‘Yellowjackets’: How exactly things get worse for Coach

Previously on Yellowjackets, the girls held a trial for Coach Ben (Steven Krueger), accusing him of burning down the cabin at the end of last season. Was it a fair trial? Far from it. But once convicted, things only got bleaker for the only grown-up in the wilderness. Then, episode 5, “Did Tai Do That?” ends with a gut-churning twist. 

But what does this mean for Coach and the remaining Yellowjackets? Let’s get into it, and by “it,” I mean deep spoiler terrain. 

Why don’t they execute the coach on Yellowjackets?

Jasmin Savoy Brown as teen Taissa in “Yellowjackets.”
Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

Look, their teammates have died for far less than burning down the cabin. And even if Team Mashable thinks the coach is innocent, the girls have decided execution was justice.

Like they used the playing cards to pick their sacrifice in the past with a Queen of Hearts, the team uses the deck to select who will be the executioner. By pulling the King of Hearts (aka a Suicide King), that dubious honor goes to Tai.

While preparing with target practice, Tai worries to Van that she won’t be able to pull the trigger when the time comes. Here’s where the allusion implied in the episode title comes in. “Did Tai Do That?” is a spin on Steve Urkel’s catchphrase on Family Matters: Did I do that? In the wilderness, Van suggests Tai do like Urkel, bring on her “cool” alter-ego to do the thing she’s afraid to do — in this case, killing Ben. Good news: It works. A stoic expression locks on Van, then Ben, as Tai readies to shoot on execution day. The bad news? Tai’s alter ego will definitely come back to bite her as adult!

However, the execution is stopped at the very last moment by a rampaging Travis and Lottie. Akilah has had a vision: Ben is their “bridge” to getting home. Therefore, he must live. Bad news for Ben; he’ll be kept in the animal pen and treated worse than the rabbits. 

Why does Melissa cut Coach Ben? 

Though in charge of the team, Nat couldn’t save the coach from execution, so she’s relieved at the prophet’s intervention. But Shauna isn’t satisfied. Under her direction, Shauna’s new girlfriend Melissa goes to the tied-up coach and takes Shauna’s hunting knife to his remaining ankle. Peer pressure is real, and really scary on Yellowjackets.

The coach screams. Shauna and Melissa look excited. “He won’t be going anywhere,” Shauna says proudly. 

To this Nat jeers, “You don’t have to enjoy it this much.”

It’s not just that injuring the coach’s only leg will make it harder for him to escape them. The place where Melissa cuts is strategic. She aimed for the Achilles tendon, which would make walking very difficult for someone with two legs, and basically impossible for the coach, whose other leg was severed by Misty back in Season 1 (to save his life, to her credit!). Now, he has no chance at escape… except for death. 

From there, Shauna and Melissa make their relationship campfire official, joining bloodied hands as they enter Shauna’s hut together. 

How much longer will Ben last? Will he be their next feast? We’ll find out on Yellowjackets. 

Yellowjackets Season 3 are now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime, with new episodes weekly.