As Shauna assumes her new leadership role in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 7, the teens’ search for Hannah explains a curious detail about the Antler Queen’s costume from the pilot episode. By Yellowjackets season 3, episode 7, the Antler Queen’s title has been assumed by Lottie, Natalie, and now Shauna, who was chosen to become the new leader after Nat killed Coach Ben against the group’s wishes. With each new character who becomes the Antler Queen, a better picture is painted of how she becomes the menacing figure seen in Yellowjackets’ pilot episode flash-forwards.
The idea that the pilot episode’s Antler Queen ends up wearing a white robe is established by Natalie in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 4, as she dons the distinctive outfit while serving as the judge during Coach Ben’s trial. Now, Yellowjackets season 3, episode 7 provides an explanation for the origins of the mysterious strands of hair that are pinned to the Antler Queen’s white gown. There are still some important questions that remain about this part of the ritual from Yellowjackets’ pilot, but more pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.
Shauna Taking Hannah’s Strand Of Hair Explains The Origin Of The Antler Queen’s Hair Trophies
When Shauna is chasing Hannah, a researcher who stumbles upon the teens during their feast of Coach Ben in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 6’s ending, the latter gets her hair caught in a tree. As Hannah tries to free herself, a large chunk of hair is left behind on the tree, which Shauna then takes and puts in her pocket. Considering similar hair strands are later pinned to the Antler Queen’s white gown, it appears Hannah’s hair is the first token that Shauna takes for her reign.
Of course, it’s still unclear whether Shauna will still be the Antler Queen once Yellowjackets’ past timeline catches up to the “pit girl” scenes from the pilot. The title has already passed to three teens, and it’s highly possible that some of the other present-day survivors like Misty, Tai, and Van could also take on that mantle before rescue. As such, while it’s implied that Shauna begins the tradition of pinning strands of hair to the Antler Queen’s gown, she likely won’t be the last to implement it.
The Hair Strands Seem To Represent Everyone Who Has Been “Hunted” (Not Necessarily Killed)
One of the more curious aspects of the Antler Queen’s hair strand tokens was the sheer number of them. There appear to be over a dozen locks of hair on the Antler Queen’s costume in the pilot episode, which is more than the number of people who could possibly die out in the wilderness before rescue. As such, rather than the locks of hair being symbolic tributes to those who have been sacrificed and killed, it’s possible that everyone “offers” a lock of hair to the Wilderness when they draw the Queen of Hearts card – whether they die or not.
It’s now hinted that Hannah becomes “pit girl” in Yellowjackets’ future, though her strand of hair was seemingly already on the Antler Queen’s gown prior to being “chosen.” If that’s the case, then the hair strands could also become a token representing a character’s dedication and general offering to the Wilderness, rather than being tied to the Queen of Hearts ritual. That would explain why there are so many locks of hair in Yellowjackets’ pilot, as they might represent the dead and living alike.
