Yellowjackets season 3 premieres in February 2025, and the past timeline looks bleaker than ever now that the survivors have lost their only shelter. Things look especially grim for Coach Ben, with Yellowjackets season 3’s violent teaser featuring a worrisome glimpse of his character. Coach Ben’s brief appearance in the footage has led to a gruesome theory about his fate in season 3, and I’m pretty nervous about the coming episodes because of it. If true, this theory wouldn’t just mean a horrible fate for Ben; it would also push the girls past the point of no return.
Of course, the Yellowjackets are getting to that point anyway, with Yellowjackets season 2’s ending showing how they begin hunting one another for sustenance while in the Wilderness. The death of Javi marks yet another tragic turning point in the series, driving home the loss of innocence the survivors face. Like Laura Lee’s death and Jackie’s demise, Javi’s loss serves a purpose thematically. And on the heels of it, Yellowjackets season 3 may see the girls embracing base instincts, which could be bad news for Coach Ben.
The Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Teaser Hints At A Gruesome Fate For Coach Ben
The teaser for Yellowjackets season 3 only offers a few glimpses of footage, but one of the earliest shows Coach Ben screaming in agony. There isn’t enough context to determine what’s happening during this scene, but fans of the Showtime series have ideas about what’s coming for Steven Krueger’s character. He’s notably been in opposition to the cannibalism the girls embrace throughout Yellowjackets season 2. Many viewers also believe he’s responsible for the fire that destroys the cabin in the finale. It’s likely the girls will also suspect him, which puts him in danger.
One theory posits they may even enact revenge on their soccer coach, going so far as to eat him alive in Yellowjackets season 3 (via Reddit). Until now, the girls have taken little pleasure in the act of cannibalism, even though they seem to lean into season 2’s hunt. Still, the team only eats Jackie out of sheer desperation and hunger. And they hunt Natalie and consume Javi because they won’t survive otherwise. These acts are a far cry from killing for the sake of vengeance, and they don’t involve purposefully causing pain while they feast.
I’d hate to see Coach Ben meet such a disturbing end, but with no indication that he’s alive in the future timeline, it’s possible fans are right about where his character is headed.
However, with Ben potentially destroying their only shelter — and the girls embracing their darker, wilder sides — this is a logical conclusion for them to reach in Yellowjackets’ third outing. I’d hate to see Coach Ben meet such a disturbing end, but with no indication that he’s alive in the future timeline, it’s possible fans are right about where his character is headed. And if this theory does prove true, I’m going to have a hard time watching the show’s next chapter.
The Possibility Of Coach Ben Being Eaten Alive Has Me Even More Nervous For Season 3
The possibility of Coach Ben being eaten alive makes me even more nervous for Yellowjackets season 3 — and the girls’ descent into chaos already has me substantially worried. It’s pretty clear we haven’t seen the worst of the Yellowjackets’ actions in the Wilderness, as the future timeline sees the survivors panicked that their story will come out. Although eating their teammates would likely prove controversial, it would probably be excused, assuming their teammates’ deaths were accidental. Their fears suggest something more sinister happened before they were rescued.
I’ve been worried that Yellowjackets season 3 will take them past the point of no return, and killing Coach Ben would confirm that suspicion.
This is why I’ve been worried that Yellowjackets season 3 will take them past the point of no return, and killing Coach Ben would confirm that suspicion. Season 2’s hunt already shows them outright killing their own teammates for food, a far different scenario than consuming an already-dead character while on the verge of starvation. Going to the extreme of eating Ben alive would see them giving into base instincts even further, and it would be an all-around devastating fate for a character with a strong moral compass. Of course, that makes his Yellowjackets death even more necessary.
The Yellowjackets Creators’ Gore Tease May Support This Disturbing Theory
I want to believe there are other reasons Coach Ben might be screaming in the Yellowjackets season 3 teaser, but the girls getting revenge seems the most likely explanation. The notion that he’ll be eaten alive takes that to an extreme, but it’s not out of the question for a show like this one. And Yellowjackets’ creators did tease a large amount of gore in the upcoming episodes. Speaking to Vulture, co-creator Ashley Lyle gave an estimate for how much gore to anticipate, admitting, “I’d say we’re at, like, a 9.5” — with 10 being eating eyeballs.
It’s hard to say if Ben being eaten alive is less extreme than eating eyeballs, though Yellowjackets wouldn’t necessarily need to show the scene in its entirety. It all depends on how the show approaches it, but Lyle’s tease supports this disturbing theory. We’ll have to wait until Yellowjackets season 3 premieres to find out what becomes of Coach Ben, but things don’t look good for him this season, even if he isn’t eaten alive. The girls could be on the war path, and he’s the most likely person to be on the receiving end of their ire.
