[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 9, “How the Story Ends.”]
Yellowjackets delivered a surprising twist with the introductions of Ashley Sutton, Nelson Franklin, and Joel McHale as Hanna, Edwin, and Kodiak, the three grownup hikers (two scientists, one mountain man) who encounter the stranded teenagers on the finish of Season 3 Episode 6. Since then, viewers have realized what introduced them to this distant space (Hanna and Edwin are learning frog mating patterns, with Kodi as their wilderness information) and the way they had been led to the Yellowjackets’ campsite (they smelled the Coach Ben barbeque — oof). Now, Season 3 Episode 9 has revealed what these new characters will do to get out of those woods alive.
Edwin, Hanna’s analysis and romantic associate, was killed inside moments of constructing contact with the kids in Episode 7. He died by an axe to the top, the deadly blow dealt by Lottie (Courtney Eaton), who then made a meal out of his mind. After being imprisoned by the kids with Kodi, Hanna tried to outlive by interesting to their higher natures in Episode 9. She tells Melissa (Jenna Burgess) that she has a daughter again at dwelling in an try and drum up sympathy. This enrages Shauna (Sophie Nelisse), and their relationship is clearly achieved after a combat over Hanna ends in Shauna capturing at Melissa to show a degree. She missed, however the message was clear: Shauna will kill anyone who pisses her off. The survivors are additionally getting murderous once more within the grownup timeline.
Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
Final we noticed grownup Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) and Melissa (Hilary Swank), Shauna was biting a bit out of Melissa’s arm and forcing her to eat it. In Episode 9, Melissa spit it out and ran away, driving off to what she thinks is security. However then, her automobile runs out of gasoline proper as the opposite grownup survivors — Van (Lauren Ambrose), Tai (Tawny Cypress), and Misty (Christina Ricci) are driving by. This lands her proper again the place she began, in the home she shares together with her spouse, aka Hanna’s daughter, who has no concept that Melissa is a Yellowjacket — or that her title is even Melissa. She thinks her spouse’s title is Kelly.
For many of Episode 9, you assume that Melissa grew out of the hive mindset that satisfied the kids that consuming individuals ritualistically was their solely technique of survival once they had been stranded within the wilderness. Grownup Melissa fights to outlive her run-in with the opposite survivors. She almost kills all of them with a gasoline leak in her home. They survive, however loss of life remains to be proper across the nook. There’s yet one more tragic loss of life for the grownup survivors on the episode’s finish, marking the fourth total and the second this season.
Right here, Sutton breaks down how Hanna represents the final little bit of humanity within the teen wilderness timeline with TV Insider. Plus, she offers her tackle the theories that Hanna may very well be the notorious, nonetheless unidentified Pit Lady. With the creation of stated pit being revealed on this episode (and Lottie surviving the primary try to provide the pit a sufferer), we could also be nearer to that reply than ever earlier than.
Whenever you had been filming the mountaineering scenes with Joel McHale and Nelson Franklin, how a lot do you know about what they’d uncover? Did they maintain the reveal a shock for you in any respect?
Ashley Sutton: We truly knew at that time what we might uncover as a result of we had filmed slightly bit in 306, so we knew we might encounter the camp and that they had been trekking by way of, and finally they’d run into the women. So, we did have that in our thoughts whereas we had been doing it, but it surely was actually enjoyable to work with Joel and Nelson. I like them a lot. They’re so humorous. I do know everyone is aware of they’re so humorous, however they’re so naturally humorous on set that even Jennifer [Morrison, director of Season 3 Episode 7], we might be laughing and shedding our minds after she would name reduce. So hysterical.
Hanna says to Melissa within the episode, “That is probably the most fascinating research of survival I’ve ever witnessed.” Are you able to elaborate on that line and what it says about Hanna?
I feel that Hanna is humanity when she reveals up on the camp. She is that final little bit of humanity. She’s the viewer, she’s us. She’s us strolling into this loopy setting. To see the place she goes and what she does and the alternatives that she makes, it’s actually, actually, actually lovely. Clearly, there’s a lot trauma that’s occurring for the Yellowjackets — and Travis [Kevin Alves]. I at all times neglect to incorporate Travis, however Travis is there too [laughs].
Twelve indignant ladies and one drunk Travis, proper?
[Laughs] Yeah, completely. I’m at all times like, Yellowjackets, however right here’s there as nicely.
She’s simply this final little bit of humanity. It’s actually lovely to see how she takes in each single certainly one of these youngsters and the trauma that they’re going by way of actively, and you might simply see how humanity begins to slide so rapidly. We’ve watched them lose humanity during the last two and a half seasons, however for Hanna, she’s coming into one thing that’s already at 100% and attempting to determine how one can survive.
Does Hanna actually care about these teenagers, or are these significant interactions simply survival instruments?
I truly thought she does care. That could be a alternative that I made. In Episode 8, once they’re deciding to go dwelling and we’re all standing round and having this debate, simply seeing a little bit of myself in all of them, as a result of we’ve all been youngsters. We all know what it’s wish to be a child who’s awkward and also you’re simply studying your physique and all the things is simply so complicated and peculiar, and so they’re doing this within the wilderness. Hanna sees a little bit of herself in them, however she additionally sees her daughter, so she’s obtained each of these issues in her thoughts at each cut-off date. And I actually consider that Hanna, greater than something, desires everybody to go dwelling, and it’s actually devastating once they resolve that they don’t need to.
Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
Hanna’s a survival skilled, she research the survival patterns of animals. Does she assume Shauna actually is the highest of this meals chain? Does she assume Shauna will be beat?
In that second when she asks, “Are you the captain of the workforce?” I feel that’s in Episode 8. She is beginning to determine the hierarchy of what’s occurring, however I do assume that Hanna’s actually clever. She’s actually sensible, and he or she is seeing either side. She’s seeing that Natalie [Sophie Thatcher] can also be a frontrunner and that some individuals need to observe Natalie. She’s clever, proper? Survival is her recreation, or how animals and the way we survive in nature is one thing she’s very, very nicely versed on. And she will be able to see in all the Yellowjackets, the combat that they’re having, the tug between the Shauna and the Natalie line. She’s not ignorant to that. She’s very, very conscious that a few of them are so afraid of Shauna, and I feel in Hanna’s thoughts, she’s like, nicely, there must be a cause aside from what she will be able to see. There must be a cause why everyone seems to be so frightened of her and afraid to be like, “Hey, no, we’re leaving, you may keep,” as a result of that simply doesn’t occur. There must be extra to the story. She sees that Shauna has achieved one thing to scare all of them.
As you stated, Hanna’s an skilled at observing these items. What informs her selections on who to observe? Will she observe Shauna if she sees the tide shifting in her favor over Natalie, and vice versa?
I feel Hanna is following herself. I feel she’s really desirous to get dwelling. She’s desirous to stay her life. She’s desirous to expertise life together with her daughter that she needed to go away behind. I don’t essentially assume she’s making any acutely aware selections to decide on one facet or the opposite. She’s simply making selections for herself, however she hopes the selections she makes for herself can convey everyone again to the actual world. At this level, it’s slipped. They don’t perceive humanity anymore. They’ve forgotten it.
Hanna questions the title on Kodi’s rucksack, implying she doesn’t belief him. Why doesn’t she belief him?
Edwin is at all times at the back of her thoughts. This expertise, earlier than they had been type of bickering. Edwin is like, “He’s scary. He’s going to do one thing. He’s going to activate us.” And she or he’s actually like, “It’s effective. It’s not an enormous deal. You’re being ridiculous.” Edwin’s proper in some bizarre approach, after which the axe occurs and he or she loses Edwin. Now she’s replaying Edwin a lot in her head that that’s why she brings up Eric once more. It’s her approach of dealing with all the things. She’s like, nicely, perhaps there’s a cause. Possibly I can’t belief Kodi. I additionally assume that’s the flip with the knife factor. She simply doesn’t know who to belief, and honestly, the one particular person she will be able to belief is herself. She desires to outlive.
Hanna lies about who gave her the knife to free herself and Kodi once they get caught by Shauna. After which Hanna kills Kodi. Why? Is it as a result of she will be able to’t belief anybody however herself?
I don’t assume it’s a thought-out determination. It’s both he’s going to say [Hanna] obtained it, after which Shauna’s going to do one thing to her, or she will be able to instantly blame it on Kodi. In that second she’s identical to, I’ve to outlive. I’ve to make it. I can’t not go away this place. I must get dwelling. And so it’s only a actually fast determination that she makes, and I nonetheless assume she does it as a result of she simply doesn’t absolutely belief Kodi in any respect.
And she or he doesn’t see any avenue of survival if she lets him stay?
No, Shauna is so scary.
Shauna is so scary.
[Laughs] And she or he has the rifle pointed at us. I feel in that second she’s like, oh, this lady will — I imply, she simply watched what occurred with Melissa. She’s going to do it [kill Hanna and Kodi]. We don’t have a relationship for her to be like, no, it’s OK. Let me hear you out. She’s like, I’ve to decide proper now as a result of [Shauna’s] going to do one thing.
Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
And perhaps even present slightly violence to impress Shauna, as a result of perhaps she gleaned that that’s Shauna’s love language at this level.
One-hundred p.c [laughs]. That’s her love language.
Hanna then says, “Please, I need to be a part of this.” How real is that? Is that this a calculated determination she made as a scientist who research survival patterns, or does she actually need to be a part of this?
I feel it’s a calculated determination as a result of she is aware of survival patterns. The whole lot she’s doing, she’s simply attempting to make it out alive, and he or she’s obtained to do some issues that perhaps she doesn’t need to do. I’m very into morally grey characters, and he or she’s so morally grey. She is doing all the things that she thinks is correct, and generally it’s not the most effective or the nicest factor or what different individuals would assume is the fitting factor to do. However in all of this, she is simply attempting to get out and he or she hopes that she will be able to take anyone else together with her when she does.
With that, is that this Hanna revealing that she thinks an alliance with Shauna is one of the best ways to outlive? Why not assist the women who’re attempting to rearrange a rescue?
Up till that time, she was. They had been planning to go meet them. They’re within the woods ready for Kodi and Hanna to get there. It’s one other in-the-moment determination of how one can present Shauna that she has a white flag. She does one thing actually insane and is like, I’m in your facet now. I feel it’s, once more, simply survival. She’s in combat or flight, and he or she clearly may be very analytical and he or she does take into consideration quite a lot of issues, however on this setting generally you’re not given the time to consider issues. You simply do issues so you can also make it by way of to the subsequent 5 minutes.
Since your arrival, some followers have been theorizing that Hanna is Pit Lady. This episode revealed that Travis is the one who constructed the notorious pit. What are you able to say about the potential for Pit Lady being revealed within the Season 3 finale?
I can’t say something, however I’ve been a fan of the present from the very starting, so I’ve been very into all of the theories that everyone has and studying them and really excited to see the place the story takes all of us as viewers. I feel it’s a excellent season of tv from starting to finish. A lot occurs. So many questions get answered that they’ve been planting for the final two seasons, so I’m excited to see what everyone else thinks about it.
Because you had been a fan of the present earlier than, had been you excited — or slightly honored even — that some followers assume you is likely to be Pit Lady?
I used to be truly extra honored that everyone thought I used to be going to be Shauna’s mother. Within the very starting when the casting occurred, they had been like, oh, we expect Ashley’s going to be Shauna’s mother. She’s positively Shauna’s mother as a result of she seems like Melanie and he or she seems like Sophie. And I used to be like, nicely, that’s such a praise! Thanks guys a lot. Not what occurred, however such a lovely, enjoyable principle.
What are some phrases you’d use to explain Hanna’s plot in subsequent week’s finale?
Survival, compassion, and understanding. I actually assume she desires to outlive, however she simply sees a lot of herself in all the different youngsters, and he or she actually does attempt to have a coronary heart for them. We’ll see what occurs.
Yellowjackets, Season 3 Finale, Friday, April 11, Paramount+ With Showtime, Sunday, April 13, 8/7c, Showtime