Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Yellowjackets season 3, episode 6!The leadership in the wilderness shifts yet again inYellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6’s ending,confirming a long-held theory about the Antler Queen’s identity. The “pit girl” scenes fromYellowjackets’ pilot episodeleft plenty of mysteries for the series to address as the past timeline progresses, with one of the most pressing questions revolving around the mysterious Antler Queen. Seen at the center of the cannibalistic sacrifice ritual with a special gown, stag antlers, and locks of hair pinned to her costume, the power relegated to the teenage Antler Queen implied she had to be one of the present-day survivors.
The first Antler Queen is Lottie Matthews, who had the closest connection to the Wilderness while donning the antlers, a white dress, and a veil during the teens’ season 1 “Doomscoming” event. Lottie maintained that leadership position untilYellowjacketsseason 2’s ending, when Natalie was deemed “chosen” by the Wilderness after drawing the Queen of Hearts card but surviving the ritual. However, after mercy-killing Coach Ben against the wishes of the other survivors inYellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6,Natalie is removed from power, passing on the Antler Queen positionto yet another future present-day survivor.
The Theories Were Right: Shauna Does Become The Antler Queen In Yellowjackets
Lottie Names Shauna As The Next Antler Queen
InYellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6’s ending,Teen Shauna is officially raised to the title of Antler Queen. Shauna becomingYellowjackets' Antler Queenhas been widely theorized about since the pilot episode, with her rise to power being underscored by her struggles with Jackie back in season 1, conflicts with Lottie in season 2, and now her struggles with Mari and Nat in season 3. As the past timeline has progressed, Shauna has only become more ruthless, malicious, and power-hungry, so her move to oust Natalie as Antler Queen was fitting of her worrying character arc.
Yellowjacketsseason 1, episode 9
Yellowjacketsseason 2, episode 9
Shauna
Yellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6
However, Shauna becoming the Antler Queen doesn’t bode well for the teens’ new society out in the wilderness. Shauna’s current unforgiving, vengeful, and hot-tempered disposition will work to instill more fear in her than respect from others, which is likely to culminate in more division than unity among the survivors. Of course, another last-minute twist inYellowjacketsseason 3, episode 6 introduced new strangers happening upon the teens in the wilderness during their feast of Coach Ben. So,for the first time, the Antler Queen’s leadership approach must include protection from and the consideration of outsiders.
I Still Don’t Think Shauna Is The Antler Queen During Yellowjackets' Pit Girl Scenes
Shauna Likely Won’t Stay In Power That Long
While Shauna has now taken over as Antler Queen after Natalie, that doesn’t mean she’ll remain in that position until rescue. Rather, the Antler Queen’s identity shifts with the power dynamics of the group, being decided by whicheverYellowjacketscharacteris deemed “chosen” by the Wilderness. The recent change in Shauna’s darkness has led to Lottie, Akilah, and Travis feeling some strong connection between her and the Wilderness, particularly after Coach Ben’s trial, but it hasn’t always been that way. As has been the case so far,the Wilderness is bound to choose another after a period of time.
Yellowjackets May Struggle To Fulfill A Disturbing Antler Queen Tease From The Pilot Episode
One detail about the Antler Queen from Yellowjackets' pilot episode teases may prove difficult for the show to make a reality after season 2.
At this point in the timeline, the teens still have approximately another year beforeYellowjackets’ present-day survivorsare rescued. The survivors were in the wilderness for 19 months, and the Antler Queen title has already been passed on three times in about half that time. As such,it seems unlikely that Shauna would maintain her Antler Queen position until the next winter, which is when the death of “pit girl” fromYellowjackets’ pilot takes place. Rather than the Antler Queen, it seems like Shauna is the masked character who strings up and bleeds the victim before the ritual feast.
