A new episode of Yellowjackets season 3 is now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime. In the fifth episode, "Did Tai Do That?," the girls decide how they want to punish Coach Ben. Meanwhile, in the present timeline, Shauna and Misty investigate the circumstances surrounding Lottie's death separately. Much more happens in the fifth episode as well, so stick around and check out our recap below for an in-depth explanation of everything.
Tread lightly, Yellowjackets season 3, episode 5 spoilers are ahead!
Coach Ben's fate is sealed, but does he die?
In the previous episode, a trial determined Coach Ben's fate. He was found guilty of attempted murder after being accused of starting the fire in the cabin, despite his claims of innocence. The fifth episode sees the girls in the wilderness trying to decide what's the best punishment for Coach Ben. After much deliberation, they ultimately decide that the only fitting punishment is to kill him by shooting him. The only problem is who will be the one to carry out the act? To decide, they draw cards, with the person who picks the King of Hearts being the one tasked with pulling the trigger. Tai ends up pulling the card, which she's not happy about at all. Unlike her girlfriend, Van, who doesn't necessarily have a problem with violence, Tai is visibly shaken by the responsibility.
Van attempts to teach her how to use a gun, but Tai has a hard time. Even though she believes Coach Ben is guilty, she doesn't want to kill him. Van then comes up with an idea. Maybe they can try to get Tai's dark and troubled side to make an appearance, allowing that part of her to take control and do what needs to be done. They attempt different things to make her dark side come out, even by hooking up, but it doesn't work as planned.
Meanwhile, Misty delivers the bad news to Coach Ben about his impending fate. They share an emotional conversation before Misty walks away. Elsewhere, Lottie, Travis, and Akilah head back to the cave after Lottie tells Akilah that the cave has more to say to her. Travis had told Lottie about a vision that included Akilah, and Lottie believes this is the wilderness way of signaling that Akilah is the chosen one. They all enter the cave, but Lottie and Travis halt at a certain spot while Akilah moves deeper inside. As Akilah explores the cave, she suddenly collapses, falling unconscious. Travis doesn't want to go through with the plan anymore and is about to get Akilah when Lottie tells him to wait.
Travis notices the rope has stopped moving, indicating Akilah has halted. He and Lottie rush to her and find her lying unconscious on the floor. After trying to wake her, Akilah eventually opens her eyes and recounts a bizarre vision. In it, she stood atop a giant Coach Ben, gazing into the darkness but feeling a glimmer of hope. Coach Ben seemed to serve as a bridge in the vision. Lottie interprets this as a sign that Coach Ben might be their way home, and if so, they must prevent his execution.
Back at the Yellowjackets' camp, the girls get ready for Coach Ben's execution. Just as Tai is about to pull the trigger, Travis, Lottie, and Akilah arrive, pushing Coach Ben to safety. They then share Akilah's vision with the group, leading to the cancellation of the execution. However, that doesn't mean Coach Ben will live like everyone else. The girls lock him back up in the animal pen, but that's not all. Shauna and Melissa are then sent to injure his foot so he can't escape. So, no, Coach Ben does not die in episode 5.
Misty and Shauna each conduct their own investigation into Lottie's death
After visiting the morgue to view Lottie's body and take some of her personal items, Misty returns home and invites Shauna, Taissa, and Van over. She tells them about Lottie's death, leaving them all stunned. Misty then shares that the coroner determined her death was accidental, caused by falling down the stairs. However, Misty doubts that explanation. Shauna quickly accuses her of being a suspect, which frustrates Misty. Feeling unsupported, Misty declares her intention to investigate Lottie's death herself before ordering them to leave her house.
Later, Misty leaves her house to go somewhere, with Shauna secretly trailing behind her. However, Shauna is forced to stop following when a car begins to follow her. She quickly turns into an alleyway and slams on the brakes, causing the car behind her to crash into her rear bumper. Getting out of her car, she approaches the driver's side of the other vehicle. The window rolls down, revealing it’s Walter. He tells Shauna he's investigating Lottie's death and, at first, accuses her of being a possible suspect in the murder. However, he soon suggests they team up to investigate together.
Misty arrives at the scene of Lottie's death and spots scratch marks on the wall. She suspects that Lottie may have used her nails to make them. She goes back into the main lobby of where Lottie was staying and talks to the front desk. The employee working the front desk reveals to her that Lottie had been living with her sick father up until her death. Misty then heads to Lottie's father's penthouse to try to get more information.
She meets Lottie's father, Mr. Matthews, who insists that Lottie's death was accidental. He also tells Misty that the police will receive no further funding from him if they claim otherwise. Hmm. That's strange. Their conversation is interrupted when Walter calls out from another room. Misty walks over and finds him and Shauna dressed as internet technicians. They're trying to gather information about Lottie's death too.
Shauna and Walter eventually part ways after he asks for a strand of her hair as DNA evidence to prove she didn't kill Lottie, offering his own in exchange. Shauna finds the request strange and decides she no longer wants to collaborate with him. Although Walter doesn't get a strand of Shauna's hair directly from her, she unknowingly leaves some in her hat, which he later takes.
Misty discovers Lottie's old phone in her bedroom, only to learn from Walter that he has already transferred all her data and wiped it clean. This frustrates Misty, and she storms out of the penthouse. Later, Shauna enters Lottie's bedroom and is flooded with flashbacks of their past and present moments together. Mr. Matthews then enters the room and mistakes Shauna for Lottie due to his illness. Shauna lets him believe she’s Lottie for a while, unsure of how to handle the situation. They hug, and then Mr. Matthews leaves the room.
Here are two more important things that happen in the fifth episode of Yellowjackets season 3:
- Simone agrees to let Taissa see their son, Sammy, but their reunion doesn't go as Taissa hoped. When Sammy asks if she's still his mommy, Taissa reassures him with a yes. However, Sammy doesn't seem comforted by her answer and storms off. Later in the episode, Taissa sits in Sammy's old bedroom, replaying the conversation in her mind. Van enters and offers her comfort. Taissa then suggests to Van that they leave the house for a while, but there's something off about her demeanor when she says it. Could she be up to something?
- Teen Shauna and teen Melissa bond more when Melissa gives her a sheath for her knife. At the end of the episode, the other girls notice them holding hands. Could they be a couple now?
Yellowjackets season 3, episode 6 will be released on Paramount+ with Showtime on March 14.