Showtime’s 2021 hit Yellowjackets returns for season two starting Friday, March 24 for streaming and Sunday night for linear. Additionally, Paramount Plus subscribers will have their premiere on this date as well.
Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson collaborated on a show that was equal parts Lost and Hannibal. Its first season featured romance, intriguing backstories, and lots of cannibalism.
Shauna (Melanie Lynskey)
Yellowjackets has returned after its stunning first season ended on a major cliffhanger, and although its second go-round hasn’t quite reached those feverish, fan theory-filled heights, there remains much to discuss and debate in each episode.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Yellowjackets Season 2 is set to premiere on Showtime, streaming from Friday, March 24, and airing on linear TV on Sunday. Paramount Plus subscribers will also have access on the same date. |
| Season 1 Highlights | The first season was a blend of Lost and Hannibal, featuring romance, intriguing backstories, and cannibalism. |
| Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) | Shauna’s character continues to struggle with her place in the group’s cult, facing heartache and new challenges. |
| Taissa (Tawny Cypress) | Taissa undergoes significant character development, battling sleepwalking and dark alter-egos while maintaining a political career. |
| Critical Acclaim | The show garnered critical acclaim and two Emmy nominations for Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci. |
| New Cast Additions | Liv Hewson, Simone Kessell, and Elijah Wood join the cast, with Wood playing an unpredictable “citizen detective.” Lauren Ambrose also joins as an adult version of a character. |
| Misty (Christina Ricci) | Season 2 promises to explore Shauna’s child and Jeff’s involvement with Lottie’s cult. The trailer hints at intriguing developments. |
| Teen Survivors | The core group of teenage girl soccer players faces new challenges during the winter season, including betrayals and dangers. |
| Natalie (Juliette Lewis) | Juliette Lewis portrays Natalie, a punk rock misfit who eventually joins Lottie’s intentional healing community-cult. |
| Van (Lauren Ambrose) | Lauren Ambrose returns as an adult Van Palmer, who shows visible scars from season 1 and appears to be living in the past. |
| Walter (Elijah Wood) | Elijah Wood joins the cast as Walter, a citizen detective, adding a dark comedic element to the show. |
| Lottie (Simone Kessell) | Simone Kessell portrays Lottie, the spiritual leader of the group, whose beliefs strain her relationship with Taissa. |
| Music Integration | Florence + the Machine provides music for the show, including Gwen Stefani’s “Just a Girl” during a fight montage sequence. |
Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, nominated for a Lead Actress Emmy) continues to struggle with her place within the group’s cult. She’s experienced heartache; from having lost Jackie to Misty leaving Misty without an ear.
She now has her own family to care for as well. Natalie (Juliette Lewis), Taissa (Tawny Cypress and Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Christina Ricci) must survive decreasing rations as winter draws near while also dealing with present-day drama and fresh scars in their daily lives.
Taissa (Tawny Cypress)
Taissa displays remarkable character development during season 2. Her sleepwalking increases and she begins hearing voices, even though she has managed to compartmentalize her trauma by becoming an influential politician – though now, her darker alter-ego may be growing stronger.
Showtime’s critically acclaimed viral hit will return for its second season with rave reviews from critics, and has even garnered two Emmy nominations from Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci for their performances as Shauna and Misty respectively.
Showtime recently announced that Liv Hewson (teen Vanessa) and Simone Kessell (adult Lottie) would also return, while Elijah Wood from Lord of the Rings will guest star as Walter, an unpredictable “citizen detective” who challenges Misty in ways she never expected. Lauren Ambrose will join as adult Van.
Misty (Christina Ricci)
Yellowjackets has returned for another exciting and dramatic season on Showtime after its first tumultuous one, pushing everyone’s limits. Beginning Friday March 24 for streaming and Sunday for cable, fans of Yellowjackets can expect more answers about Shauna’s child and whether Jeff has joined Lottie’s cult.
The new trailer also gives viewers a look at Lauren Ambrose as adult Van, who appears to be living in the past based on images showing her with vintage robot toys or looking terrified in other shots.
Teen survivors will face another challenging winter experience in season 2, according to reports by New York Lifestyle Network (NYLON). Nia Sondaya from Bel-Air will replace Keeya King as Akilah for this installment of the show.
Natalie (Juliette Lewis)
The core group of teenage girl soccer players trapped in the Canadian forest during Season 1 managed to survive betrayals and drama before entering winter and facing new dangers.
Lewis plays Natalie, a punk rock misfit of the group. She enjoys both portraying Natalie both past and present as well as exploring all sides of her character.
Natalie will eventually join Lottie’s intentional healing community-cult, though at first she remains skeptical. Over time however, as Natalie forms deeper connections with another member of this group such as Lisa (Nicole Maines), her initial reservations will begin to change.
Van (Lauren Ambrose)
Showtime announced four months ago that Lauren Ambrose (Servant) would join the Yellowjackets as adult Van Palmer. Viewers already knew teen Van had survived her plane crash, but now we will get to watch as she matures into adulthood.
Ambrose Van can be seen working in what appears to be some kind of store and shows visible scars from her encounter with a pack of wolves in season 1. Furthermore, she appears slightly worried.
Alongside Ambrose, many key cast members from season one are returning for season 2. Liv Hewson has been promoted to full-season regular as teenage Van; Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood will reprise his role of Citizen Detective Walter, aiding Misty with her quirky investigations; Simone Kessell returns as adult Lottie who could potentially lead an underground cult group; while Ambrose returns as series creator/writer/star/creator.
Walter (Elijah Wood)
Fans were left hanging following the debut season of this Showtime hit, leaving many unanswered questions behind. Now there’s news of season two’s imminent arrival with a trailer and details regarding where Yellowjackets may be heading next.
Elijah Wood, most well known for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and for producing Nicolas Cage’s psychedelic horror flick Mandy, will join the cast as Walter, a citizen detective, adding an element of dark comedy into an otherwise terrifying show.
Lottie (Simone Kessell)
Simone Kessell joins the Yellowjackets squad this season as adult Lottie. Following last season’s debut episode that introduced new survivors from a plane crash into its modern-day storyline, this role presented itself.
Lottie quickly established herself as the spiritual leader in their group during Season One, offering prophetic predictions and even trying to communicate with a dark supernatural presence they believe resides within their wilderness surroundings. Unfortunately, her beliefs strain her relationship with Taissa who doubts everything she says.
Lauren Ambrose will also join the cast as Liv Hewson’s Van, an adult version who may possess sinister connections to former teammates. Florence + the Machine will provide music, with Gwen Stefani’s No Doubt song “Just a Girl” being used during a fight montage sequence.
Conclusion
As Yellowjackets returns for its highly anticipated second season, fans can look forward to more suspense, entertainment, character development, and the introduction of new cast members like Elijah Wood and Lauren Ambrose. The mysteries continue to deepen, making it a must-watch for fans of thrilling dramas. It is all set to air on March 24.
