Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 3 review – “Them’s the Brakes” –  Fear, Control, and Unwell Minds

The third episode of Yellowjackets Season 3 takes an eerie turn, escalating the psychological horror as well as the ethical dilemmas that the program is based on. In the wake of Mari’s disappearance, Coach Ben’s desperate acts, and the rising tension in both spectrums of events, “Them’s the Brakes” is a revealing yet disorienting part that has elements of both a nightmare and a dream.

Wilderness Timeline (1996)

Mari has gone missing, and the other group members just can’t come to terms with her absence. Different members of the group have different theories. Some are of the view that she had gone away, whereas others think that she was either a target of or was abducted by somebody. The search for her is a wild goose chase, and it increases the group’s disbelief.

The most surprising thing of all, is the moment when it is disclosed that Coach Ben, the only adult among them, not only knows where Mari is but is also the one who has been keeping her hidden far away in the cave.

His reasons are both practical and sinister in nature—he is concerned about his own life, and moreover, he thinks that Mari will be his bargaining chip if the group’s violent behavior gets worse. This episode of events is a shocking turning point that depicts Ben's change from a passive observer into one of the key figures in the power struggles of the wild.

Mari, on the other hand, is going through some kind of mental disturbance. She admits to Ben that she is a firm believer in the coexistence of “dual realities”—one where we are in the wilderness, and another, darker reality just lurking underneath, waiting to swallow them. This information provides a mysterious and supernatural touch to the unfolding of the case.

It is yet another twist that Lottie is still very active in her control over the group, although she is already starting to show the signs of weakness in her leadership.

The division between the supporters of faith and those stricken with fear is obviously very thin, and as much as some people are convinced about her visions, others are starting to question her authority. The eerie tension between rationality and superstition had never been more strongly felt.

Present-Day Timeline

In the current day, the surviving Yellowjackets are trying very hard to continue on with their lives without any indication of the relevance of their past, but the actions of both the last few years and the long-gone times are still following them like ghosts.

Shauna vs. Misty: A Reckoning Years in the Making

The relationship between Shauna and Misty really heats up to the boiling point in this episode. Shauna finally calls out Misty for her association with previous deaths, and after Jessica Roberts, Natalie, and all the other bodies that follow Misty wherever she goes are mentioned, the scene becomes very intense.

This very scene has been very long expected and serves as a clear indication that Misty's "helpful" conduct has always had the impact of a two-edged sword. Actually, Misty did not bother to defend herself either, yet for the first time, there was a note of self-doubt in her normally steady resolve.

Whole Control of Callie by Lottie

First, Lottie and Callie are both involved in an unpleasant affair that makes Lottie encourage Callie to oppose her—this time, in a small measure, like the shoplifting. She laid the groundwork for a crime that she described as a fun game, but as time went on, her sinister intentions began to surface.

Has she been making a sincere effort to bond with Callie, or has she been leading her into something inappropriate? The way Lottie, by using very understated methods, impresses upon Callie the notion that she should turn to her vis-à-vis, Shauna, proves that she’s really very patient in playing her game.

Tai and Van and Their Sins

In the last episode, Tai and Van committed a thoughtless act when they left the restaurant without paying, and several episodes later, they find the same waiter dead from a heart attack. The dead man's condition forces these men to revisit the time when they were quite satisfied with living life as if it were a game.

Finally, they understand the gravity of their deeds, and they accept that it's a clear warning that you shouldn't expect that you will be able to escape from the outcome of your misdeeds for too long.

Coach Ben’s Fall into a Vortex: Fear or Survival Trait?

The most interesting part about the episode is the way Coach Ben is portrayed in both periods. In the wilderness, he is the one who is the actor, despite the immorality of his choices; he is ensuring his survival. However, in the present, the lack of him can be felt, which makes one question: did he survive it? Or did he get the punishment for his immoral decision made in 1996?

Themes and Analysis

The Fragility of Reality

Mari's conviction of the existence of two realities presents a different aspect to Yellowjackets' formerly vague connection to the supernatural. The notion of the person having the darker side of the world that lurks right under their daily reality suits the show's prevailing puzzle: Is the forest the abode of ghosts, or is it the person's mental disturbance that makes the forest ghastly?

Morality vs. Survival

The decision of Coach Ben to hide Mari is the most gruesome decision we’ve come across so far. He is no longer a mere onlooker—instead, he is making use of his power to his own advantage. The question arises: Is he any worse than the rest of them? The tone of this episode is that the jungle is a place where only a few can afford to have good morals.

Influence and Manipulation

The capacity of Lottie to draw her co-stars to her has always been the most dreadful thing, and her bond with Callie is even scarier. Not only does she know that Callie can be manipulated, but she knows which words can trigger this change and tries to break her away from Shauna step by step.

From this episode, we learn again that Lottie is still good at what she does, and she might even be more vicious than she was before.

Final Verdict: An Eerie, Unsettling Slow Burn

While the episode “Them’s the Brakes” does not contain the most thrilling scenes, it undoubtedly shows some of the most psychologically intense moments of the season.

The fear of being followed by someone in the wild scenes, plus the tense relations in the present time, build the feeling of an episode which is both haunting and slow-paced—is it hard to forget the show and get to sleep after the credits have rolled?

Thought-provoking Questions:

1. Could Mari truly be living in two different realities, or is this actually happening due to her insanity?
2. How long before the others discover the truth about Coach Ben can he still continue to keep his secret?
3. Is Lottie really making a sincere effort to rescue Callie, or is there a hidden agenda at play?
4. Will the squabble between Shauna and Misty lead to disaster for one of them?

By constantly erasing the difference between mind terror and supernatural thriller, Yellowjackets “Them’s the Brakes” is a strong reminder that the most horrifying things might be those that live inside us, instead of being hidden inside the woods.

What did you think of the episode? Is Coach Ben making the right choices, or is it just his singularity that brings out the right answer? Let's see!