After the shocking twists and emotionally charged moments of last week’s episode, Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5 has the difficult task of delivering answers while keeping the tension simmering.
Episode 4 ended with some major cliffhangers, but perhaps the most devastating revelation was the death of Lottie (Simone Kessell). The circumstances surrounding her demise remain murky, but it’s clear that the present-day characters aren’t going to sit back and accept what appears to be an “accidental” death.
Though Lottie’s passing is a significant moment, the real emotional weight of the episode lies in the fate of Coach Scott (Steven Krueger). Sentenced to death by the team, he has become a sitting duck, awaiting the decision of his former players as they wrestle with their own guilt, fear, and survival instincts.
Titled “Did Tai Do That?”, Episode 5 is not just an episode about unraveling a mystery—it’s an exploration of morality, grief, and the ever-growing darkness consuming the survivors.
Also Read: ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Episode 4 Recap: Shocking Twists and a Deadly Verdict
A Somber Opening: Lottie’s Fate Confirmed
The episode wastes no time addressing the biggest mystery from last week: Is Lottie really dead? The opening scene takes us directly to the morgue, where Misty (Christina Ricci) stands over the cold, lifeless body of her former friend.
As she stares at Lottie, the show seamlessly shifts perspectives—one moment, we see adult Misty, and the next, teenage Misty (Samantha Hanratty) is standing over teenage Lottie (Courtney Eaton). This visual parallel serves as a haunting reminder of their past and how deeply intertwined their fates have always been.
Despite the official ruling that Lottie’s death was accidental—a tragic fall down the stairs—Misty isn’t convinced. She manages to collect a sample from under Lottie’s fingernails and sneak out some crime scene photos, determined to uncover the truth.
Later, Misty gathers the remaining Yellowjackets at her home. Tai (Tawny Cypress) and Van (Lauren Ambrose) arrive, but she purposefully excludes Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), likely because of the tension between them. When Misty announces Lottie’s death, the group is in disbelief. Van, in particular, is shaken, while Shauna, skeptical, demands proof—prompting Misty to lay out the grim crime scene photos.
However, suspicions quickly turn toward Misty herself. Shauna, ever the realist, points out that Misty had both the means and motive to kill Lottie. After all, Misty has been involved in more than one suspicious death, and if anyone should hold a grudge against Lottie, it’s her—especially considering Lottie’s involvement in Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) fate. The accusation enrages Misty, who storms out, vowing to find out what really happened.
The Citizen Detectives Assemble
Misty’s investigation leads her to a troubling realization: Lottie’s phone is missing from her personal effects. When she contacts the coroner, she learns that Lottie didn’t have a phone on her at the time of her death. Sensing that something isn’t adding up, she sets off to find it.
Meanwhile, Shauna is tailing Misty, still unconvinced of her innocence. However, Shauna soon realizes that she is also being followed. After a tense moment, she corners her pursuer—none other than Walter (Elijah Wood), Misty’s eccentric Citizen Detective partner.
Walter nonchalantly informs Shauna that he’s taken it upon himself to investigate Lottie’s murder. But when Shauna asks why he was following her, Walter responds with a knowing look—after all, Shauna has killed before, so he assumes she may have done it again.
Their uneasy truce is quickly tested when Walter insists that Misty isn’t the culprit. He proposes they work together, and though Shauna remains wary, she sees the value in having him on her side.
Misty, on the other hand, follows Lottie’s last known steps to a high-end apartment building. She learns that Lottie had been staying with her estranged father and had even withdrawn $50,000 shortly before her death. This discovery only deepens the mystery: Why would Lottie, who claimed to have nowhere to go, turn to her father?
The case takes a turn when Shauna and Walter—posing as internet technicians—also show up at the building. A tense battle of wits ensues, with each side trying to outmaneuver the other to find the most crucial piece of evidence: Lottie’s missing phone. Walter manages to get his hands on it first, but not before cloning its contents. Though he offers to share his findings with Misty, she refuses, still furious with him for resetting it in the first place.
Shauna’s Emotional Goodbye
As Shauna explores Lottie’s childhood home, she is struck by the personal artifacts left behind—photographs of the team, childhood mementos, and reminders of who Lottie was before everything changed. In a particularly moving moment, Shauna stands in Lottie’s bedroom, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Lottie’s father enters the room, momentarily mistaking Shauna for his daughter. Instead of correcting him, Shauna plays along, engaging in a brief but deeply poignant exchange.
In this quiet interaction, Shauna seemingly finds a way to say goodbye—not just to Lottie, but to the part of herself that has been carrying guilt, pain, and regret for so long.
A Trial in the Wilderness: Coach Scott’s Fate
Back in the past timeline, the Yellowjackets must determine how to carry out Coach Scott’s execution. The group debates various methods—Shauna suggests burning him, while Natalie argues for a more “humane” execution by firing squad. Ultimately, they decide to leave it to chance, drawing cards to determine who will pull the trigger.
Tai, still grappling with her dual personality, draws the King of Hearts—the so-called “suicide king.” Van, believing that Tai’s other self is more ruthless, tries to summon “Other Tai” through an intimate moment. Though Tai eventually manages to kill a rabbit as an offering to the wilderness, she is still hesitant when the moment of execution arrives.
As the team prepares to shoot Coach Scott, he begs for his life, his voice breaking as he pleads for mercy. At the last second, Travis intervenes, shoving Coach out of the way. Lottie then declares that Akilah had a vision—Coach is their bridge home and killing him would be a mistake. Just like that, the execution is called off, leaving Coach Scott with a temporary reprieve.
Shauna and Melissa: A New Kind of Bond
Meanwhile, a new alliance seems to be forming between Shauna and Melissa (Jenna Burgess). Earlier in the episode, Melissa gifts Shauna a hand-carved knife holder, marking the beginning of a strange but powerful connection. Later, the two visit Coach Scott—only instead of offering comfort, they brutally slash his Achilles tendon, ensuring that he won’t be able to escape.
As Coach screams in agony, Shauna and Melissa clasp hands, their bloodied fingers intertwined. There is no hesitation, no remorse—only a chilling acceptance of what they have become.
Final Thoughts: The Darkness Takes Hold
Episode 5 of Yellowjackets Season 3, titled “Did Tai Do That?”, delivers another intense chapter packed with emotional confrontations, shocking revelations, and a growing sense of unease. As the aftermath of Lottie’s death unfolds, Misty’s investigative instincts kick into overdrive, with Shauna and Walter complicating matters by launching their own search for the truth.
The episode expertly balances past and present, revealing more about the team’s increasingly brutal decisions in the wilderness while showing how their trauma continues to shape their lives as adults.
Coach Scott’s storyline remains the heart of the episode, as the team debates his fate in a haunting parallel to their past survival choices. The drawing of the King of Hearts echoes the group’s grim traditions, and the failed attempt to execute him only intensifies the eerie power the wilderness seems to hold over them. Meanwhile, Akilah’s vision hints at a possible way back to civilization, adding a sliver of hope amidst the growing darkness.
Shauna and Melissa’s alliance is a chilling development, marking Shauna’s full embrace of her ruthless instincts. The attack on Coach Scott cements the group’s descent into cruelty, showing that while execution was avoided, punishment was inevitable.
With tensions rising, shifting allegiances, and more mysteries left to unravel, Yellowjackets Season 3 continues to deliver psychological horror at its finest. As the search for Lottie’s true killer deepens, and Tai’s darker side resurfaces, the show leaves us on edge, eager for what comes next.
Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5 is a turning point for many characters. Misty, driven by her own sense of justice, refuses to let Lottie’s death go unanswered. Shauna, once reluctant to embrace the darkness inside her, has now fully stepped into it. Tai, still haunted by her alter ego, continues to struggle with the weight of her choices.
This episode masterfully balances mystery, horror, and psychological tension. It pushes the characters deeper into moral ambiguity, proving once again that survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about deciding what kind of person you are willing to become.
As Yellowjackets continues, one thing is clear: the past will never stay buried, and the wilderness isn’t done with them yet.
New episodes of Yellowjackets Season 3 premiere Fridays on Showtime.
