Editor's Note: This article contains spoilers for Yellowjackets, including Season 3.
The Yellowjackets hive is still buzzing after the explosive season 3 finale. Whether you loved every moment or took issue with some creative choices, one thing is undeniable: the latest season was not only hungrier and bloodier, but also came with a significantly higher body count. We lost many characters we’d grown to admire, yet a shimmer of hope for rescue from the wilderness lingers. Among all the chaos and tragedy, one quietly devastating element accompanied all the events: Misty's grief for Natalie. It was one of the most compelling and emotionally resonant components of the entire season.
Season 3 picks up shortly after the events of the previous season and opens with Natalie’s funeral (Juliette Lewis). One notable absence? Misty (Christina Ricci). Instead of attending, Misty turns to alcohol, especially after visiting Natalie’s storage unit and discovering the iconic black leather jacket that Lewis’s character wore in earlier seasons. As Misty slips into the jacket, she slips into rage and destruction, much like Natalie would have.
The first few episodes, while not entirely focused on her, subtly explore Misty's grief and how deeply she’s affected by losing one of her best friends and, heartbreakingly, someone she feels responsible for. Once Misty puts on that jacket, it’s as if she’s channeling Natalie: suddenly cursing, drinking straight whiskey, and starting bar fights with people much stronger than her. It’s clear that through these self-destructive actions, she’s trying to keep Natalie’s spirit alive. It’s quite devastating to witness.
Episode by episode, we watch Misty reject Walter (Elijah Wood), her emotional armor cracking, and her reach out to the remaining Yellowjackets. But they only seem to call when they need her “unusual” services because, as always, bodies won’t clean themselves. Walter gently tries to make Misty see her friends’ true colors, but deep down, she already knows. Her change in behavior towards Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), and, to a lesser extent, Taissa (Tawny Cypress) and Van (Lauren Ambrose), becomes transparent when she burns the photo of their high school reunion from season 1. She seems to accept that she’ll ultimately be alone and, yet, she keeps helping. Whether it’s Lottie’s mysterious death, Shauna’s increasingly bizarre threats, or the now-infamous tape recorded by Hannah (Ashley Sutton), Misty never stops trying.
Natalie’s leather jacket remains a constant throughout the season — a symbol of Misty’s refusal to let go, even as the remaining Yellowjackets unravel and search for answers about the stalker and the mysterious tape. Misty wears it like a second skin, a mourning shroud, and an emotional shield.
Watching Misty's grief for Natalie in Season 3 reminded me of when my mom lost her best friend. I’ll never forget the sound of her cry or the friend she lost. Grief is so often portrayed through the lens of family, but Yellowjackets dares to explore the devastation of losing a best friend. And it hurts just as much. With the Season 3 finale now upon us and high hopes for the show renewal (fingers crossed!), the future looks intense, especially with Misty and Taissa seemingly aligned in a shared goal: stopping Shauna and her endless cycle of chaos. Let’s just hope Misty opens her heart back up to Walter. Because there is no doubt that, together, they’re a killer—and unexpectedly adorable—duo.
It’s evident that in Season 3, just like in the previous ones, Christina Ricci once again delivers a performance that is complex, heartbreaking, and, at times, hilarious. It’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Misty's dark humor has become an essential part of Yellowjackets — a welcome relief in a show that delves so deeply into cannibalism and trauma. Whether signing Shauna up for tapioca duty at work or locking her in a walk-in freezer, Misty’s quirks and comedic timing gave us the levity we desperately needed. Her journey toward forgiving herself for Natalie’s death is far from over, but we can only hope there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for our beloved Misty.
Zofia resides in LA and is passionate about pop culture, television, and Stevie Nicks. She graduated from the University of Wroclaw, Poland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Social Communication with Creative Writing. She is a staff writer for First Showing and contributing writer for Awards Watch, Nerdist, Film Inquiry, and more.
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