WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 9. A longstanding debate among fans has revolved around the existence of supernatural elements within the show, especially concerning the wilderness. In a pivotal scene involving Lottie and Travis, the discussion takes a definitive turn. After their crash in the wilderness, the surviving teenagers are subjected to strange phenomena, including Lottie’s apparent possession in the first season, mysterious symbols tied to malevolent occurrences, Tai’s unsettling behavior, unsettling visions impacting multiple characters, eerie sounds from the woods, and an overarching darkness that seems to envelop them. Yet, some have argued against the authenticity of these supernatural powers.
While Lottie remained a steadfast believer in the mystical abilities of the wilderness, others interpreted the darkness as a reflection of their deteriorating mental states, caused by severe trauma, starvation, drug use, and desperation during their dire circumstances. This disagreement about the reality of the so-called “darkness” persisted among the present-day survivors of Yellowjackets as well as viewers seeking explanations. However, Episode 9 of Season 3 presents a scene that strongly suggests the supernatural elements are indeed genuine, leaving little room for doubt.
Lottie’s Survival Over the Death Pit: A Confirmation of the Wilderness’ Powers
A Lack of Alternative Explanations for Lottie’s Remarkable Escape
In a desperate bid to unify the group, Travis concocts a dark plan centered around the pit where Ben discovered the survival pack. He sharpens stakes, covers them with branches to camouflage them, and attempts to coax Lottie towards the treacherous site. To his dismay, Lottie perceives his intentions but continues forward nonetheless.
In a surprising twist, Lottie walks across the camouflaged pit without incident—an act that can only be explained by some form of supernatural interference. Previously, Travis had tested the cover by throwing a branch, which caused it to cave in. The idea that an 18-year-old could tread there unharmed contradicts all logic. Therefore, the only reasonable interpretation of Lottie’s feat is that the ether of the wilderness facilitated her survival, validating the presence of this enigmatic force to Travis.
Lottie’s Survival: A Clue to Travis’s Enduring Obsession with the Wilderness
Travis’ Realization: An Unmistakable Connection to the Wilderness
Although Travis initially dismissed Lottie’s claims about the wilderness, the moment he witnessed her walk over the pit irrevocably changed his perspective. That experience made it impossible for him to ignore the wilderness’ influence, a reality he would grapple with for the ensuing 25 years following their rescue.
This haunting encounter with Lottie’s survival fostered a relentless connection for Travis, one he both sought to escape and submitted to over the decades. It also helps explain his struggles with addiction as an adult, having been exposed to Lottie’s encouragement to use psychoactive mushrooms as a means to connect with the wilderness. Travis’s assertion that “Nat was right” about the darkness returning with them reflects this ongoing battle. His extreme measures in seeking to reconnect with this force, particularly leading to the night of his death, underscore the deep-seated impact of witnessing Lottie’s extraordinary moment.
Ultimately, Lottie’s ability to traverse that pit serves as a pivotal moment that underpins Travis’s lifelong entanglement with the mysterious and foreboding powers of the wilderness.