"12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis" takes the momentum from "Them's The Breaks" and amplifies it in an episode that perfectly highlights the chaotic energy and emotional strife that is occurring for the survivors in the Wilderness. As the fourth episode of season three arrives, there are things happening in the adult timeline, but the main attention is placed on the Wilderness, as the survivors embark on their first mock court trial to determine the outcome of whether Coach Ben Scott will be convicted of attempted murder or if he will be found not guilty. While Taissa takes the role of prosecutor, and Natalie's leadership position places her as the judge, Misty steps up as Ben's defense, having the strongest feelings for Ben previous to his separation from the group. Not only is "12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis" the most exciting episode of season three so far, it is one that perfectly understands its characters and where they are at this point in their nineteenth-month time in the Wilderness.
There is no way to present a perfect trial in the Wilderness when there is no way to prove that Ben did or did not start the fire, seeing as no one saw him at the cabin starting the fire. But, this episode is captivating in its layered dark humor with severe undertones as it understands that life and death are truly on the line. While the idea of a mock trial may be comical, it is always understood that there will be real consequences for Ben if he is found guilty. Misty has a harder job than Taissa, as everyone has already resigned themselves to the idea that Ben is guilty. It is also significantly easier to believe that Ben, who had abandoned them, was the one who nearly killed the group, rather than it being anyone else's fault. But, the three most integral performances come from Shauna, Natalie, and Ben, who present various sides of the emotional strife presented.
Sophie Nélisse gives a riveting performance as Shauna, whose grief has transformed into anger over the course of months. Shauna is ready to take control and power and sees an opportunity to make a stand with this trial. Sophie Thatcher beautifully portrays Natalie's inner struggle with convicting Ben. Natalie is desperately trying to keep things fair and finds it difficult to accept the idea that Ben would have purposefully tried to kill them. Meanwhile, Steven Krueger offers a devastating final plea as he delivers a speech dedicated to trying to get the girls to see how much he had cared for them prior to the plane crashing, which includes an anguished apology to Shauna regarding his decision not to try and help her through the birth of her baby.
The Wilderness timeline has always been, and will likely continue to be, the storyline that is always filled with more highs, lows, and stakes. There are no bounds for how far these survivors are willing to go, and Yellowjackets embraces the challenge of how far they can push these characters and relationships before they are ultimately saved. The performances in this episode in the Wilderness timeline are wonderfully crafted in everything from the writing to the directing to the actors, who all deliver in a fashion that makes the trial a captivating and enjoyable watch. It is funny and light-hearted, even with its serious plot, which Yellowjackets knows how to do so well. The greatest elements of this show shine brightly in this episode, especially as "12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis" continues to set the stage for the growing animosity between Shauna and Natalie, as Shauna's aim to take power from Natalie becomes alive as Shauna forces the final vote to work in her favor ensuring Ben's conviction.
Shauna and Natalie's relationship as adults is shown to be strained and filled with tension, at least at first, and season three is starting to show the signs of what eventually led to that. Natalie's position of power, originally given to her by Lottie, was something Shauna has craved since the night Natalie was crowned, and will continue to be a point of conflict between them, even though Natalie and Shauna are still showing signs of supporting each other, such as Natalie and Shauna telling each other to be safe in the caves or Natalie trying to meet Shauna half-way with a two-thirds majority vote. Still, ultimately, if Shauna is after having power over the group, she has to officially de-thrown Natalie to gain that position, and the final moments of the jury's actions suggest that Shauna may not be that far away from achieving her goal.
Meanwhile, the adult timeline does have some significant events, and one of them is the return of Shauna being haunted by Jackie. Jackie's return, in a freezer no less, is not just a recall to all the bad things that took place in the Wilderness, but a tease to what happened after the group was rescued. Still, one of the best things Yellowjackets knows how to do is have characters haunt the narrative, and Jackie is one of the best examples. She was one of the last innocent team members to die, back before they resorted to cannibalism and truly before the group had fallen under Lottie's created religion and started drawing lines among the group. Jackie represents a version of the team that did not exist anymore but never ceases to go away. She is referenced in regard to Shauna and Mari's fight when Taissa reminds Natalie that anything from a small fight could be considered life-or-death. Her haunting of Shauna as an adult makes Shauna question her life choices, such as whether or not she truly should have become a housewife married to Jeff. Jackie's return, while short, continues to be a constant reminder that as much as the group may have tried to move on from what they did in the Wilderness, what happened then has never truly left them. Even dead, Jackie remains an integral part of the show. Gone but never forgotten, Yellowjackets still lean into the effect that Jackie has had on the team.
In the end, it is the plot twist death that sets the tone for the adult timeline moving forward, as "12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis" reveals that Lottie has died. Lottie's death, which may or may not be connected to the mysterious feeling that Shauna appears to have toward being watched, is now the central plot point for the adult timeline. Taissa and Van, for the most part, have remained separated from Shauna and Misty, but now may be the time to find the four survivors working together to determine the truth about how Lottie really died. Lottie's off-screen death means many questions for how and why she died, and what that could mean for the next events in the adult timeline.