Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 5 review – “Did Tai Do That?” – The breaking point

Season 3 of Yellowjackets has passed its halfway mark, and episode 5 dives into a swirl of unsettling events. Dubbed “Did Tai Do That?”, the episode pulls Taissa into the heart of the action while the story slips into the wild and unpredictable nature of survival.

You see, even as the group slowly sinks into a kind of raw, almost feral existence, in the present Misty’s knack for detective work flares up again—and Shauna ends up tangled in yet another messy predicament, one that feels both urgent and strangely familiar.

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Wilderness Timeline (1996)

Out there in the unknown, things heat up in unexpected ways. Supplies run thin and suspicion spreads quickly, almost as if fear itself is multiplying unchecked. Meanwhile, Lottie's old stronghold on the group's spiritual life seems to be shifting; in its place, a new kind of guide is starting to take shape, stirring up the balance of power in a way you wouldn’t think possible.

A New Prophet Rises

Lottie, who once gathered everyone around her with unquestioned belief, now seems to be playing the role of a mentor rather than a true leader. Her advice is slowly turning into a nudge for someone else to step up—as if a new prophet were quietly emerging.

This subtle shift is more than a simple change in titles; it hints at a deeper, almost relentless pull towards something much larger than just one person’s vision.

The “Old Yeller” Moment

The most gut-wrenching moment of the episode is an “Old Yeller” scenario. Without getting into too much plot detail, the group is faced with a heartbreaking decision — one that puts their morality, their loyalty and their willingness to sacrifice to the test. This moment is especially meaningful because it is, for many characters, a point of no return.

Shauna and Melissa’s Relationship Takes a Dark Turn

In another of the episode’s most shocking developments, Shauna and Melissa bond through an act of mutilation — one that further deepens the group’s descent into primal brutality. The imagery here is brutal, but it has narrative justification: the transition from terrified survivors to remorseless hunters is now fully realized.

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Present Timeline: Questions & Desperation — October 2023

If the wilderness timeline is barreling into horror territory, the present-day timeline is veering into thriller territory — increasingly with Misty searching for a suspicious death and Shauna trying, once again, to navigate a crisis of her own making.

Misty Turns Detective

Misty, a woman who has always walked the line between comic relief and frightfully effective investigator, takes center stage in this episode. With the jarring death from the last episode, she sets upon investigating the mystery. Misty’s mix of charm and ruthlessness is compelling in its own right, and this plot line offers a much-needed counterpoint to the escalating grimness of the wilderness timeline.

Shauna’s Desperate Gamble

Shauna, meanwhile, gets backed into a corner and turned to an unlikely source for help. The nature of her crisis is vague for most of the episode, but when the reveal finally arrives, it’s a gut punch — one that echoes the fact that Shauna, no matter how hard she tries to populate her present with as much normalcy as she can muster, will never fully escape the aftermath of her past.

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Themes and Analysis

The Erosion of Morality

As the survivors’ conditions become more dire, their sense of right and wrong deteriorates further. This episode illustrates how even the “good” people, when pushed, can exhibit shocking violence.

Leadership Examination

With Lottie's transition from leader to mentor, there is a vital shift to consider: Does power in the wilderness come from belief or necessity? The shifting focus to a new prophet indicates that in the absence of a tangible leader, the group will foster one upon themselves - leadership assumes the role of a functional imperative not a voluntary action.

Wild Card Misty

Misty has always been among the most elusive of characters, and she still straddles the line between the two distinct stages in which she operates in the present. Has she been investigating crimes out of genuine interest or is there something sinister afoot?

This episode does not answer it clearly, although it does put her past indiscretions under the light and highlights that she is always a step ahead of everyone else.

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Final thoughts

“Did Tai Do That” is the most savage portrayal of Yellowjackets. There is no comforting resolution offered, nor is there an opportunity for the viewer to recuperate. Watching Misty investigate in such a methodical and tense manner, juxtaposed with the wilderness timeline’s shocking violence truly solidifies season 3 as the most bleak one yet.

What Questions Stand Out as We Move Forward:

1. Who is the new prophet in the wilderness timeline, and what does their arrival signify for the group?
2. What is Shauna concealing, and how much deeper must she dig to escape it this time?
3. Why does Taissa have to bear those particular hardships in the present after having done so much dealing in the past?
4. Is Misty solving a mystery or is there something more sinister afoot?

Yellowjackets continues to prove my theory that it is not only a tale of survival but rather a psychological thriller without mercy on the characters or the audience, with very few episodes remaining in the season.

What did you think about the episode? Let’s talk down in the comments below!