Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Yellowackets season 3.
Natalie is a great character from the beginning ofYellowjackets,but season 3 drives home just how important she is — and her being its MVP makes her death in the adult timeline even more frustrating. When Natalie is introduced inYellowjacketsseason 1, she’s easily one of the most memorable characters. This goes beyond Sophie Thatcher’s and Juliette Lewis' impressive performances. It’s also because, as Jackie Taylor tells her in the pilot, Natalie doesn’t “care what anybody thinks.” Perhaps this is why she keeps such a strong hold on her humanity later on.
There’s no denying that Natalie plays a crucial role in the show’s teen timeline, as she starts out as the group’s hunter, with her and Travis' efforts ensuring their survival. She also becomes the teen survivors' leader inYellowjacketsseason 3. And although she makes decisions they don’t all agree with — even being dethroned by Shauna halfway through the third outing — Natalie proves the series' real MVP in the latest episodes. This makes it easy to root for her, but it also makes theend ofYellowjacketsseason 2that much more disappointing.
Natalie Was The Clear MVP Of Yellowjackets Season 3’s Wilderness Timeline
She Maintains Her Humanity & Is Key To The Girls' Rescue
Natalie probably maintains the strongest grip on her humanity throughoutYellowjacketsseason 3, and that’s why she’s among the most likable characters. In the teen timeline, Natalie stands up to Shauna repeatedly — even after she’s replaced as the leader — as she wants to do the right thing. The fact that she loses her role because she gives Coach Ben a mercy killing inYellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6is another point in her favor. The rest of the girls are either bent on revenge or cave into groupthink, but Natalie knows what they’re doing to Ben is wrong.
That’s why Natalie attempts to keep the girls off his trail at the beginning of the season, and it’s why she’s willing to face their ire if it means ending his suffering. While Natalie isn’t totally without fault,even her reasons for going along with Ben’s trial are admirable: she doesn’t want to split the group any further, as she’s seen the deadly results that can come from it. It’s the same reason she doesn’t tell the team aboutMisty’s interference with the Black Box. She may be disgusted, but she knows what they’ll do to Misty if they find out.
Her role in the rescue mission at the end of Yellowjackets season 3 cements her as the MVP.
Natalie’s unwavering humanity is reason enough to consider her the best character, and it explains why she’s consumed by guilt in the adult timeline. But her role in the rescue mission at theend ofYellowjacketsseason 3cements her as its MVP, as it highlights how critical she is to any of the girls making it home alive. Her willingness to wander off during the Pit Girl hunt and risk Shauna’s rage is what allows the team to contact the outside world. This explains why the others seem so grateful to her during the adult timeline.
Natalie’s Role In Yellowjackets Season 3 Makes Her Season 2 Death Harder To Accept
She Probably Deserved To Live The Most
Natalie becoming the hero ofYellowjacketsseason 3 makes her death in season 2’s adult timeline that much harder to swallow. For one, Natalie never gets the recognition she deserves for her actions out in the Wilderness. Although the other survivors recognize her part in their rescue, they’re ultimately the reason she meets an untimely end. And with the Yellowjackets hiding what happened out there, Natalie experiences a life of addiction and guilt. Even her death is tragically written off as an overdose, with no one else ever realizing what she went through.
Additionally, Natalie arguably deserves to survive the adult timeline the most, as she holds onto her humanity more than any of the other survivors. And Natalie even begins working towards healing in season 2, making her demise even more tragic. But this is likely tied to the pointYellowjacketsis making. Van has a similar moment of humanity just before her season 3 death, so it seems the survivors most in tune with their empathy and compassion are the first to be picked off. This doesn’t make it any less frustrating, as we deserve so much more of them.
