The storyline of Yellowjackets makes us think about what creates a society. This episode focuses on that question by showing a trial. The fourth episode’s title, “12 Angry Men and 1 Drunk Travis,” clearly refers to the famous movie 12 Angry Men, but the show takes the idea and changes it completely.
The trial of Coach Ben (played by Steven Krueger) starts fairly, but this group is still figuring out its own rules. Both Yellowjackets and 12 Angry Men follow a similar structure, yet their endings are different because of their unique settings. This difference proves that the girls in Yellowjackets are still far from being part of a civilized society.
Two Different Societies, Two Different Trials
In 1996, after the high school girls’ soccer team crashes in the wilderness, survival becomes their only goal. At first, they focus on food, shelter, and warmth. But as time passes, they begin to build their own rules and customs.
Religion becomes important to them, and those who cannot adjust or try to leave usually do not survive. One thing they have not faced before, however, is how to handle crimes committed by members of their own group.
To them, eating human flesh is sometimes necessary, but murder remains unacceptable. When the cabin burns down, the girls lose their sense of stability. Some of them believe Coach Ben is responsible and want to kill him immediately. However, Natalie (played by Sophie Thatcher), who now holds power as the Antler Queen, decides to hold a trial instead. She wants to give him a chance to prove his innocence.
This situation is very different from 12 Angry Men, where laws and traditions have already been set for many years. The jury in 12 Angry Men does not need to decide how the legal process works—they only need to determine whether the accused man is guilty or not.
In the United States, a long history of legal customs provides structure. In Yellowjackets, no such structure exists. The girls must create their own rules while deciding Coach Ben’s fate.
Interestingly, this episode of Yellowjackets highlights one of the biggest complaints about courtroom dramas: their inaccuracies. Many legal dramas change facts to make trials more dramatic. Even 12 Angry Men, considered one of the best legal movies, is not completely realistic.
The trial of Coach Ben, however, takes legal inaccuracy to another level. Natalie acts as both the judge and a witness, which would never be allowed in a real court. When Misty (played by Samantha Hanratty) points this out, she is completely correct. But Taissa (played by Jasmin Savoy Brown) reminds everyone that none of this follows traditional legal rules anyway.
The trial also changes other courtroom traditions. Instead of requiring a unanimous decision from all jurors, they allow a supermajority vote to decide Ben’s fate. This is not a small adjustment—it is a major change that affects the outcome. A lower number of required votes and a lack of detailed discussion made it easier for the group to convict him.
How ‘Yellowjackets’ Reverses ‘12 Angry Men’
Although 12 Angry Men and Yellowjackets follow similar structures, they tell their stories in opposite ways. Both stories focus on doubt growing about the accused person’s guilt, but they do so differently.
12 Angry Men takes place entirely in a jury room. The story revolves around jurors discussing the case. Yellowjackets, on the other hand, focus more on public votes and dramatic testimonies. Instead of the jury analyzing evidence, the trial depends on emotional arguments.
Coach Ben appears to be losing his grip on reality, but his innocence still seems possible. Misty, acting as his defense attorney, tries to create reasonable doubt. However, Taissa fights against her at every step, and Natalie’s testimony damages Ben’s case even further.
In 12 Angry Men, the legal system aims to provide a clear answer about guilt or innocence. In Yellowjackets, the trial leaves the question open-ended, making the audience wonder if someone else in the group might be responsible.
The episode title, “12 Angry Men and 1 Drunk Travis,” also hints at the differences between the two stories. The girls try to copy a real courtroom’s traditions, such as swearing in witnesses and presenting evidence. But in the end, they are still just teenagers.
Small moments in the episode remind us of this fact. For example, Natalie forgets the exact words of the oath and gets annoyed. These moments add humor to a very serious situation. Even though the trial appears fair at first, things take a dramatic turn by the end.
The verdict scenes in both stories are similar. In 12 Angry Men, one juror holds onto his biases against poor people. His refusal to change his vote causes a famous emotional breakdown. This moment is crucial, as it helps the jury reach the right decision.
Yellowjackets has a similar emotional moment, but it comes from Shauna (played by Sophie Nélisse). Her testimony seals Ben’s fate. She does not see his crime as burning down the cabin—she sees his crime as abandoning the group, especially during her failed childbirth. To the rest of the team, that is enough to prove his guilt.
Power Controls Justice in ‘Yellowjackets’
One of the most famous moments in 12 Angry Men is when the main juror, played by Henry Fonda, pulls out a second knife identical to the murder weapon. This act is completely illegal, yet the film treats it as justified because it helps save an innocent man.
In Yellowjackets, a similar situation happens before the verdict is reached. Natalie’s testimony harms Ben’s case in ways that would never be allowed in a real court. But this is not a real court, and the girls are not following legal rules. Instead of using small legal tricks for drama, the show takes things further. The way the trial unfolds is not just for tension—it serves as a warning about what happens when power takes control over law.
At first, the trial seems fair. It appears that Coach Ben might actually have a chance to defend himself. Natalie, wearing her crown and robes, looks powerful. However, her authority weakens when she testifies against Ben. Shauna realizes that if rules can change in the middle of the trial, she can change them too. She pressures enough people to vote for conviction, and that seals Ben’s fate.
In 12 Angry Men, one juror only wants to end the trial quickly so he can go to a baseball game. Yellowjackets reminds us that making decisions for the wrong reasons can destroy lives. Even if someone is truly guilty, a rushed and unfair decision can still be dangerous.
Natalie, as the judge, feels her power slipping away. She cannot stop the others from giving in to their thirst for blood. Many of the girls have already embraced violence. Some viewers are surprised that Ben has survived this long. However, if the girls ever find out he was actually innocent, the guilt could haunt them forever.
We already know what the girls will become by the time they are rescued. There will be no sign of law or civilization left among them. Ironically, giving Ben a trial might have been their most civilized act. But in the end, Yellowjackets does not criticize the idea of law itself—it questions the societies we create to enforce it.
When survival becomes the only goal, justice no longer matters. Once that line is crossed, there is no turning back.
Also Read: ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Episode 4 Recap: Shocking Twists and a Deadly Verdict
