Culture Crash: The Intrigue of “Yellowjackets”

While the incredible volume of new TV content has inevitably meant certain shows have gotten left behind from the general discourse, none has surprised me more than the omission of Showtime’s spectacular new show Yellowjackets.

Yellowjackets is a story told in two timelines: In the 1990s, a girls soccer team’s flight crashes over Canada, leaving a slew of survivors desperate to survive in the wilderness. In the present day, a handful of those survivors navigate their lives, trying to hide the secrets of what it took for them to survive.. Which, we the audience, knows involved… cannibalism. The show is definitely a descendant of LOST and Lord of the Flies, but it is also unlike anything else I’ve watched. It’s fascinating and disturbing and full of incredible characters.

Plus, it is notable for its cast, which is stock full of veteran actresses turning in some of their best work., including turns from Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis and Christina Ricci. It also boasts a predominately female creative team, including co-creator Ashley Lyle.

Yellowjackets is menacing and disturbing, but also mysterious, soapy and often, a heck of a lot of fun. If exciting genre mashups and tremendous acting sound like something you’d be interested in, I definitely recommend you check out Yellowjackets, which airs Sundays on Showtime and is now streaming on the Showtime app.