Showtime’s Yellowjackets has successfully kept the thriller drama fans hooked. The series had just concluded airing its second season back in May. Fans have been left with an epic cliffhanger during the season finale that made them clamor for answers.

The series’ showrunners did a commendable job at maintaining the suspense in the air. All this while slowly doling out answers to the myriad of questions each episode raises. This narrative pacing has led to Yellowjackets’ fandom dishing out show theories that are more intriguing than the last.

There is one theory among the pile that is getting attention. It posits that Van might be the malevolent force driving much of the tragedy in the show. However, the actress who portrays the teenage version of Van, Liv Hewson, didn’t mince words when they dismissed this theory as pure hogwash.

The show follows the story of high school girls soccer varsity team who got stranded in the wilderness after their plane crashed. The series narrates the events that took place thereafter. The audience witnesses the transformation of the girls into women as they grapple with the aftermath of the incident for the next two decades.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Hewson quipped:

“Van, who’s been minding her business in Ohio for 25 years? Give me a break. If somebody’s ‘evil,’ you don’t have to think about what their motivations are. You’re invited to engage with these characters as human beings insofar as you want to or decide to, but to see people try and react to Yellowjackets as moral absolutism? I’m not sure what show you’re watching. Everyone’s gonna do terrible things on the ‘doing terrible things to survive’ show!”

Hewson stated that Van is not the one-dimensional villain that people think her to be. They urge the audience to engage with the characters as complex human beings. They pointed out the obvious — that in a show that is literally about doing whatever it takes to survive, everyone’s moral compass is going to be a little skewed.

Furthermore, Hewson highlights that Van’s character has been the furthest detached from the drama that has unfolded since the wilderness ordeal. Van has been portrayed as someone who has settled into a quiet life in Ohio, managing a video store, taking care of her ailing mother, and confronting her own battle with cancer​​.

RELATED: Yellowjackets Team Reveals the Difficulties of Presenting Teen Cannibalism on TV

Yellowjackets is Getting a Mid-Season Bonus Episode
Showtime

In addition to the enthralling plotlines, Yellowjackets has something more up its sleeve. The show’s co-creator, Ashley Lyle, teased the fans with a tidbit that a “bonus episode” is slated to release between the second and third seasons. Lyle took it to social media to announce the upcoming extra episode for the series.

Lyle did, however, reassure fans that the episode wasn’t releasing immediately, possibly in a bid to prevent sleepless nights spent in anticipation. This revelation was particularly tantalizing since the second season of Yellowjackets was comprised of nine episodes, leading many to speculate whether a surprise tenth episode was in the offing​​.

Yellowjackets has successfully captivated audiences with its nail-biting suspense and richly developed characters. The fan theories are testimony to the show’s ability to engross viewers, even though some theories might be wide of the mark.

Moreover, with the teaser of a bonus episode, Yellowjackets seems to be the gift that keeps on giving.

Updated July 5th, 2023: This article has been updated to reflect Liv Hewson’s proper pronouns, they/them. We apologize and always strive to do better.