WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the Yellowjackets season 1 finale
Yellowjackets star Sophie Thatcher is calling Natalie’s relationship with Travis an "obsession." The psychological drama series premiered on Showtime in November and has quickly become a hit, earning praise from critics and maintaining strong ratings throughout season 1. Yellowjackets follows the effects of a 1996 plane crash that strands a group of teenage soccer players in the wilderness for 19 months, recounting their attempts at survival while also exploring their adult lives in 2021. In addition to Thatcher, Yellowjackets stars an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alves.
Fans of Yellowjackets know that a large part of Natalie’s story (portrayed by Thatcher in her teen years) focused on her relationship with Travis, the oldest of Coach Martinez’s sons, after the crash. Travis’ death in the present affects Natalie, who breaks down crying and wants to find out who killed him. The two Yellowjackets characters had something special, though when the show looks back in time, the pair’s romance faced its fair share of ordeals. This included the fight that resulted when Travis learned that Natalie slept with Bobby Farleigh, someone who had bullied him in the past. Then there was the moment when Travis cheated on Natalie with Jackie, and while they eventually found their way back to each other, many were left wondering why the two stayed together in the survivor storyline despite some of their issues and the extremity of their situation.
Now, in an interview with E! News, Thatcher discussed Natalie's relationship with Travis in Yellowjackets and explained how it became more of an obsession. When asked if that relationship is best for Natalie, Thatcher says that her character got distracted by Travis, but that she cannot let go of him. She adds that becoming so involved with him caused Natalie to forget her role in aiding everyone's survival as well. Read Thatcher's full quote below:
"She got a little distracted with Travis, which also goes in line with her addictive personality. She finds this person and can't let go of him. It becomes this obsession. I think she loses her purpose when things with Travis get all complicated, and just really depressing, honestly, but it's real."
Looking ahead at the confirmed Yellowjackets season 2, fans can expect the series to get a lot more potent following the events of its season 1 finale. The last episode ended with Natalie being kidnapped in the present by what is presumedly the cult of Lottie Matthews, who was revealed to have been another survivor. Prior to getting abducted, Natalie found out that Lottie was the one who emptied Travis' bank account, which prompts the question of whether she had anything to do with his murder, and what she now wants with Natalie.
It will be interesting to see how Natalie responds to the news of Lottie surviving and returning, as well as her own kidnapping, and if the series continues to explore the relationship between Natalie and Travis anymore. If Lottie was responsible for Travis' death, viewers will likely want to see a resilient Natalie in Yellowjackets season 2, since she was so intent on discovering what happened to him. With all of that in mind, fans of Yellowjackets certainly have a lot to look forward to when it returns to Showtime later this year.
Source: E! News