Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 5 Ending Explained: Why Shauna Did THAT To Coach Ben

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Yellowjackets season 3, episode 5, “DId Tai Do That?”

Yellowjackets season 3, episode 5 ends with Shauna Shipman (Sophie Nélisse) making a brutal decision about Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger). During her time in the wilderness, Shauna has endured significant trauma, including losing her baby, and has chosen to become increasingly cutthroat to survive.

In Yellowjackets season 3, episode 4’s ending, Shauna’s cutthroat nature has her pressuring her peers into voting that Coach Ben is guilty. As the group decides what his fate should be now, Shauna even suggests in episode 5 that he should be lit on fire.

In Yellowjackets‘ present-day timeline, episode 5 largely focuses on the fallout of Lottie Matthews (Simone Kessell) dying. Misty Quigley (Christina Ricci), adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), and Walter Tattersall (Elijah Wood) investigate and learn about parts of Lottie’s past they never knew of before. Van Palmer (Lauren Ambrose) is left reeling from the news of Lottie’s death and is concerned that it does not seem to bother Taissa Turner (Tawny Cypress) more.

Why Shauna Has Melissa Stab Coach Ben’s Foot

It Is A Practical And Personal Decision

As the Yellowjackets soundtrack plays “Rid of Me” by PJ Harvey, teenage Shauna has Melissa (Jenna Burgess) stab Coach Ben’s remaining foot. The decision to prevent Coach Ben from ever walking again is made by the group after they decide not to kill him.

They believe that they still need Coach Ben alive, but they also want to take measures to ensure that he cannot escape. While this decision is made as a group, Shauna has her own personal reasons for wanting Melissa to be the one to stab his foot.

Shauna likes feeling powerful, and she enjoys the power that she has over Melissa, which includes getting her to stab Coach Ben. She tells Melissa that she should not be afraid of her “bad parts,” which echoes what Melissa says earlier in the episode about this being why she likes Shauna.

Beyond the power, seeing Melissa do this to Coach Ben makes Shauna feel closer to her, which leads to her holding Melissa’s blood-soaked hand in front of the rest of the group afterward, and making them aware of this relationship.

Akilah’s Vision And How It Saves Coach Ben Explained

“He Is The Bridge”

Akilah (Nia Sondaya) returns to the cave where she experienced a vision in Yellowjackets season 3, episode 3. This time, Akilah’s vision has her on a cliff, and below her, is a giant version of Coach Ben suspended in the air.

He acts as a bridge that allows Akilah to safely cross the chasm underneath her and to reach the other side, where there are the sounds of traffic, the glimpse of a city, and she feels hope. Akilah believes that this vision shows that Coach Ben is the key to the Yellowjackets finding their way home.

With this act of mercy followed by Coach Ben’s remaining foot being stabbed, it may have been better for him to be shot quickly and cleanly by Taissa.

As teenage Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown) prepares to shoot and kill Coach Ben, Lottie (Courtney Eaton) and Travis Martinez (Kevin Alves) intervene and save his life. If Coach Ben truly is the key to the Yellowjackets escaping the wilderness, they cannot kill him yet, as they need him alive, so Akilah’s vision can come true.

With this act of mercy followed by Coach Ben’s remaining foot being stabbed, it may have been better for him to be shot quickly and cleanly by Taissa, but that is no longer an option for him.

What’s Going On With Adult Taissa?

Her Other Half May Be In Control

At the end of the episode, adult Taissa is troubled and wants a change of scenery, but earlier in the episode, she feels carefree, even after learning about Lottie’s death. The shift in Taissa’s attitude comes after she gets the first opportunity in a long time to see her son, Sammy (Aiden Stoxx), who asks, “Are you not my mommy anymore?” before walking away from her. These moments hint that the more sinister half of Taissa is in control of her.

Sammy has seen both sides of his mother and seems to have a unique ability to identify which side is in control. On the surface, Taissa may not be aware that the dirt-eating side of her has taken over and has mastered being able to mask it. Taissa may be unfazed by Lottie’s death because her other half is the one who killed her. If this is the case, it will be a devastating betrayal for Van to learn that her rekindled relationship with Taissa has been built on a lie in Yellowjackets season 3.