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Vanessa Palmer. Your smile makes me feel happy every time I see it.
Jackie to Van Palmer, "Pilot"
Vanessa Anne “Van” Palmer is a character on the Showtime original series Yellowjackets. She is portrayed by Liv Hewson as a teenager and Lauren Ambrose as an adult in the second season.[1]
Profile[]
The Past[]
The Crash[]
Van Palmer was a player with the WHS Yellowjackets, a team of talented teen girl soccer players bound for the nationals. She was known for her bright smile. She joined the team on the tragic flight to the nationals which crashed in the wilderness. Before boarding the plane, she is shown having to rouse her sleeping mother, Vicky, in order to get her to give her a ride.
During the tragic plane crash, Van was nearly killed in a fire. She managed to escape the initial crash unscathed, but resented Jackie, the team captain, who panicked and did nothing to save her, instead focusing on her best friend Shauna Shipman. Later, the team discovered head coach Bill Martinez impaled in a tree. Uncertain if he was still alive, Jackie suggested they throw rocks up to see if he moved. Hearing this suggestion, Van commented that she was on fire, then added "Oh wait, that was supposed to be me."
When Taissa discovers a lake in the distance, Van votes in favor of journeying there away from the crash site, despite Jackie's objections. Later, when they find a shack in the woods, she discovers a stash of porn magazines inside, quipping that they might be stuck, but at least they have porn.
The Doomed Expedition[]
As the girls' time in the woods drags out, we discover Van has a secret relationship with Taissa. She keeps it secret at Taissa's insistence, but warns that it's bound to come out eventually if they continue it long enough.
When Taissa declares her intention to head south in the hope of finding help, Van is against it and tries to talk her out of it. Despite this, she joins the others that go with her because of the bond between them. She tells Taissa of how she once went to New York and wanted to eat a soft pretzel and ride a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, but her parents instead took her to see Cats. She expresses the hope of someday having the pretzel and the carriage ride together with Taissa.
Before the group leaves, Lottie gives Van a bone that didn't burn from the sickly deer caught previously, as she believes that it will protect her. Lottie also warns of a dream that she had about a river of blood and cloud of red smoke. Van listens, taking the bone and wearing it as a necklace. Taissa, as usual, is skeptical, judging her choice to take it at all.
Wolf Attack 🐺 Yellowjackets
When the group comes to a red river, Van is spooked, as Lottie had warned the group of a river of blood and red smoke. Taissa dismisses the river as simply being tainted by iron and declares her intention to continue onward, regardless of the others. Everyone remains with her and that evening, Taissa offers to take the first watch instead of Van. Taissa, however, falls asleep and wakes up with a tree, holding Van's bone necklace. The party is attacked by wolves and Van is savagely mauled in the face.
Believing Van to be dead, the girls prepare a funeral pyre. Thankfully, however, before they truly get started, Van flickers her eyes, causing Mari to realize that she is alive and roll her out of harm's way. "Really? Fire?" she asks them, showing her usual deadpan humor even in the face of a near-death experience. Needing help for Van and ill-equipped to continue, the girls head back to get help. As they do, Taissa remains to attend to the badly injured Van, so that the others can bring help. They return with the others and bring Van back to camp, where they treat her wounds and have Akilah stitch up her face as best possible. Although Van is out of immediate danger, the failed expedition turns out to be the catalyst for Laura Lee to decide to try to fly a Cessna plane that they found in the woods in the hope of escaping and finding help. Due to needing to recover from her injuries, Van is not present with the group that watches as Laura Lee launches the plane. However, she is presumably able to hear the sound when the plane explodes in mid-air over the lake.
Taissa and Vanessa kiss, revealing their status as a couple
Following this tragic incident, the girls find themselves increasingly on edge and convinced that they are just days away from starvation. They decide to host a "Doomcoming" to relieve stress and have one last party before they all die.
Taissa makes her and Van matching masks to cover Van's scars. Though she wasn't planning to go to the Doomcoming beforehand, Van agrees to go.
During the Doomcoming, Van and Taissa reveal to the others that they are a couple and kiss. Everyone cheers and then they all enjoy food and drink. The two later dance with each other. Afterwards, everyone becomes poisoned after Misty Quigley spiked the food with magic mushrooms. Taissa and Van have sex in the woods, choosing to leave the attack on Travis when things get sexual.
A Dark Prayer[]
Following the Doomcoming, Van has a talk with Taissa. She tells her that after she was attacked by the wolves, she saw something, that she doesn't think she was dead, but she was not really alive either, that she was somehow in-between. Taissa tells her that something really scary happened to her and she's trying to deal with it. She asks her if she really believes in ghosts or tree spirits now, saying that she believes that Sporty Spice is the most underrated Spice Girl and that Scully is way too good for Mulder, but she doesn't believe in whatever this is. Van tells her that maybe she does and to just say it if it's going to be a problem. Taissa, however, tells her that it's not and that they're okay.
Later, as the group prepares to feast a bear killed by Lottie, Van suggests that they should perhaps say thanks or grace. Lottie, therefore, thanks the wilderness, the bear, and the ancient spirits of the sky and dirt. Misty, however, is quick to point out that Jackie didn't join in the prayer. This results in a big blow-up, culminating in an argument between Jackie and her best friend Shauna that ends in Jackie going outside and freezing to death overnight. Afterwards, Lottie offers up the bear's heart to a frozen altar along with a dark prayer, flanked by Misty and Van.
Following the Sleepwalker[]
Two months later, the Yellowjackets are all feeling the effects of the winter. Taissa and Van have taken to sleeping up in the attic of the cabin together, tied to each other with an old rope in an attempt to keep Taissa from sleepwalking. One evening, Taissa wakes up and bites Van’s lip in her sleep. When she wakes up, she is horrified at what she has done. Van, however, tells her that there is nothing she can do to make her scared of her. She uses the blood to write "I <3 you" on her arm. When Taissa doesn't speak, she tells her that she's leaving her hanging and Taissa tells her she loves her in return.
Despite Van’s plan, one night, Taissa manages to break the shackle. She walks off into the woods and Van stops her from very nearly walking off a cliff, right by a tree with the mysterious symbol carved into it. Back in the cabin, Vanessa suggests that it might help Taissa to talk to Lottie, but Taissa does not want any part of this. Van then cuddles her tight, telling her that if she even so much as moves a muscle, she'll know.
Sometime following this, Taissa once again wakes up in the middle of the night. Van, having either woken up as well or stayed awake, asks her if she can come too, and Taissa agrees. As they make their way through the woods, Vanessa asks her how she knows where she's going. She replies that "He shows me," and when Van asks who "he" is, she tells her "the one with no eyes." Van asks her if this is who she always follows and she replies "When 'she' lets me." When Van asks her who "she" is, she tells her "Taissa." She once again leads them to the tree with the symbol carved upon it. Van shakes her, asking her how she knew about this and she wakes up. She seems to have no knowledge of having led them there, nor anything she said while asleep.
Taissa's sleepwalking continues, and she and Van discover another tree with they symbol. Van tells her that something within her knows that they're there, suggesting that she talk with Lottie about it. Taissa, however, tells her that she won't, that it's none of Lottie's business. Van, however, later presents Taissa with a map that she's been making, showing every tree that Taissa has found with the symbol. She shows her that together all of the trees form one large symbol. Taissa protests that it is just a bunch of random points and Van is exasperated, asking how she can possibly not see what's right in front of her. She then tells her that if she's right, there should be one more tree with the symbol upon it they haven't yet found in a specific location that she points out. She asks Taissa to help her to come look for it.
Despite her reluctance, Taissa comes with Van to help her look for the tree. However, despite extensive searching within in a one-mile radius, they fail to find the symbol. Van points out as much, suggesting that they head back, that it's getting dark. Taissa, however, says that they should search a bit longer and make sure that they didn't miss anything. Van readily agrees to this, then notices something odd - some moss growing around a nearby tree despite it being winter. Van picks up some snow, wondering why it is melting. They then hear a rustling and sounds of movement. They chase after someone and tackle them, shouting at them to stop fighting. They then return to the cabin with Travis Martinez's younger brother, Javi, who has been missing for over two months. Mari praises Lottie, who had been insisting that Javi was alive. Van, however, points out that Taissa knew where he was, telling her that she can't deny anymore that there is something in her connected to all of this.
Following Lottie[]
Sometime following this, Lottie begins hosting morning prayer circles in the wilderness. Van is one of the attendees, as is, surprisingly, Taissa. As it turns out, Taissa had attended once at Van's urging and has kept going because since she started, she has stopped sleepwalking. Though Taissa does not necessarily believe the two are connecting, she nevertheless keeps going because it makes Van happy. Van also tries to speak with Javi, who has been mute since they found him. She asks him to just nod if he found shelter somewhere, but gets no response. She then pleads to Travis to help, only for him to tell her that Javi will talk when he's ready.
Meanwhile, Shauna becomes upset when she discovers Lottie talking to her womb while she's sleeping. When Taissa tries to defend Lottie, Shauna leaves the cabin and Taissa follows after her. Later, as a snowstorm begins to develop outside, Van realizes that the two of them are still not back. As they go outside and shout after the others, Lottie asks Van what she hears, referring to their chants from the prayer circle that they hear the wilderness and the wilderness hears them. Annoyed, Natalie asks Lottie what this has to do with anything, but Lottie has them all set up a chant. As they do, Taissa sets up her own chant out in the wilderness and seemingly against all odds, she and Shauna return safely to the cabin. However, it is obvious that Shauna is going into labor.
A purpose[]
Despite everyone's best efforts, Shauna's labor does not go well. Her baby is stillborn, though she has an elaborate fantasy in which the baby is born alive. In the aftermath, a sobbing Taissa tells Van that she had really thought the baby was going to make it. In response, Van tells her that they had all hoped for this, but that even if the birth had gone okay, it wouldn't have changed the fact that his mother is starving, that they all are. "I just think it's time we woke up," she tells her. Taissa asks her what she's talking about, saying that this doesn't sound like her. Van, however, says that she kept surviving things that should have killed her. She had thought that she meant something, that she had some kind of purpose, but now she's not seeing it. Taissa protests, saying that she helped her to see, hear and sleep, and that she would be dead without her. She tells her that she needs her. Van replies that she needs her too, but that she also needs to know why she's still there.
The aftereffects of the loss of Shauna's baby continue to ripple through the group, culminating with Shauna hitting Misty after she hears hear humming the song "Lightning Crashes," which is about childbirth. As she shouts at Misty that she ate her baby, a reference to something that happened only in her fantasy, Natalie protests that Misty did everything she could to help her. Taissa shouts that she's acting insane and Van tries to hold her back, only for Shauna to bite her. Shauna then decks Lottie in the nose, but rather than getting upset, Lottie tells her to let it all out. Shauna then beats and kicks Lottie until she is little more than a bloody pulp, laid out on the floor.
In the aftermath of Shauna's beating of Lottie, the girls find themselves at an all-time low. With them on the verge of utter starvation, Van stares Taissa, who seems out of it. She asks if she's okay, and Taissa tells her that she's just feeling light-headed, actually having a vision of the Man with No Eyes. She goes to Mari, who is making a broth, handing her a belt from Jackie's luggage. She tells her that it might be protein and Mari tosses it in. "Belt soup, yum," she muses. Shauna then takes a blanket from Gen, saying that she's not using it and that Lottie needs it. When Gen complains that Shauna didn't care about Lottie before, Van argues that Lottie took the beating to protect them all. Mari then complains about a dripping noise, one that she's been hearing on and off for a while. She has a vision of blood pouring down the walls, but Van tells her that it's just the hunger, that they're all feeling it.
Later, Misty reports to the group, telling them that Lottie isn't doing well and that she's said that if she dies, she wants them to make use of her body to stay alive. Van replies that she can't imagine them being there without Lottie. Natalie points out that they're all going to die if they keep starving and Taissa declares that they have to find a way to stay alive, and that it can't be Lottie.
Not ashamed[]
The group therefore creates a ritual to determine which of them will be sacrificed to feed the rest. They set up an altar with a candle and Van presents a deck of cards, showing them all a Queen of Hearts with her eyes blacked out. She then places it back in the deck and shuffles. Everyone then begins drawing, Van drawing the Jack of Hearts. The draw continues until it reaches Natalie, who draws the Queen card and shows it to the group. At this, Shauna fastens upon her neck the heart-pendant necklace originally give to her by Jackie. She then takes a knife and places upon Natalie's neck. Natalie, however, tells her to wait, saying that she's going to have to look her in the eyes. Shauna turns her around, but then Travis rushes forward, pushing Natalie out of the way and telling her to run. Natalie manages to escape and Van joins several of the girls chasing after, while some remain behind to restrain Travis. Travis's younger brother, Javi, however, runs to help Natalie.
Javi finds Natalie, telling her that he knows of a secret place where the two of them can hide. They race across the frozen lake, the girls in hot pursuit, when the ice cracks beneath Javi and he falls in. Natalie tries to rescue him, but Misty rushes forward, telling her to stop, that the girls will kill her if Javi survives. Akilah shouts that they can still save Javi, but Shauna orders them to wait, and all the girls watch how Javi begs for help until he finally drowns and dies. Just before sinking, they pull Javi's corpse up. Misty confirms he's dead by checking his vitals, and Van declares that the wilderness chose. They return to the cabin, carrying Javi's body on a stake, Natalie ahead of them. Travis is at first thrilled to see Natalie alive, but beside himself with shock and grief upon the sight of his dead little brother's body.
As Shauna prepares Javi's body for them to consume, Travis tells Van that they should all be ashamed. Van, however, refuses to express any remorse. She tells Travis that she's not ashamed, that she's glad she's alive, just like he's glad that he is. She says that she doesn't think that any of them who are still alive out there should ever feel ashamed of that. She then tells him to let his brother save him, saying that he owes him that after everything he went through out there. As such, when Shauna enters the cabin and presents him with Javi's heart, he bites down into it before placing on a cooking skillet with the rest of the meat from Javi's body.
After everyone has eaten their fill, Lottie comes downstairs, having recovered some of her strength. They all express their relief at her being okay and then Akilah asks Van to tell them a story, storytime with Van apparently being a regular feature among the group. She suggests The Truth About Cats and Dogs and a couple of others suggest While You Were Sleeping or The Princess Bride. Van, however, ask them "What about something you haven't heard before." "Once upon a time, there was a place called the wilderness..." she begins, saying that it was beautiful and full of life, but also violent and misunderstood. She continues that it built a house and waited, for someone to come. Lottie then interrupts, saying that she never wanted to be the leader. She says that the wilderness only chose her because she knew how to listen, but that she can't hear it anymore. She says that it doesn't need her anymore, that they've all learned to listen. She then declares that it's already chosen a new leader, that there's no other way to explain the fact that they tried to kill Natalie, but it wouldn't let them. She and the others then pay their respects to Natalie in their own ways.
That evening, while everyone else is sleeping, Shauna discovers that the cabin is burning down. She goes to alert the others and they try to escape, only to find that the windows and doors won't open. Van then starts kicking down the door, while Taissa bashes it in with an ax. The two of them are the last to escape, but can only watch along with the others as their place of refuge throughout the long months burns to nothing but ash.
The present[]
Reunion[]
Despite both Taissa and Van having survived the ordeal in the woods, at some point the two apparently split up and went their separate ways. Taissa marries a woman named Simone Abara and the two have a child, Sammy Abara-Turner. Their relationship seems happy, but is strained by Taissa's campaign to become state senator. Taissa once again starts sleepwalking, culminating in her cutting the head off the family dog Biscuit and mounting it on an altar in the basement along with the dog's heart and a depiction of the symbol. Simone discovers this just as it is revealed that Taissa's election campaign has succeeded.
Simone goes to Taissa, obliquely hinting at what she found and warning her to get treatment if she ever wants to see Sammy again. After discovering the shrine for herself, Taissa begins doing anything she can to stay awake. This culminates in her hallucinating Sammy paying her a visit and after Simone comes to pick him up, they discover while searching for him that he never came in the first place. Simone then warns Taissa again to get treatment and in response, Taissa's sleepwalking self revs the engine, resulting in a car crashing into Simone's side and badly injuring her.
In the hospital bathroom, Taissa sees a version of herself in the mirror, which mouths "go to her" and does something with her face that seems to mimic the stitching on Van's face. She borrows the car of her campaign manager, Soyun, and sets off, unwittingly driving until she runs out of gas. She then hitchhikes the rest of the way, arriving at a store, "While You Were Streaming," that is run by Van. This store also happens to be Van's home, with her living in a flat upstairs.
Where they're supposed to be[]
Upon arriving at Van's store, Taissa collapses. She soon reveals to Van that she has started sleepwalking again. When Van asks her about how bad it has gotten, she explains to her the shrine that she unwittingly created featuring the head and heart of the family dog, Biscuit, as well as the symbol. Van asks her if Sammy saw it and she tells her that thankfully he didn't.
Taissa discovers a bottle of strong pain medication with the name "V. Palmer" on it. She confronts Van about it, but Van claims it to have been for her mother, Vicky, who lived there until she died of cancer. She chews Taissa out for coming, but nevertheless tells her not to try to make her convince her to let her help her. She tells her to at least have the decency to ask for her help and Taissa tells her that she's terrified, that she feels like she's losing her mind and she doesn't want to hurt anymore of the people she loves. Van tells her that they'll figure it out.
Later, while Taissa is sleeping, Van goes to fish the pills out of the trash, getting ready to take one. Suddenly, Taissa comes up to her and ravenously kisses her. "You're the other one, aren't you?" Van realizes and Taissa tells her "This isn't where we're supposed to be."
After Taissa wakes up, she goes to Van, asking why she didn't wake her up. Van is cold towards her and she asks her if something happened, to which Van replies that something always does. Taissa asks her what she said and she repeats her words to her. Taissa wonders who "we" could be, but Van firmly rebuffs her suggestion that it could be the two of them, that she's married now and there is no them. Van suggests that she make herself useful by doing some shelving, so Taissa grabs some tapes, at the same time spotting the overdue bills in Van's trash.
The journey back[]
Taissa confronts Van about the overdue bills, noting that the video store can't be making her enough to pay them and asking her what her long-term plan is. Van, however, tells her that it isn't her business, saying that she came for help with her own problems and that she'll let her know if she needs any help. She asks her if she has any ideas about where she's supposed to be if this isn't it. Before Taissa can answer, her phone buzzes. She takes the call, thinking it could be Simone, but actually turns out to be from Misty Quigley. She tells Taissa that she and Natalie are both at a residential wellness center being run by Charlotte Matthews, or, as they know her, Lottie. Misty tells her that she has to see it for herself. Van, overhearing some of this, asks Taissa what's going and Taissa asks Misty for the address.
Following this, Van and Taissa are on the road, Taissa having asked Van to bring her to Lottie's community, Camp Green Pine. Taissa thanks Van for the ride, though Van points out that she didn't really give her much choice. Taissa asks if she won't even come in, if she isn't at least curious. Van admits that she is, but says that she wants to keep the past in the past. Bemused, Taissa points out the fact that she runs a video store, saying that she lives in the past. Van tells her that this is a past in which they actually thought that being happy was possible. Taissa asks her if she's even trying, if she's dating anyone. Van replies that she gets her needs met, which prompts an "ew" from Taissa. Van clarifies that she's on some "casual" apps. Taissa says that she just wants to know that she hasn't given up on love. In response, Van tells her that if this is so, it's not because of her. As they continue along, Taissa phones Shauna, but ends up speaking to her husband, [[Jeff Sadecki|Jeff]. She gets him to pass on a message to Shauna regarding the existence of Camp Green Pine.
Van and Taissa finally arrive at the gate to the compound. Van comments to Taissa that it's their last chance, saying that they could go to IHOP if they wanted. Taissa, however, tells her that she has to go in, that she can't keep doing what she's been doing. "Alright," agrees Van, saying that Taissa can consider her on-call for an extraction if they see any barrels of Kool-Aid powder. Just then, Shauna's minivan pulls into the compound and Van, seeming to get a new determination, follows her inside. She and Taissa emerge onto the compound's beach area, where they and Shauna are greeted by Natalie and Misty. While Natalie hugs Shauna, Misty expresses surprise at Van's presence, asking Taissa if the two of them are back together again. Taissa tells her that they're not, that Van isn't even staying. Van, however, stares at Lottie in the distance, a strange expression on her face, almost as if of longing.
Treatment[]
The group is admitted into the main compound, where they are made to surrender their belongings, this being standard for new arrivals. Lottie then tells them that new arrivals are often asked to pick a treatment without a description, something which speaks to them. She presents them with a list of four choices - Self Care, Guidance, Forage and Renewal. Van rises, saying that it's not for her, but Natalie tells her that she thought the same thing at first and to give it a chance. Van turns to Lottie, commenting that she's glad she's alive and back from Switzerland. Lottie tells her that Switzerland was years ago. Surprised, Van splutters and Taissa cuts in, saying that she'll take Renewal. Shauna then takes Self Care and Misty tries to take Forage, but Van ends up getting this instead, leaving Misty with Guidance.
That evening, Van discovers Taissa in the woods, placing her wedding ring on a rock. She comments to her that marrying a rock isn't going to solve her problems. As she sits there, drinking some booze, Taissa asks her if she shouldn't be off wandering the woods. Van tells her that her treatment was Forage and she decided to forage the booze from her truck. She hands it to Taissa, who tells her that she can't believe they're back here again. "Making offerings to the dirt," says Van and Taissa agrees it's something like this. She then pulls Van into a passionate kiss before pulling away, apologizing. She tells her that she had thought about it, but that's a long road. Van tells her that she can't wait for her, and Taissa says that she would never ask her to. Van, however, says that she literally doesn't have the time, that she has cancer.
"What do you mean?" Taissa asks her. She explains that it's terminal, that it wasn't caught in time and she's been given only a few months to live. Sobbing, Taissa asks why she's just deciding to tell her now. Van counters that she wasn't planning to tell her at all. Swearing, Taissa asks her why not and she tells her that they don't know each other, asking what she would have done if she had contacted her out of the blue. She asks if she would have sent her flowers through her office or tried to message her on Facebook. "I don't know..." starts Taissa and Van tells her that she didn't want to have to see the face that she's making now. Just then, Misty appears, calling for them to come over, and Van tells Taissa to just act normal.
It turns out that Natalie has called for the group to gather, hoping to discuss what they got out of their therapies. She says it's about finding something in yourself you never really knew was there and asks who wants to get started. She calls for Shauna and she comments that she already has, holding up the bottle of booze. Natalie asks her where it comes from and she immediately calls out Van, prompting Van to call her a "narc." Shauna complains about them not taking this seriously, but Shauna points out that she's the last person that should be calling them out for this. She suggests that they just hang out a bit and so they all fall to chatting happily. Eventually, Lottie comes to them. She tells them that they should all go home, disturbed by the direction of her recent visions. They, however, protest, telling her that she should come sit with them and Natalie saying that she thinks it's time for her to stop resisting.
Revelations[]
The group continues their revelries, even dancing when a song, "Lightning Crashes," comes on the radio that they take to playing. It suddenly starts snowing outside and, thrilled, they take the dance outside. Suddenly, Shauna is called away by an important phone call from her husband, Jeff. When she returns, the others are still caught up in the excitement of dancing to the music, but it quickly becomes clear from the look on Shauna's face that something is very wrong. Taissa asks her what happened and she says that her husband told her that the police have found the remains of Adam Martin at a local park.
The significance of the news is immediately understood by Taissa, Misty and Natalie, all of whom helped to cover up Shauna's murder of Adam Martin, believing him to have been running a scheme to blackmail them. Van, however, is confused, having no idea who Adam Martin is. As Shauna thanks Lottie, telling her that she needs to leave and be with her family, Van asks Taissa just who Adam Martin is. "You didn't know him?" she asks. "Not really," claims Taissa and Van asks why there's such a panic vibe if this is true. Taissa claims that only Shauna is panicking, but Van points out Misty and Natalie whispering with each other. She tells Taissa that she knows she's lying and they she wants to know why. She asks if they had something to do with this and when she still gets no answer, she grabs Shauna's keys from her tosses them in the woods. Shauna asks if she's insane and Van replies that she's starting to think so, that they haven't been together in years and there's something going on that they're not telling her about. She declares that nobody is going anywhere until they tell her and Lottie what is going on.
Lottie asks the group to all meet in the Sharing Shack, not wanting all of this discussed out in public for the ears of the many acolytes who are starting to gather. Once there, Shauna provides a rundown for Lottie and Van of the whole Adam Martin situation, what she, Misty, Natalie and Taissa have been going through. Van then summarizes things thusly: "So this is what you've all been doing with your lives? Chasing blackmailers and murdering lovers?" Shauna describes this comment as being "a little reductive," saying that she thinks they can all agree that it's everyone's best interest for Adam to be gone. "But especially yours, right?" replies Taissa. Shauna points out that they all have secrets that they don't want getting out and Natalie asks Shauna why she would share more of those with her husband.
Shauna states that she was scared and needed Jeff. Taissa says that they all need things that they can't have. "Yeah?" asks Shauna, pointing out the presence of Van and asking just how that happened. Van tells her that Taissa simply hopped a ride to her place on an 18-wheeler, that it was totally normal. Shauna says that they had lost touch and Taissa replies that it's not hard to find people's addresses these days. At this, Misty agrees that she's had Van's address for years, saying that Taissa could have just asked her for it instead of "outsourcing." Natalie asks her what she means by this. When Taissa doesn't speak up, Misty reveals that Taissa hired Jessica Roberts, the woman who had been posing as a reporter, to look into them all. She also reveals that she killed Jessica Roberts, believing her to be the blackmailer. She asks what she was supposed to do, given that she'd already held her captive in her basement for a week. "Sounds like your hands were really tied-- oh wait, maybe those were her hands," quips Van, darkly.
What it wants[]
As the discussion continues, the secret comes out that it was actually Shauna's husband Jeff who was the blackmailer all along, and not Adam Martin. When Taissa complains about Shauna's lying, Shauna tries to excuse it that she was worried that if any of them knew the truth, they might try to kill Jeff. Taissa immediately calls this insane, but Van points out what Misty did to Jessica Roberts. Shauna, however, admits that the truth is that she was worried because she knew that had it been one of their loved ones who had been the blackmailer, she likely would have killed them herself. Natalie thanks her for honesty, saying that it's no secret that they're all pretty messed up and that it's time they talked about it. Lottie, however, states that talking isn't going to solve this, that it isn't something that they can fix with therapy. She says that something greater guided them all there and that now they have to give it what it wants. Van asks her just what she's suggesting.
Lottie presents the group with a set of six cups of tea, explaining that one of them is poisoned with a solution of phenobarbital, which they use to euthanize suffering animals there at the compound. Misty points out that this was also what was used at Heaven's Gate and Shauna says that Lottie might be taking the cult leader persona thing a little too far, that their lives aren't that bad. Lottie, however, points out everything they have done and the way they are, ending by saying that Van used to be so full of life, but now it's like something has broken within her. Van asks her why she doesn't just drink it herself, to which she replies that Van knows that isn't how it works: they don't get to decide, it chooses. She tells them it's how they've always given back and can help them now.
"It won't stop until it gets what it wants," declares Lottie. She reaches for the poisoned cup, prepared to drink it herself, but the others all shout for her to stop. Shauna then states that if they're going to to do it, they have to do it the way they did before, by giving it a hunt. She says that Lottie is right, that it's still in them. Lottie hugs her, saying that she knew that she wasn't the only one who felt this way. Wrapped in Lottie's embrace, Shauna starts making faces at the others, clearly indicating that they're supposed to play along. Lottie agrees that she will make sure that her people will stay away, that the woods will be theirs for the evening.
After Lottie has left, Natalie asks Shauna why she's humoring Lottie. Shauna says that she just bought them all time to figure out what to do. Misty says that they could have Lottie committed again, given her history. Taissa agrees with it being a good idea, but Van gets up, looking troubled. As Misty continues that as a medical professional, she could call Lottie's attending physician. Natalie, however, says that given what Lottie just asked of them, they can't just hospitalize her and call it a day. "I agree," says Van and they ask her why. Van replies that it isn't just about Lottie's mental illness, that whatever it was that she went through in the wilderness, they went through it too. Natalie, however, says that Lottie thinks it's talking to her again, asking Van if she's forgotten where that leads.
Despite this, the group begins working on their plan. As Taissa and Van sit making masks, Van comments to Taissa that she really doesn't feel good about the plan. Taissa replies that Lottie is sick, but Van says that she isn't. She then says that if she is, then Taissa is too. She says that they've all felt it and that they could reach her. Taissa protests that they tried, but Van says that they need to try again, asking Taissa if she really thinks that locking Lottie up in some psych ward will help her. "Would it help you?" she asks, saying that they protect each other, that that they all swore that they would. Later, the two make a call. Taissa tells the person on the other end that Lottie has calmed down and that they don't need the psych team, that they'll be bringing her to Whitlock General themselves.
"You'll see"[]
The group then gathers in the woods. Lottie puts down a knife and picks up a deck of playing cards, declaring that it's time. She holds up the Queen of Hearts card with her eyes blacked out, then places it back in the deck and shuffles. Shauna says that she'd like to shuffle some more and Lottie agrees. As Shauna shuffles, Taissa asks if they can talk about this, but Van just tells Shauna that it's enough shuffling. She then declares that she'll start, drawing a card, showing it to the others, and tossing it into the campfire in front of them. She passes the deck to Taissa, who asks her if this is what she wanted to happen. Lottie asks if her if she's refusing the draw, saying that she knows what happens if she does. Taissa, however, draws a card. They continue until finally Shauna draws the Queen of Hearts.
At this, the others put on their masks and take up knives. "Hey, come on," pleads Shauna and Lottie tells her that she can submit or run. Shauna asks for a time-out, asking if they've all actually lost their minds. She protests to Lottie that there was no "it," that it was just them, but Lottie asks if there's really any difference. They begin chasing after her.
As the chase continues, a gunshot rings out in the woods. It turns out to have come from Shauna's daughter, Callie, who shouts at them to get away from her mother. "She's so powerful," declares Lottie, removing her mask. Shauna shouts at Callie to put the gun down and she protests that Lottie was going to kill her. As the others remove their masks, Shauna shouts, asking where the psych team is. Taissa tells her that they aren't coming, that they called them off, that it was Van's idea. Shauna asks how they could do that. "It's not right. She's like this because of us," Van tells her. As Callie lowers the gun, Lottie tells them to listen, asking what they all hear.
Lottie asks if they believe her now, that "it" is still with them and never left. She tells Van that she saw it in her eyes and says that it brought Taissa to Van so that she would bring her to them. She concludes by saying that it was in Natalie even when she denied it, that it was always her favorite. At this, Natalie becomes angry, asking why she can never stop. Just then, a voice rings out, shouting for them all not to move. The voice is that of Lisa, an acolyte of the community whom Natalie has bonded with, brandishing Natalie's shotgun. She asks Natalie what she did to Lottie, if she killed people and she's just been lying this entire time. Natalie tries to protest, but Lisa demands that she answer her. Natalie pleads with her to just go, but Lisa tells her to drop her knife. As she charges forward, Misty draws a syringe. Natalie comments that she let "him" die in her place, referring to Travis's brother Javi. She throws herself in front of Misty, who was attempting to inject Lisa, taking the syringe instead. The effect is almost instant and as Natalie passes away before their eyes, Van asks Misty just what she did. Taissa shouts to call an ambulance, but Shauna points out that they don't have their phones. There is nothing they can do.
A team of paramedics finally arrives, declaring Natalie to be dead of an overdose. As Lottie sits at the edge of an ambulance, Taissa tells her that they're going to take her away for a while, but that they're going to come and check on her. To this, Lottie states that they gave it what it wanted and that it is pleased with them. Van just stares at her, and she stares back, telling her "You'll see." She is loaded in, and the ambulance pulls away.
Trivia[]
- According to Melanie Lynskey (adult Shauna Sadecki), Van was supposed to die in the first season, but the crew of Yellowjackets were so impressed with Liv Hewson's performance that they decided to keep the character.[2]
- Despite Lauren Ambrose being credited for her role as Adult Van in the opening credits throughout the second season of Yellowjackets, she does not actually appear until the end of the fourth episode, "Old Wounds."
- Van is only referred to as "Vanessa" once, in the pilot, by Jackie.
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bender, Brittney (August 11, 2022). Yellowjackets: Lauren Ambrose Joins Showtime Series Season 2 Cast. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved on August 12, 2022.
- ↑ Squires, Bethy (March 15, 2022). Liv Hewson Acted Their Way Out of an Early Death on Yellowjackets. Vulture. Retrieved on March 17, 2022.