Warning: Spoilers for Yellowjackets season 3, episode 10, titled “Full Circle”are included in the following content.
The fate of the animals cared for by Akilah (Nia Sondaya) in Yellowjackets season 3 takes a tragic turn. Following the climactic events of season 2, where the cabin is reduced to ashes and winter’s grip finally loosens, the teenage survivors adapt by constructing new shelter. This shift to milder weather allows Akilah to raise animals, establishing a potential food source for the group. Her natural affinity with these creatures is perceived by some as an intrinsic bond with the wilderness surrounding them.
As the season progresses, Akilah experiences a series of haunting visions, one of which reveals the grim fate of her animals. In the season 3 finale, her worst fears are realized when she discovers the lifeless bodies of all the animals she tended. Though the finale shifts focus to various other narratives, the significance of the animals’ demise cannot be overlooked. Their deaths catalyze pivotal moments in the plot, leading to critical revelations throughout the series.
Akilah’s Manipulation: Poisoning the Animals for Sacrificial Gain
Turning Tragedy into a Catalyst
A shocking twist emerges in the season 3 finale that reveals Akilah as the orchestrator behind the poisoning of the animals. Aimed at igniting a sacrificial hunt, her actions are tied to Lottie Matthews (Courtney Eaton), who advocates for another offering to the wilderness. With the group’s primary food source eradicated in the heart of winter, the situation becomes dire. Lottie effectively frames the mass death as a portentous signal of nature’s displeasure, hinting that it can only be quelled through a hunt.
Little do the others suspect Akilah’s involvement, given her nurturing demeanor and evident affection for the animals. Her anguished cries bolster the facade; when discussions arise regarding the need for a hunt, doubt about Akilah’s sincerity never wavers, shielding her from suspicion.
Potential Confrontation: Was Akilah Planning to Kill Lottie?
The Shift in Akilah and Lottie’s Relationship
While Akilah’s scheme results in the sought-after hunt within the show’s 1990s framework, it leaves her feeling distraught. She becomes acutely aware of Lottie’s manipulative tendencies, feeling exploited under the guise that her visions hold value for the group. This betrayal plunges Akilah into turmoil, leading her to reflect on the bloodshed and emotional devastation caused by their actions.
As her storyline progresses, Akilah’s internal conflict intensifies. There’s a moment captured where she appears to contemplate violence against Lottie, but ultimately refrains. However, with Akilah’s status as a confirmed adult survivor still uncertain, her plight in the upcoming season remains precarious. It seems she is caught in Lottie’s web of influence, and the tension between freedom and betrayal could lay the groundwork for a tragedy in Yellowjackets season 4.