The co-showrunner, who co-wrote and directed the third episode of Yellowjackets, explains that the scene was the result of extensive research: “We’re constantly testing the line between reality and illusion.”
Yellowjackets Season 3’s third episode “Damns the Brakes” ended with a cryptic hallucination sequence. In the 1996 woods, Shauna (Sophie Nelisse) reaches out for her lost child, Van (Liv Hewson) is about to burst into flames, and Akila (Keaya King) meets an omniscient llama (Vincent Pastore). Along the way, they all see the ghost of Jackie (Ella Purnell)—whom they once ate to survive.
Yellowjackets: When the Line Between Reality and Hallucinations Begins to Blur!
Yellowjackets co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco, who directed and co-wrote “Damns the Brakes” with Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, reveals the deeper idea behind the episode. He explains how each nightmare, the cultural impact of collective dreams, and the adult characters’ recall of these hallucinations into memory are part of a deeper mechanism.
“It’s not just meant to scare or sensationalize,” Lisco told The Hollywood Reporter. “If it doesn’t flow naturally from the story and the characters, we don’t do it. We have to weave each layer in such a way that it penetrates deeply into the minds of the audience.”
As this mysterious episode of Yellowjackets plays out in the minds of the audience, Lisco reveals that “Now the line between reality and illusion is beginning to blur. What happens next will be even more shocking!”
Yellowjackets Season 3: When the creative team opened the floodgates of their imagination!
The tremendous success of the second season of Yellowjackets put a lot of pressure on the third season. The creators did their best to live up to the expectations of the audience, but the path was extremely challenging. And then, they asked themselves a question—Should we try to please everyone, or trust our creative mind?
“We love the audience, but we can’t make a show for everyone.” The showrunners decided to trust their gut feeling and intuition.
“We opened the floodgates!” The creators decided that there would be no limits—no censorship, no restrictions. Every idea would be tested, and if it made an impact on an emotional and psychological level, not just the story—it would be included.
Yellowjackets Season 3 is no longer just a show, but a whirlwind of pure imagination and creativity!
Yellowjackets Season 3: When every episode becomes an emotional journey!
You can never imagine how the story of Yellowjackets takes shape! The show may have a framework, but when it’s fleshed out, many things change. Some great ideas have to be dropped simply because they don’t fit in with the rest of the story.
“We don’t add things just for shock value!” The show creators believe that every scene should linger in the viewer’s consciousness, like a memory that lingers in the mind for a long time. Each episode has a deeper layer to it, so that the viewer is not just watching, but living the feeling.
How did ‘cannibalism’ become a storyline?
Remember that shocking episode in Season 2 when young Jackie was eaten? It wasn’t just there to create a sensation—it was an important part of Shauna’s journey.
“We waited until it became a character-driven story.” When it was realized that this was a story about Shauna’s struggle for friendship, dominance and respect—that’s when the scene was included.
The biggest question now is—Was this a one-time event, or are new traditions taking birth in the jungle? When all the rules of civilization are broken, Will they adopt new customs? Will cannibalism become a ritual?
Yellowjackets Season 3 is not just a show—it is a journey that will make you say, “Wow, that was a wild ride!” And that is perhaps its greatest quality—it is as thought-provoking as it is shocking.
Yellowjackets Season 3: Are memories really reliable?
Do we really remember our memories, or do we just replay the last glimpse of them? This question gets more complicated in the third season of Yellowjackets. Bart Nickerson may refrain from revealing much, but Ashley Lyle has hinted that at least two big mysteries are going to be revealed this season!
The Man Without Eyes: Taissa’s fear, reality or mind game?
Taissa (Tony Cyprus) has been seeing the man without eyes since childhood, but now she is confused whether this is just a forgotten memory or a horrifying reality? Is the mysterious forces of the forest affecting him, or is it just a trick of her mind? As events are unfolding, Taissa’s confusion is getting deeper.
The confusion of memories – how much is truth, how much is deception?
Many neuroscientists believe that when we remember something, we are actually remembering not the actual thing, but its past memory. In such a situation, the question arises whether whatever happened, was it really like that, or is it just an illusion of their mind? Are the adult Yellowjackets getting entangled in the shadows of their past, or are they really under the influence of some unseen force?
The mysterious power of the forest – is the past returning again?
Now the adult Taissa and Van seem to be inclined towards the spirituality of the forest. Is this just a coincidence, or are they again getting caught in the web of mysterious events that they faced in the forest years ago?
The creators of the show believe, “We will not keep the audience completely in the dark, some questions will definitely be answered.” But with every answer, new mysteries will also be revealed. Is the truth of the Yellowjackets’ forest going to be even more terrifying than it seemed earlier?
Yellowjackets: Is the line between reality and illusion getting blurred?
The story of Yellowjackets is not just limited to mysteries and psychological turmoil, but it also plays with the fine line between objective and subjective experience. What is reality for one person, may be just an illusion for another. The question arises—are we seeing what is really happening, or are our eyes deceiving us?
Supernatural vs. Psychological – Which is the truth?
The makers of the show themselves are avoiding answering this question completely. If people want to know whether it is the effect of some supernatural power or just a psychological game, then giving a straight answer will eliminate the complexity of the story. The mystery will remain the same, but new clues will keep coming with each episode.
Hallucination sequence: Why were Shauna, Van and Akila chosen?
The most impactful moment of the episode was a 10-minute long hallucination sequence featuring three characters—Shauna, Van, and Akila. The question is, why were they chosen?
Akila has always been connected to nature. Her love for plants and animals has influenced her thinking about the wilderness. But now, as things change, she finds herself facing a truth she had never accepted before.
Van’s story is even more interesting. She has come very close to death before—she was left to die after a plane crash. But has she really moved on? Or was it just a pretense? In the hallucination, she sees herself trapped in a burning cabin with no way to escape.
Faces Returning from the Grave: The Dark Game of Memories
If this hallucination sequence is watched carefully, it becomes even more terrifying. The sequence shows burning hands in the cabin, which belong to none other than Javi and Laura Lee—both of whom had already been killed. Was this a sign of guilt? Or another clue to the dark secrets of the jungle?
Each new twist in Yellowjackets proves that this is not just a survival thriller, but a story that delves into the darkest corners of the mind. The biggest question now is—can these characters really trust their memories, or is their own mind playing tricks on them?
Shauna’s Painful Journey: Motherhood, Guilt, and Past Wounds
Shauna’s story is the deepest, most poignant, and heartbreaking in this episode of Yellowjackets. She was just 17 when she lost her baby in the woods, and this tragedy changed her life forever. Now, in a dream, she sees her baby on the shore of a lake and tries to swim towards him, but the baby slowly drifts away. This scene not only highlights her pain, but also raises a bigger question—could she have prevented it herself?
The Shadow of Guilt: Does she feel responsible?
Shauna’s pain is not just limited to losing her child. Deep down, she also feels that she was a part of this tragedy. Although this is completely subjective, she connects this guilt to her body, her motherhood, and her abilities.
Along with this, another struggle is also going on—was the story she was told true? Did what she was told really happen in the woods? Or was the truth hidden from her? This doubt makes her even more restless, and this confusion keeps her trapped in her past.
The Necklace, Jackie’s Memory, and Shauna’s Anger
In the present, we see adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) snapping at her daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins). The reason? Callie is wearing Jackie’s heart necklace, which was given to her by Lottie (Simone Kessell). It’s the same necklace that was used as a charm in the woods—but not for good purposes.
As soon as Shauna sees her daughter wearing the necklace, she loses her patience. It’s not just a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of her old memories and horrific experiences. Some viewers may think that teenage Shauna and adult Shauna have a lot of personality differences, but the truth is that the fire inside her was always there.
Who’s the villain? Was Shauna always like this?
This is the big question of this season—who is the villain and what does it mean to be a villain? Can someone really be innocent, or do circumstances make someone like this?
This episode of Yellowjackets not only plays the game of mystery and thrill, but also delves into human emotions and psychological depths. Hopefully, as the story progresses, viewers will get not only thrills but also a unique and satisfying experience.
The Mystery of Dreams: When the Lines Between Reality and Hallucination Blur
An interesting element emerges in this episode of Yellowjackets—collective dreams. All the characters dream the same dream, as if their subconsciouses are connected. But this is not just a coincidence, but an idea rooted in a deep cultural and psychological tradition.
Are collective dreams a new beginning or a sinister trap?
The Mayan and many indigenous cultures have believed that dreams are not just individual, but connected to the collective consciousness of a society. In shamanistic traditions, dream coordination helped shape the future. It was not just a spiritual aspect, but also a way to keep society alive.
Now imagine how important this could be for these women trapped in the jungle? When their old traditions are falling apart and they are forced to adapt to new rules, this coordination of their dreams could be a sign that their society can be rebuilt. But it’s not that simple—will they embrace it as a new beginning, or will it become a sinister force that will consume them?
When bodies and minds start syncing
We know that when women live together for a long time, their menstrual cycles start syncing with each other. But is it just limited to the body, or can it happen on a mental and emotional level as well?
The dream sync between these characters raises this question—is this going to become their new normal, or will it break them mentally? It could also be a pheromonal effect, a cortisol (stress hormone) response. Not everyone’s mind will accept this, and this conflict makes the story more interesting.
“The man with no eyes”: Fear, hallucination or something else?
Another interesting aspect is that the “man with no eyes” is also present in this dream—he has been a part of Tai’s (Jasmin Savoy Brown) vision. This indicates that the lines between their individual experience and the collective consciousness are now blurring.
Is it a hallucination, or is there something more mysterious hidden in this dream? Is it the mysterious power of the forest, or the fear in their minds?
Dream sequence: a means of survival or a trap?
This is not just a story of dreams, but a deep psychological game. Will the characters embrace this collective dream and make it a part of their new world? Or will they see it as a trap and try to escape from it?
This twist in Yellowjackets leaves the audience thinking—because when dreams collide with reality, they affect the real world as well.
Oti’s (Lottie) memory: Did she forget the dream or is it something more?
Lottie (Courtney Eaton) becomes part of this mysterious group vision, but when she wakes up, she remembers nothing. This isn’t just a coincidence—it’s a sign that she’s lost her deep connection to the forest. That’s why she turns to others like Travis and Akilah to help her feel the power she once had.
Why did everyone in the cave hear the same scream?
It wasn’t just a sound, it was an experience—and experiences aren’t always what we think they are. When we experience something in a certain state of mind, it feels extremely real and profound to us. But the same thing can have a completely different impact when viewed from another perspective.
It’s like when you think of an event as the most important moment of your life, but when you talk about it with your friends or family, they don’t think it was that big.
The mental and emotional experiences of these women on this show have become so intense that everything feels more intense than before. That’s why the mystery feels deeper and more impactful.
Teen and Adult Versions: Bridges Between Past and Present
A key aspect of this season is how to connect the teen and adult versions of the characters in a way that makes sense of their life decisions.
The show’s creators have approached this as a “plastic reality”—one that changes, stretches, and sometimes warps over time. As the story progresses, this gap lessens, helping us understand why the adult versions of these characters became who they are today.
Jungle Mysteries: Big Secrets to Unravel This Season
This season will give viewers a chance to learn the truth behind the horrific events our adult characters endured in the jungle. It will start to become clear why certain alliances were formed, and what really happened in the jungle. It won’t just be a guessing game anymore—there will be a lot of answers to be revealed.
Coach Ben Returns: Is He Now the Enemy?
Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) rejoins the team in this episode, but the way he returns—with a gun pointed at his face—makes him even more mysterious.
Coach is a character who represents the truth everyone else wants to avoid. He becomes a mirror of their actions. This season, Coach Ben is not just a character, but an ideology—still bound by the boundaries of right and wrong.
Coach Ben: The Team’s Enemy or Its Savior?
Steven Kruger has portrayed this character brilliantly. Coach Ben comes in many forms—
- The epitome of superego: He still believes in right and wrong even when the rest of the team has forgotten the difference.
- The face of justice: The rest of the team feels like he is constantly questioning their decisions.
- Isolated but compelling: He did not participate in cannibalism, and that is what is bothering the rest of the team. To them, it is as if he considers himself superior to them.
This is why he has become the antagonist now. But in reality, he is just trying to save himself. He wants to get away from the civilization that is slowly being destroyed. As the story progresses, it will be clear where his efforts take him.
