Full Circle

An amazing episode that left me with the biggest heartbreak since Jacky's death. I just had to stare at the ceiling cause I didn't know how to process everything that happened.

The beginning, and especially the ending, left me speechless. Now everything makes sense, and as the title says, everything came "full circle", tying back to scenes we saw in the very first episode of the series.

I do really hope we get another season, and I expect Shauna to suffer in the most horrible way imaginable. Props to the actress, she gave an incredible performance that made me hate her. Honestly, the whole cast did a fantastic job. And I never thought I'd say this, but... Misty Quigley, I like you now, pls don't ruin it.

Season 3 was a bit uneven for me. I appreciate it this episode, but it doesn't tie the story together as the title implies. Moreover, it uses flashback to try to substitute for a consistent logic throughout the season.

The worst part of season 3 is it has made it impossible to like Shawna or thai anymore. So I guess I have to spend next season with the two least likable characters if I want to keep watching... At the end of the day, television works because we like spending time with characters, and I don't think I am enjoying spending time here anymore.

I don't know if I will ditch it for season 4, but I will be watching metacritic and IMDb reviews closely. This is not an auto renew for me based on how disappointing the season 2 finale was and season 3 as a whole.

The tenth episode of Yellowjackets Season 3, titled "Full Circle," directed and co-created by Bart Nickerson, serves as a climactic and revelatory season finale that decisively advances the series' intricate survival saga and psychological drama. This episode completes numerous long-standing narrative arcs while introducing shifts in character dynamics and thematic resolutions, all framed by a potent blend of intense action, emotional confrontation, and haunting symbolism. "Full Circle" lives up to its name, weaving storylines back to their origins and unpacking pivotal mysteries with a tense, propulsive energy that highlights both the show's strengths and its ongoing challenges.

Opening in the 1996 wilderness timeline, the episode plunges viewers into the aftermath of the evolving power struggle within the Yellowjackets. Shauna, now firmly established as the Antler Queen, commands her group with an iron-fisted authority that embodies the show's exploration of leadership forged under duress. The ritualistic hunt that this episode centers on is a visceral and symbolic centerpiece, where primal survival instincts collide with the corrosive effects of fear, loyalty, and betrayal. Shauna's decision to target Natalie's faction escalates tensions into brutal confrontations, underlining the fragile social order shattered by trauma and desperation. Standout scenes such as Shauna holding Kodi at gunpoint crystallize the fractured allegiances and raw human desperation permeating the group, offering gripping portrayals of the psychological toll exacted by their ordeal.

A major narrative payoff in this episode is the long-anticipated reveal of Pit Girl's identity-Mari-who had been enveloped in mystery since the series' inception. Her fate poignantly closes a narrative arc that began with the first season's iconic pit scene, deepening the emotional imprint of the survival story. Mari's demise intertwines with the group's bloody rituals and the merciless nature of their existence, emphasizing the cyclical and inescapable violence that has come to define their lives. Equally significant is the confirmation that Callie was responsible for Lottie's death, a revelation that reframes past assumptions and recontextualizes interpersonal conflicts with chilling clarity. The episode's use of flashbacks, rendered in distorted, memory-like visuals, powerfully conveys the repression and fragmented remembrances that haunt the characters, enriching the psychological depth.

The 1998 timeline intensifies the present-day survivors' unraveling, with Shauna's escalating paranoia, alienation, and descent into authoritarianism starkly contrasted against the fracturing alliances among her former comrades. The episode effectively portrays Shauna's isolation as a consequence of her ruthless pursuit of control, culminating in confrontations laden with emotional and physical stakes. The filmed tension between Shauna and other adult survivors captures the corrosive aftermath of trauma and betrayal, with scenes of near-violence providing gripping emotional drama. Particularly poignant is the death of Van, delivered with raw vulnerability and atmospheric poignancy, underscoring the personal costs of survival's lasting shadows and the complex interplay of mercy, revenge, and inevitability.

Bart Nickerson's direction melds intimate character study with high-stakes action, utilizing a muted, cold palette punctuated by flickering firelight to highlight the wilderness environment's menace and the survivors' psychological states. The cinematography, by Shasta Spahn, captures both the sprawling, unforgiving landscape and claustrophobic interior moments with evocative precision. Editing balances the pacing deftly, allowing sequences of tense confrontation and ritualistic ceremony to breathe while sustaining narrative momentum. The sound design layers quiet ambient unease with sudden bursts of violence and emotional outcries, heightening the episode's immersive atmosphere.

The performances are a crucial anchor to the episode's impact. Sophie Nélisse conveys Shauna's transformation from vulnerable survivor to a figure of fear and control with nuanced intensity, embodying the psychological fractures wrought by trauma. Alexa Barajas's portrayal of Mari imbues the character's arc with a tragic resilience, while Sarah Desjardins as Callie delivers a chilling reveal of guilt and fear. Veterans of the cast, including Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey, and Tawny Cypress, navigate their characters' emotional labyrinths with authenticity and gravitas. Ensemble scenes bristle with tension and unspoken histories, underscoring the show's focus on fractured female relationships shaped by shared horrors.

Memorable sequences include the savage hunt and ensuing violence, the ritualistic attention centering Mari's death, the tense standoff with Kodi under gunpoint, and the emotionally wrenching moments following Van's demise. The use of flashback sequences to depict repressed memories adds psychological complexity, illustrating how the survivors grapple with the dual burdens of remembering and forgetting. The episode's final moments, with Shauna picking up a pen and beginning to write, offer a symbolic gesture of reflection, a poignant contrast to the preceding chaos suggesting a desire for control, understanding, or transformation.

Thematically, "Full Circle" probes the cyclical nature of violence, the elusive quest for power and order in chaos, and the devastating costs of survival on identity and community. The episode navigates how trauma distorts memory and loyalty, complicating the characters' attempts to bond, forgive, or escape their pasts. The title itself encapsulates the narrative's return to origins and the completion of certain arcs while hinting at new beginnings framed by lingering darkness. The interplay between mythic ritual and raw human emotion highlights the series' ongoing tension between supernatural suggestion and psychological realism.

Contextually, this episode situates Yellowjackets within a lineage of survival horror and coming-of-age trauma narratives, echoing literary and cinematic predecessors such as Lord of the Flies and Mare of Easttown, while continuing to carve its unique feminist and psychological niche. Its synthesis of horror, mystery, and human drama challenges conventional genre boundaries, engaging contemporary cultural conversations about trauma, memory, female agency, and the enduring impact of youth violence. The finale sets the stage for a potential Season 4 by balancing closure with open threads and tantalizing mysteries.

While widely praised for its thematic ambition, narrative resolution, and strong ensemble performances, some critiques note that the episode occasionally sacrifices subtlety for exposition and that certain character motivations can feel hastily resolved. Nevertheless, the emotionally charged climaxes and symbolic depth affirm the finale's status as a provocative and engaging conclusion to the season's complex narrative tapestry.

"Full Circle" is a potent and dramatic season finale that successfully synthesizes Yellowjackets Season 3's sprawling themes of trauma, survival, and fractured identity. Through masterful direction, evocative performances, and a narrative that brings long-awaited answers while sowing seeds for future developments, the episode challenges viewers to confront the brutal legacies of violence and the enduring quest for control and meaning in its aftermath.

Well that was about as perfect a finale you could have asked for. The insanity they were living in the woods truly came full circle. Now we will see them get saved next season and one would assume that we will see their lives as 17-18 year olds after the wilderness. Acting is great snd Sophie Thatcher is truly a star. She's one hell of an actress. We see Shauna finally get what she deserved with her husband snd daughter leaving her. The lies and her past are just to screwed up. It's amazing she made it together with them that long. Everything kind of seemed secondary to the final hunt snd the scam they were able to pull off so that they could finally get a call out to rescue. Misty was awesome this episode. She acts like she's the dumb one but really is SS devious as any of them. Just a great finale. Can't wait for season 4.

This show is unlike anything I've ever watched. It's absolutely diabolical and insane with the perfect amount of cheesy-ness to top it all off.

The ending to this was 10/10. I was on the edge of my bed. My heart was racing at some points. My jaw was clenched. MY CATS were watching this show with me, it's THAT good

It ties everything we need together and gives us the reassurance we need to know there will be a Season 4!!!

The direction this series is heading was nowhere near where I thought it would go and it's got me HOOKED. But the slow burn is definitely paying off and I just can't get enough of YELLOWJACKETS!!!!!