Teen Shauna actor Sophie Nélisse recently gave an update on Yellowjackets season 2’s bonus episode, which suggests that numerous theories about the outing’s subject matter may be proven correct. Ahead of Yellowjackets season 2’s ending, it was speculated that the show would feature a bonus episode, as there were only nine episodes compared to the first season’s 10 entries, with the confirmed casting of Jason Ritter also seemingly never coming to fruition. With rumors of a wilderness episode filmed in a different timeline also circulating, it wasn’t too surprising when showrunner Ashley Lyle confirmed in June 2023 that a bonus episode would air between seasons 2 and 3.
Although Yellowjackets season 2’s bonus episode is officially happening, details on the upcoming outing’s plot, cast, and exact release date are still being kept under wraps. Still, this hasn’t kept from more theories abounding regarding the episode’s storylines and potential character appearances, with one particular theory standing out as the most popular suggestion. With Sophie Nélisse giving more information on which characters will be absent from Yellowjackets’ upcoming bonus episode, a long-standing theory about the episode’s contents has become even more likely to be true.
When asked about whether she had seen the bonus episode, Yellowjackets cast member Sophie Nélisse told Comicbook.com that she hadn’t watched it yet, elaborating that she and her costars “weren’t there when they were shooting” and “were all back home.” The notion that none of her co-stars were there for the filming of the bonus episode suggests that Yellowjackets’ main characters from either of the two main timelines won’t be featured in the upcoming outing. Consequently, it seems the bonus episode will be more of a bottle episode, likely exploring the mysteries and history of the wilderness, such as Yellowjackets’ unexplained symbol, through the eyes of a new set of characters.
Of course, this realization perfectly aligns with the widespread theory that Yellowjackets’ bonus episode will explore the backstory of the “Cabin Guy.” With his name still being unknown to the ‘90s timeline’s characters, the man whose skeleton was found with a shotgun by the teens has generally been referred to as the “Cabin Guy.” Little to nothing has been revealed about him in Yellowjackets so far, but the teens found the symbol carved into the attic floor and a stocked pantry in the cabin that presumably belonged to him. The characters also found his small airplane nearby, which would explode and cause Laura Lee’s death in Yellowjackets season 1.
The cabin would provide shelter for the teen version of the characters for two seasons of Yellowjackets, so Cabin Guy’s backstory remained a significant mystery throughout their time there. As such, it seemed that his identity would, at some point, tie into the history of the symbol and supernatural occurrences in the wilderness, which could finally be explored in Yellowjackets’ bonus episode. The theory that this episode will feature the Cabin Guy before his death is further supported by Jason Ritter’s confirmed casting for season 2, suggesting he’ll play the Cabin Guy himself or one of his friends or family members in a flashback outing.
Considering Yellowjackets season 2, episode 9 concluded with the cabin being burned down by a mysterious assailant, who is heavily implied to be Coach Ben, it’s assumed that the show’s cabin storyline is over within the ‘90s wilderness timeline. As such, diving back into the lore of the cabin and, specifically, the Cabin Guy himself is necessary in order to better close the chapter on the location’s role in Yellowjackets’ mysteries and the wilderness storyline. With the cabin itself now gone, the lingering questions regarding the structure and its history should be answered before moving on to wherever the teens move to next in Yellowjackets season 3.
It’s been theorized that Cabin Guy wasn’t actually alone in the wilderness, so it’s possible that the people he previously lived with there are still in the area during Yellowjackets’ past timeline. If so, the show will still need to explain what happened to the Cabin Guy, who he was, why he died alone in the attic, and whether – like the teens – he killed other people under the influence of the symbol and wilderness. The Cabin Guy and his group could still end up playing an important role in the teens’ descent into a more feral state in Yellowjackets season 3, and the bonus episode can help contextualize this better after the cabin’s burning.
Ahead of the confirmation of Yellowjackets season 2’s bonus episode, an image of Jason Ritter reportedly on set holding an infant girl was circulating, expanding theories to suggest that he was the Cabin Guy and the baby was his daughter. With no signs of other skeletons around the cabin during Yellowjackets’ 1990s timeline, further speculations have raised the possibility that Cabin Guy’s daughter survived and was still secretly living in the wilderness while the teens were living in the cabin. If this turns out to be correct, then such theories claim that Cabin Guy’s daughter could actually be Javi’s “friend” from Yellowjackets season 2.
When he suddenly returned in season 2 after disappearing in Yellowjackets season 1, Javi revealed that his “friend” helped him survive, having presumably lived in warmer caves throughout the winter. While some believe that Javi’s “friend” is actually the “other Tai” that sleepwalks and eats dirt in Yellowjackets, the seemingly uncovered information about the bonus episode and related theories provide the best explanation for his friend’s identity thus far. Javi’s death means that he won’t be able to disclose who his “friend” is, but the reveal of this character and their backstory through flashbacks – if not someone who has already been introduced – would provide a gripping subject for Yellowjackets’ bonus episode.
Source: Comicbook.com