Tai's fractured psyche, effectively distinguishing between her vulnerable surface and the menacing "Other Tai." Sophie Nélisse's Shauna reflects a complicated resilience, balancing fragility with emergent hardness. Simone Kessell's Lottie continues to imbue her character with a magnetic and unsettling charisma, while Christina Ricci's Misty is a fulcrum of tension and dark wit in the present-day scenes. The ensemble cast's chemistry and layered portrayals enrich the episode's emotional and narrative depth.

Memorable scenes include the chilling confrontation between Tai and Coach Ben, the ritualistic killing of the rabbit symbolizing the group's primal transformation, and Lottie's persuasive guidance of the cave expedition that merges survival with spiritual fervor. The way the episode balances these intense, often unsettling moments with quieter character beats reflects its commitment to psychological complexity over spectacle.

Thematically, "Did Tai Do That?" probes the nature of identity under extreme duress, the fracturing of self and group cohesion, and the interplay between human agency and external, possibly supernatural forces. The episode's title aptly frames the ambiguity of Tai's actions and the unresolved question of how much of the survivors' fate is driven by conscious choice versus otherworldly influence. This opens rich avenues for reflection on trauma's capacity to splinter personality and warp morality.

Culturally and cinematically, the episode aligns Yellowjackets with survival horror narratives infused with psychological thriller and coming-of-age drama elements, reminiscent of works like Lord of the Flies but distinguished by its feminist and mystical nuances. The dual timelines and supernatural undercurrents reinforce the series' blend of grounded realism and allegorical myth, situating it within contemporary conversations on trauma, identity, and feminine power.

While some viewers may find the episode's slower pace and deliberate ambiguity challenging, these aspects contribute to a textured, immersive atmosphere that rewards attentive engagement. The narrative's refusal to offer simple answers or neat resolutions deepens the show's enigmatic allure and thematic resonance.

"Did Tai Do That?" stands as a compelling, atmospherically rich chapter in Yellowjackets Season 3 that deepens the psychological and moral explorations central to the series. Through nuanced performances, thoughtful direction, and a layered narrative, the episode invites audiences to wrestle with the complexities of identity, survival, and the haunting influence of trauma and the wilderness. It underscores the fragile boundaries between self and other, sanity and madness, and human and supernatural forces, pushing the series towards an increasingly dark and enthralling trajectory.

I've generally enjoyed Yellowjackets since the beginning, but I don't think I've ever disliked the young versions of the characters as much as I do in this episode. Young Shauna may have endured trauma, but she a truly nasty, cold hearted piece of work as the young version and I can't associate her with the older Shauna at all. Melanie Lynskey does not portray the coldness of the younger version at all. They are like two different characters and people don't change that much!! As for the rest of the young characters, they have generally become quite unlikeable too. Young Natalie has become more like the rest of them and young Misty is the only one showing any humanity aside from coach Ben. Às for Travis, he's just become so pathetic it's embarrassing.

I've had it with this show! There has to be at least one likable character in a series to keep the audience interested. This show is a miracle because no one is likable; not their teenage versions or adult versions. What these 'high school' girls (all played by 28-30 year old actresses) did to coach was unconscionable and unbelievable. The whole 'trial' was a joke. This series has become unbearable and it's really too bad because the first season was great and the second season had me looking forward to a third season. This third season has me questioning the writing and wondering what went wrong.

For reference, I'm a female in my 50s, not that it really matters because stories rely on truth and faithfulness to their characters. In the last two episodes especially, it's clear that has been left behind.

Up until this point, I could bridge the past character to their current day character easily but that's all been thrown out the window. I don't know if it's because people involved in steering the show are more concerned with personal needs they are trying to communicate to the audience or maybe they don't realize that they have strayed from their characters but I sincerely hope they can find their way back to the heart of these characters that are left.