WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for the season 3 finale of Yellowjackets! The highly anticipated “pit girl”moments, first hinted at in the pilot episode, received significant context in the striking season 3 finale. This twist profoundly transforms the interpretation of Misty’s smile scene from the premiere. In a narrative that shifts between the present-day survivors and the Yellowjackets as they prepare for Nationals in the summer of 1996, flashbacks reveal the harrowing sacrificial hunts the girls engage in after their plane crash. While the initial scenes suggested that the girls were descending into a feral and savage state, the finale unveils a deeper and more complex narrative surrounding these pivotal hunts.
The revelation regarding the identity of “pit girl”as Mari leads to fresh perspectives on the earlier hunting sequences. The emotional weight of Van’s reaction to the tragedy is heightened, and the cries heard during the hunt originate not only from despair but also from the chaos engendered by the girls attacking one another. Meanwhile, Shauna emerges as the ruthless Antler Queen, and Natalie is secretly racing towards a cliff to potentially connect with the outside world via a satellite phone. Following the gruesome act of cannibalism, we still witness Misty removing her mask, adjusting her glasses, and smiling directly at the camera, but the implications of that smile have drastically shifted since the pilot.
The Evolution of Misty’s Smile in the Season 3 Finale
Understanding Misty’s Smile: A Shift from Sinister to Optimistic
Initially, Misty’s smile at the end of Yellowjackets‘ series premiere was perceived as a manifestation of her excitement for the teens’ bloodlust and growing cruelty. At that point, viewers only understood Misty as the oddball who exhibited unsettling behaviors, like watching a rat drown in her pool, and was often teased by her peers. This led to the conclusion that her smile indicated a sinister embrace of her new, menacing role within the group’s increasingly violent dynamics. However, the season 3 finale offers a radically different perspective.
In truth, Misty’s smile reflected her guarded thrill and delight over Natalie and Hannah’s covert plan successfully coming to fruition. While Shauna expressed panic, searching for Natalie, Misty’s beaming expression stemmed from her secret knowledge that Sophie Thatcher’s character had reached the cliff’s peak to place a phone call—an act that held the promise of their rescue and return home. Rather than revealing a dark intent, Misty’s smile symbolizes a moment of hope, representing her personal redemption for having previously destroyed the plane’s black box in season 1.
Misty: The Unexpectedly Quirky Survivor
Misty: The Red Herring Amongst the True Threats
Given the portrayal of her teenage character in the pilot and the skepticism of present-day characters regarding her adult self, it seemed almost inevitable that Misty would evolve into the most fearsome figure in the wilderness. Despite her troubling actions—like her blunder with the black box, the accidental killing of Crystal, and her misguided infatuation with Ben—Misty has proven less harmful compared to other characters such as Shauna, “other”Tai, and Lottie. Contrary to the dark narrative that Yellowjackets initially hinted at regarding Misty, I find myself pleasantly surprised by her character’s trajectory, which leans towards being one of the more redemptive figures in the series—at least in a relative sense.