Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 9 recap: Van’s death hit harder than expected

Season 3 Episode 9 of Yellowjackets was full of shocking and emotional moments that left fans reeling. Van’s tragic death, Nat’s devastating breakdown, and the group’s rapid unraveling made this one of the most intense episodes yet. The story took dark turns, setting up what promises to be an explosive finale.

Even though there were clues leading up to it, Van’s death was still a gut punch. The episode opened with a haunting scene, Van in a hospital bed, seeing her younger self. Young Van warned her that "death is around every corner," foreshadowing what was to come.

Van later referenced The Goonies, calling it a classic treasure hunt. The symbolism became painfully clear when she noticed an "X" near Melissa, not leading to treasure, but to her doom.

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Melissa the killer

Melissa set a deadly trap, locking everyone in a room and filling it with smoke. Van managed to save Shauna and Tai using an oxygen mask, but this heroic act was her last. When she had the chance to kill Melissa, she refused, choosing not to give in to the wilderness’s darkness. Her final moments were heartbreaking, especially when she envisioned herself on a plane in the afterlife.

Young Van’s words -

"Surviving this was never the reward", left a chilling impact.

As the first snow began to fall, Nat completely broke down. The group’s escape plan had failed, Kodi was dead, and all hope seemed lost. This was the defining moment where Nat transformed into the hardened, broken woman we see in the present timeline. Her pain became her armor, and the weight of their situation crushed her.

Tai had been struggling against her darker self, the version of her that had taken control. With Van’s help, the real Tai finally won the battle. Young Van’s mention of "treasure" turned out to be pulling Tai back from the brink. It was a small victory in an otherwise devastating episode.

Melissa had always seemed composed, but in this episode, she showed just how far gone she really was. She murdered Van in cold blood and fled without hesitation. The reveal that she had faked her own death, married Hannah’s daughter, and was living under a false identity added another layer of mystery to her character.

Shauna’s behavior grew more erratic and dangerous. She openly insulted Melissa, who fired back with a heartbreaking line:

"Why can’t you just be a nice person?"

Shauna then nearly killed Kodi, only stopping to tie him up instead. The cold, empty look in her eyes afterward suggested she was slipping further into madness, mirroring her ruthless adult self.

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Hannah's betrayal

In a brutal move to prove her loyalty, Hannah killed Kodi right in front of Shauna. With him gone, the group lost their only guide out of the wilderness, making survival even more unlikely. Hannah’s willingness to murder for acceptance showed just how far she was willing to go.

Travis built a pit trap to prove Lottie wasn’t actually connected to the wilderness. But when she walked right over it without falling in, even he was shaken. Was it luck, or is there something supernatural at play?

In a rare moment of optimism, Misty remembered the broken transponder from the plane and discovered a working part. Could this be their ticket out? After so much despair, this small discovery felt like a lifeline.

Back in the present timeline, Jeff and Callie found common ground in their frustration with Shauna. Their shared disgust brought them closer, showing how tragedy can sometimes mend broken relationships. Meanwhile, Callie received a mysterious note, hinting that she might be more involved in Lottie’s death than anyone realized.

The survivors may have left the wilderness, but they never truly escaped it. Their trauma still controls them, and their first instinct is always violence. When Shauna walked in covered in blood, no one even reacted, just another day in their twisted world. Now, with winter arriving, their situation is about to get even worse.

This episode was one of the best yet, delivering heartbreaking deaths, incredible acting, and long-awaited reveals. Van’s farewell was beautifully tragic, Nat’s breakdown was masterfully performed, and the tension is higher than ever. With winter here and the group fractured, the finale is set up to be unforgettable.

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