Ella Purnell’s return as Jackie Taylor used to be fun in Yellowjackets, but season 3 has ruined her cameos. Though Jackie ends up freezing to death in Yellowjackets season 1’s ending, she occasionally appears throughout season 2 as part of Shauna’s hallucinations. Yellowjackets is continuing this trend in its third season, seeing as Jackie returns in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 3, “Them’s the Brakes,” as part of the hallucinations that Shauna, Van, and Akilah experience.

Jackie also appears in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 4, “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,” when Shauna becomes trapped in the walk-in freezer at the nursing home where Misty works. This scene is a fascinating parallel to Jackie’s shocking death because, for a few moments, it does seem like Shauna will meet the same tragic end. However, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the girls’ hallucinations of Jackie, her cameos have not produced the same effect in Yellowjackets season 3 as in season 2. In fact, Jackie’s appearances in season 2 have ruined her previous appearances after her death.

Having Too Many Jackie Scenes In Yellowjackets Season 3 Ruins What Made Her Previous Returns So Special

Jackie Taylor’s Cameos In Yellowjackets Used To Be Meaningful

Jackie first returns in Yellowjackets season 2 when Shauna hallucinates seeing her best friend after her death. The hallucinations cease once the girls decide to eat Jackie’s body. Although Jackie appears once more in season 2, episode 8, “It Chooses,” the show makes it seem like that’s the end for Purnell’s character. Granted, Yellowjackets season 3’s trailer confirmed Jackie would appear in the new season, which was a definite shock. It is even more surprising that Jackie’s season 3 return involves two back-to-back episodes. While Jackie’s sporadic appearances were once embraced, Yellowjackets season 3 has made them redundant.

Shauna’s hallucinations of Jackie used to be authentic, which, in turn, made them extremely creepy. However, Jackie’s appearances in Yellowjackets season 3 feel forced and unnecessary, especially when adult Shauna hallucinates her. Yellowjackets has made it clear time and again that Jackie continues to haunt Shauna even as an adult, so the hallucination method feels repetitive, especially in back-to-back episodes. Hallucinations of Jackie are much more exciting when they remain in the past, where Jackie can haunt the survivors in the wilderness.

Ella Purnell’s Return To Yellowjackets Was More Exciting When It Was A Complete Surprise

Yellowjackets Should Not Have Teased Jackie Taylor’s Appearance In The Season 3 Trailer

Another reason why Jackie’s cameos in Yellowjackets season 3 are not working is because they were already anticipated. The shock of Jackie’s return occurred when the official trailer for Yellowjackets season 3 dropped, not when the episodes aired. As a result, Jackie’s cameos in season 3 have been disappointing thus far. These hallucinations used to contribute to the story, but now it seems as if Yellowjackets keeps Jackie just to include her rather than for an actual narrative purpose.

Upcoming Yellowjackets Season 3 Episodes

Episode Title
Release Date

“Did Tai Do That?”
March 7, 2025

“Thanksgiving (Canada)”
March 14, 2025

“Croak”
March 21, 2025

“A Normal, Boring Life”
March 28, 2025

TBA
April 4, 2025

TBA
April 11, 2025

If Yellowjackets had not spoiled Jackie’s season 3 return, Purnell’s cameos would carry more excitement, but by overdoing it, it’s something that’s now expected. The show should also stick to keeping Jackie’s cameos in Yellowjackets‘ past timeline since her presence connects to the horrors, trauma, and guilt that the survivors are directly facing while in the wilderness. Therefore, I feel like Yellowjackets is capitalizing on Jackie Taylor’s appearances for the sake of them occurring and not because they actually make sense. As a result, Jackie’s return in Yellowjackets season 3 diminishes the few scenes she has and even hurts her cameos in season 2.