Burning Question: Unveiling the Fiery Mystery Surrounding Teddy Bears and Yellowjackets

Summary

Laura Lee's death in the plane crash in Yellowjackets highlights the clash between her religious beliefs and the supernatural forces at work in the wilderness.

The burning of the Yellowjackets teddy bear implies that the wilderness was a contributing factor in Laura Lee's demise, as it trapped the survivors and hindered their ability to seek assistance. The memory of Laura Lee's death continues to haunt Lottie as an adult, and she feels responsible for not preventing her from piloting the plane. The presence of Laura Lee in Lottie's visions intensifies her feelings of guilt and the lasting impact of the incident.

WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for season 2 of Yellowjackets.

In Showtime's popular horror series, Yellowjackets, the enigmatic death of Laura Lee (Jane Widdop) raises intrigue, leaving only a burning teddy bear as a clue to what transpired. Premiering in November 2021, Yellowjackets is a survival horror show centered around a New Jersey High School soccer team. After their plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness en route to Seattle, the young girls must face the challenges of both the unforgiving natural surroundings and internal conflicts within their group. This gripping series delves into themes of mysticism, cannibalism, and post-traumatic stress, alternating between the crash and current timelines.

Laura Lee Died In A Plane Crash In Yellowjackets

The characters in both seasons of Yellowjackets are confronted with their own personal struggles. For Laura Lee, this entails reconciling her deeply ingrained religious convictions with the dire circumstances she finds herself in. These beliefs are tested when faced with the almost mystical essence of the forest, leading to a profound exploration of the clash between religion and nature within Laura Lee's narrative. Despite her demise in season 1, Laura Lee makes two unexpected appearances prior to the finale of Yellowjackets season 2. The reasons behind this occurrence, the details of her death, and the significance of her teddy bear all contribute to a deeper understanding of the themes conveyed in Yellowjackets.

In episode 8 of Yellowjackets season 1, titled “Flight of the Bumblebee”, the remaining survivors find themselves in a desperate situation for resources. Several months have passed since the initial crash, and with Misty destroying the black box of the plane, the burden of seeking help falls on the group. As their desperation grows, they are willing to take greater risks. The approaching winter and the unlikelihood of rescue lead Laura Lee to take matters into her own hands. Despite the odds, she decides to pilot the crashed plane, relying on her extensive study of the pilot’s manual, her childhood experience of flying with her grandpa, and her faith in God.

Though Laura Lee manages to take flight, the rest of the team watches in horror as the plane ultimately explodes, tragically ending her life and extinguishing their best chance of survival. Her death brings a sense of impending doom upon the survivors, leading them to ironically commemorate a somber event called "Doomcoming" in anticipation of their own inevitable demise. Being a staunch believer in a higher power, Laura Lee found herself in constant conflict with the seemingly supernatural forces that plagued them. Confronted with wolves, premonitions, and the enigmatic antler queen, the girls face these primordial forces, and Laura Lee's demise among the Yellowjackets serves as a powerful symbol of how society's religions and values offer no refuge for them.

The Wilderness Set The Yellowjackets Teddy Bear On Fire

By blurring the boundaries between reality and the supernatural, Yellowjackets suggests that an ominous presence, potentially originating from the wilderness or the antler queen, was responsible for Laura Lee's demise. It is believed that her death occurred when the teddy bear belonging to the Yellowjackets suddenly burst into flames. This tragic event serves to illustrate the extent to which the pursuit of survival can push individuals to their limits. While it is possible that a mechanical malfunction could have sparked the fire, it is peculiar that the teddy bear alone ignited in the passenger seat, far from any engine or other combustible components of the aircraft. Consequently, the vast wilderness surrounding them takes on a distinct character, effectively barricading the survivors from any chance of escape.

Before the explosion, Lottie (Courtney Eaton) has a vision of Laura Lee's death at the hands of the Yellowjackets. As survivors venture into the wilderness seeking help, the aggressive nature of the surroundings becomes evident. A group that splits off is attacked by wolves, causing injuries to Van and forcing them to return to the cabin. Van's severe wounds lead Laura Lee to seek help from the plane. However, like the wolves hindering their progress, the combustion of the teddy bear prevents Laura Lee from making contact with potential rescuers. This highlights the exploration of the wilderness as both an evil force and a distinct entity in season 2.

Moreover, Lottie predicts Laura Lee's tragic fate. Battling symptoms of schizophrenia without her medication, Lottie turns to Laura Lee's strong faith for understanding. She agrees to be baptized in an attempt to make sense of her surroundings. During the baptism, Lottie envisions Laura Lee being engulfed in flames. The fact that Laura Lee's death aligns with Lottie's vision in Yellowjackets strongly suggests that the wilderness played a role, if not the entirety, in Laura Lee's demise. The teddy bear's combustion in the plane corresponds to Lottie's prediction of Laura Lee's fate.

Adult Lottie Is Still Haunted By Laura Lee’s Death

The untamed forces lurking in the wilderness and the enigmatic spirit of the antler queen demonstrate an unwavering determination to ensnare the survivors within their clutches. The demise of Laura Lee, shrouded in an explosive and theatrical demise, as well as the gripping scene involving a teddy bear, accentuate the supernatural aspects seemingly orchestrating the entrapment of the survivors in Yellowjackets. The unrelenting strain and desperation to stay alive expose facets of their personalities that were once inconceivable. The concluding events of Yellowjackets' first season, episode 8, featuring the foreboding image of a teddy bear engulfed in flames, foretell the enduring influence of the wilderness that continues to haunt the survivors in their adult lives.

Laura Lee had yet to form any strong connections with her fellow Yellowjackets teammates until she met Lottie, with whom she instantly connected on a deeper level. However, the tragedy of Lottie's death continues to haunt Laura Lee even after all these years. In the second season of Yellowjackets, Laura Lee makes two unexpected appearances, appearing in Lottie's visions both in 1996 and 2021. One of these visions involves adult Lottie, where she finds herself present at the scene of Travis' suicide. As Lottie desperately tries to save Travis from his untimely demise, she is confronted by the horrifying sight of a decomposing Laura Lee, screaming at her. This chilling encounter only intensifies the guilt and responsibility that Lottie carries for Laura Lee's tragic death.

Since Lottie had foreseen her own death and taken no action to prevent it, she holds herself responsible for her friend's demise. During a hunting competition with Natalie (Sophie Thatcher), teenage Lottie once again comes face to face with the hallucinated plane. This time, she experiences a vision where she boards the aircraft and descends through a hatch, only to find herself in a bustling mall. In the food court, she encounters Laura Lee and the other remaining survivors who, through their actions, subtly hint at her impending transfer of leadership to Natalie in the season 2 finale, leaving Lottie feeling insecure. Nonetheless, Laura Lee displays kindness and guides Lottie out of the vision before she succumbs to the freezing cold, ultimately saving her life.

The Yellowjackets Teddy Bear Scene Almost Didn’t Happen

Laura Lee's survival beyond the Yellowjackets pilot episode would astonish audiences. In a revealing interview with Collider, Melanie Lynskey, the adult Shauna, reflects on the delightful experience of collaborating with an incredibly gifted ensemble cast. Every actor in Yellowjackets, regardless of the size of their role, skillfully shapes their character. Lynskey discloses that the showrunners initially planned for Laura Lee's demise in the plane crash. Yet, after witnessing Jane Widdop's exceptional portrayal during the table read, they made the decision to expand Laura Lee's role.

"It was just a small part - and I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but originally they weren't meant to survive the plane crash. However, they were so impressive during the table read and in the pilot episode that they were kept on board," Lynskey revealed. Considering Laura Lee's significant role in the overall Yellowjackets story and her influence on Lottie's supernatural journey, it's almost unimaginable how the show would have looked without Widdop's contribution. This means that during the initial stages of development, the iconic teddy bear scene in Yellowjackets wouldn't have taken place, and foreshadowing of the wilderness' power would have been introduced later on.