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Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

This YELLOWJACKETS Death Will Break Fans’ Hearts

Originally posted on Nerdist | By Tai Gooden | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 4:52 AM ET

Yellowjackets season three is not playing around when it comes to deaths. The show is getting rid of characters in both timelines, from killing Coach Ben in the past timeline to Lottie’s mysterious demise in the present. At the end of last episode, it seemed as though adult Melissa would be the next one to rest in peace. However, in a sad twist, it is Van who dies in Yellowjackets’ eighth episode, leading up to a season three finale that will be hard to watch.

The episode starts off with Van still in a coma-like state from her health crisis. She has a conversation with her younger self, who tells her that death is around the corner and talks about The Goonies. Teen Van tells adult Van that it is time for her to go and get the treasure. Van wakes up in the hospital with Tai by her side. The duo and Misty leave and head to Virginia to look for Shauna.

On the way, they are shocked to see Melissa because, well, they thought she was dead. Life lesson: make sure you have a full tank of gas to escape your enemies. The group apprehends her and sticks her in their vehicle. Melissa tells them that Shauna bit off a piece of her arm and went nuts.

This YELLOWJACKETS Death Will Break Fans’ Hearts_1 Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

They arrive back at Melissa’s house to see Shauna casually cleaning up with blood on her face. They begin to argue about who killed Lottie, which leads to Misty leaving them to clean up their own mess. Melissa’s hands are tied behind her back and Tai makes her sit near the fireplace. Van steps outside while Tai and Shauna stay inside to watch her. Melissa pulls at a chain that closes the flue for fireplace, which knocks Tai and Shauna out.

Van goes in to save them and confronts Melissa, holding up a knife to kill her and possibly extend her own life for the sacrifice. Melissa says there’s always been goodness in Van and seems to offer herself up. Van cannot do it and questions why she cannot be that. Melissa sits up to seemingly comfort her but instead grabs Van’s hand and shoves the knife into Van’s chest. Just like that, Van is dead and Yellowjackets will never be the same.

Like adult Natalie, Van ends up on the airplane, seeing herself bleed out on the floor. Tai and Shauna come in to find Van on the floor and the back door open with Melissa gone. Van watches this on the plane and questions why her younger self would send her there to die. Teen Van simply says that is how their story goes and that the reward was getting the love of their life back. This presumably means bringing Tai back from Other Tai taking over.

Yellowjackets season three episode 8 hilary swank as adult melissa Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Honestly, all of it is incredibly baffling and terrible. Van deserved much, much better. It makes her cancer storyline seem incredibly unnecessary. I wish she could’ve stayed at her cute little bookstore and away from all of these psychos. Melissa probably killed Van because she knew that Shauna and/or Tai would do the job but it is at the cost of giving up her normal, boring life. And, this will only make them want to track her down and kill her more.

Hopefully, Tai and Misty will do the right thing and kill Shauna and Melissa. All of this death and drama stems from Shauna being completely nuts. Anyway, we will see what the fallout of Van’s death is in the season finale of Yellowjackets.

This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.

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