Yellowjackets Season 3 Sets Record-Low Rotten Tomatoes Score, But It Actually Proves Why The Series Is One Of The Best On Streaming

Yellowjackets remains one of the best streaming shows, even though season 3 sets its lowest Rotten Tomatoes score. The series has recently returned to streaming, following a group of surviving friends in the past and present. Yellowjackets‘ cast of characters includes Shauna (Melanie Lynskey & Sophie Nélisse), Taissa (Tawny Cypress and Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Misty (Christina Ricci and Samantha Hanratty), but it will be the first without Juliette Lewis following her character’s tragic end in the season 2 finale. Despite losing a core cast member, the series is easily one of the most critically acclaimed on streaming, and season 3 is no exception.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Yellowjackets season 3 has settled on an 89% score based on 35 reviews, though this score could continue to fluctuate if more reviews come in. In comparison, seasons 1 and 2 earned 100% and 94% Tomatometer scores, respectively. Despite season 3 being the lowest in the show’s history, an 89% score is enough to maintain its status as one of the best shows on streaming platforms, and the audience score of 83% reinforces this, marking an improvement over season 2.

What Yellowjackets Season 3’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Means

The Show Continues To Excel

After the divisiveness of Yellowjackets season 2’s ending, the audience appears to be far more pleased with season 3 so far. There are still fewer than 50 ratings for the season, so this is subject to change. Still, the score is 39% higher than season 2 on the Popcornmeter. The critics have lost some interest, as each new season has seen a 6% drop, but the audience recovery is a great sign for the show, which could very well help usher in anyone who fell off after season 2. Check out the chart below, which showcases each season’s reception:

Many of the reviewers cite an appreciation for the performances and the setting, especially regarding Yellowjackets‘ earlier timeline. Reviewers have praised the narrative, the actors, and the absurdity of the show’s tone, which incorporates horror in surprising ways without sacrificing the series’ signature sense of dark humor. The criticism, however, comes from critics who are tired of the show repeating familiar arcs without providing answers. ScreenRant‘s Graeme Guttmann reviewed Yellowjackets season 3, saying:

The show finds a good balance between humor and horror, giving many of the plots that felt tightly wound in season 2 room to breathe. Anyone expecting a plethora of answers early on will find themselves disappointed again, but Yellowjackets is proving, like shows before it have often done, that answers aren’t the point. I’m even starting to suspect that creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson don’t have all the answers themselves.

Yellowjackets Has A Bright Future

How Many Seasons Will There Be In Total?

With Yellowjackets season 3 reviews still generally very positive from critics, and the audience score marking an improvement over season 2, the show could be poised for a season 4 renewal. Showtime will likely wait for more viewership data to come in before making the decision, though, meaning an official renewal is likely still weeks or even months away. A season 4 renewal would mean Lyle and Nickerson are one step closer to achieving their vision for Yellowjackets as a whole.

It’s viewers, after all, not critics, who decide how long a show runs for.

Lyle and Nickerson have previously revealed that they have a five-season plan for Yellowjackets. This plan is obviously viewership-dependent, but the show has been excelling in this regard so far, so it’s entirely possible that two more seasons will get the green light. The show was renewed for season 3 before season 2 even came out, speaking to just how popular the series is and how confident Showtime is in it.

Using Rotten Tomatoes audience scores as a metric to infer viewership isn’t always reliable, but it’s nonetheless promising that viewers are seemingly enjoying the new episodes more. It’s viewers, after all, not critics, who decide how long a show runs for. An 80% Popcornmeter score could mean that Yellowjackets season 3 is enjoying positive word-of-mouth, and that could make a big impact on viewership.

Our Take On Yellowjackets’ Rotten Tomatoes Score

The Creators Should Heed The Reviews

The show has maintained an exceptional score, but these responses should serve as an early warning. Season 3 has been content so far to explore some familiar ground, but the show can only hold on for so long before stumbling. The character drama remains compelling in both of Yellowjackets timelines, but critics and audiences alike could be looking for the show to offer a significant new twist to the formula, shaking up both the action in the ’90s and in the present.

Thankfully, the early episodes of season 3 suggest that some major developments are coming. Travis’ (Kevin Alves) communication with the wilderness through psychedelic drugs, for example, seems like it’s leading to some kind of breakthrough, and the appearance of a mysterious figure in the present-day timeline is one of the biggest questions raised in the first two episodes. Yellowjackets could be in need of a momentum boost on top of its character exploration, and it seems like one could be coming.

New episodes of Yellowjackets are released on Fridays on Paramount+ at 3 a.m. ET. They air on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Showtime.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes