Warning: Potential spoilers for Yellowjackets season 3 below!Sophie Nélisse, who plays young Shauna in Yellowjackets, has opened up about her character’s new relationship in season 3. As the show continues to explore the group of surviving friends in the past and present, Shauna finds herself entangled in a new dynamic that could mean trouble. Yellowjackets season 2 saw Shauna dealing with grief, guilt, and growing leadership tensions, and even while season 3 introduces a new partner for her, it will still take her in a dark direction.
In an interview with ScreenRant for the show’s return, Nélisse explained that Shauna’s connection with fellow survivor Melissa will add a new layer to her character’s development in Yellowstone season 3. However, while their bond might seem genuine, Nélisse warns that Shauna’s true motivations remain questionable, saying, “I think she’ll kind of just see Melissa as another pawn on her chessboard.” Read her full comments below:
It’s definitely new for Shauna. I don’t think she really understands how she feels about it, and what breaks my heart is that this relationship is exactly what Shauna needs. I think she needs someone to hold her and take care of her, and to tell her, “Listen, it wasn’t your fault, and you’re not to blame. I love you no matter what.”
But I do think that the saying is so true that you can’t love someone else until you love yourself. Shauna has so much hate for herself that I don’t think that she’s in a position to love anyone else. So, her feelings for Melissa are quite tricky because I think part of her wants to let her guard down and open up to someone, and Melissa does see a side of her that the others might not.
There’s definitely an honest connection there, but I do feel that Shauna has another agenda in mind, and I think the only thing that’s driving her right now is striving for power to take control of the group and to be the leader. So, I think she’ll kind of just see Melissa as another pawn on her chessboard to play with in order to manipulate to help her get the other girls in her corner.
What This Means For Yellowjackets Season 3
A Look Into Shauna’s Power Struggle & Psychological Turmoil
Shauna’s journey has been one of Yellowjackets’ most talked-about arcs of the series, and season 3 seems to take her character into even more complex territory. The loss of Jackie, the birth of her baby, and the descent into cannibalism have all played a role in shaping her mindset in the wilderness storyline in Yellowjackets season 3. Nélisse’s comments signal that Shauna’s trauma will continue to fuel her desire for power and control, and her complicated relationship with Melissa suggests that the power struggles within the survivors are far from over.
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Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 2 Ending Explained: Who Is Stalking Shauna?
Yellowjackets season 3 wastes no time introducing a new mystery into the present-day timeline with Shauna being stalked by a mystery individual.
While Melissa might see Shauna as someone she can trust, Shauna’s motivations seem to be truly calculated. This could potentially lead to major consequences, as Yellowjackets has repeatedly demonstrated that betrayal and manipulation often come with bloody consequences. If Shauna’s thirst for leadership continues to blind her to genuine connections, this could be a turning point that reshapes the group’s dynamics and transforms Shauna’s role within the group entirely, perhaps leading her to become the new Antler Queen. Additionally, the revelation of Shauna and Melissa’s relationship could be tied to Hilary Swank’s mystery role in Yellowjackets season 3.
Our Take On Shauna & Melissa’s Relationship in Season 3
Shauna’s Darkness Continues To Grow
Shauna’s potential power grab in Yellowjackets season 3 is both intriguing and heartbreaking. Her transformation from a quiet, reserved teenager into a strategic manipulator is a clear example of how much the wilderness has changed the survivors. While her new bond with Melissa has the opportunity to offer her some sort of solace, Nélisse’s comment that Shauna sees her as a “pawn” raises red flags about how far Shauna is willing to go in order to become the leader of the group.
Whether Shauna finds redemption or sets herself as one of the group’s most dangerous members remains to be seen. While Yellowjackets season 4 has not been confirmed yet, it would not be surprising to see an announcement from Showtime coming soon. One thing is for certain, her story is only getting started and Yellowjackets fans should prepare for more shocking twists ahead.
New episodes of Yellowjackets are released on Fridays on Paramount+ at 3 a.m. ET., followed by Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Showtime.
Yellowjackets
7/10
- Release Date
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November 14, 2021
- Network
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Showtime, Paramount+ with Showtime
- Showrunner
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Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Jonathan Lisco
- Directors
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Benjamin Semanoff, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Deepa Mehta, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Liz Garbus, Scott Winant, Eva Sørhaug, Jamie Travis
- Writers
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Liz Phang, Sarah L. Thompson, Ameni Rozsa