Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 9 Ending Explained: Van’s Shocking fate, Major Twists, & What’s next?

The penultimate episode of Yellowjackets season three, titled "How The Story Ends," is a brutal and shocking hour of television that delivers a gut-punching twist no one saw coming. As tensions explode within the group, betrayals unfold, and the body count rises, the question remains: Will the season truly end with just one survivor? In this article, we will reveal everything that happenes in Yellowjackets season 3 episode 9.

What Happens to Kodi in Yellowjackets Season 3 Episode 9?

After Shauna insists that the group cannot leave, a rift forms between those who support her and those who don’t—including Nat. Meanwhile, Hannah and Kodi are imprisoned in an animal pen, waiting for Shauna’s gang to decide their fate. Kodi attempts to leave peacefully, but Shauna pulls a gun, refusing to let him go. While she doesn’t shoot, the message is clear: he’s their only way out.

As tensions rise, Misty offers to act as a double agent to spy on the opposing group, while Travis plots to lure Lottie into a deadly trap. However, when Lottie walks into it unharmed, it’s as if she knew all along. Meanwhile, Shauna grows suspicious of Melissa’s camaraderie with Hannah, ultimately humiliating her in front of everyone. In a shocking moment, she fires a shot at Melissa—but only manages to graze her, leading to a humiliating moment where Melissa wets herself.

Elsewhere, Nat and Gen’s group hatch an escape plan, secretly giving Hannah a knife to cut herself loose. But Hannah, having grown suspicious of Kodi’s true identity, turns against him instead. She stabs Kodi in the eye, marking his gruesome end. The escape attempt is over—Hannah is now firmly aligned with Shauna.

Can Misty fix the Transmitter?

Misty stumbles upon Van attempting to fix the broken transmitter phone. The revelation that Misty might be able to repair it could change everything. But will Nat hold her accountable for the group’s suffering? And what does this mean for their chance at survival?

Van vs. Melissa: Who dies in Yellowjackets season 3 episode 9?

The episode opens with an eerie vision of older Van lying in a hospital bed, speaking to her younger self. Younger Van encourages her to fight, hinting at the larger significance of "X marks the spot."

Meanwhile, Melissa attempts to flee but is caught by Van, Tai, and Misty. Taken back to the cabin, she seizes an opportunity to turn the tables. By tampering with the fireplace flue, she poisons the air with carbon monoxide, rendering Tai and Shauna unconscious. Van, realizing the danger, escapes for fresh air before returning to rescue them.

Van, still believing in the supernatural force of the wilderness, contemplates sacrificing Melissa in hopes of a cure for her cancer. But at the last second, she hesitates. Seizing the moment, Melissa grabs the knife and fatally stabs Van in the chest.

As Van dies, she envisions herself aboard the crashed plane, watching events unfold like a movie. Her younger self reminds her that she was meant to be the hero—to save the others. But at what cost?

Is Van Really dead?

Yes. Van, played by Lauren Ambrose (adult) and Liv Hewson (teen), meets a tragic end in Yellowjackets season 3 episode 9. Her death shakes the remaining survivors, marking a pivotal shift in the story. Tai, devastated, cradles Van’s lifeless body, trying to will her back to life. But the wilderness has claimed another victim.

Van’s death is a heartbreaking conclusion for a character who, despite enduring immense suffering, remained the heart of the group. With only four survivors left, the stakes have never been higher. Will the Yellowjackets ever make it out? And who will be the last one standing?

With one episode left, anything can happen. And as Yellowjackets has proven time and time again, the wilderness always demands more. Stay tuned for the explosive finale.

Where can you Stream Yellowjackets Season 3?

New episodes of Yellowjackets premiere every Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime. The tenth and final episode of third season, titled, “Full Circle” will air on Friday, April 11, 2025.

If you want to refresh your memory, we have recaps of Episodes 1 & 2. The recaps of Episodes 3-8 are below. 

Episode 3: “Them's the Brakes”

Natalie is forced to decide Coach Ben’s fate after Mari exposes his survival. With the group out for revenge, he’s left with little hope—except for Natalie, who orders him to return with them at gunpoint. While cannibalism seems unlikely now, his future remains grim.

Meanwhile, Shauna, Van, and Akilah suffer hallucinations from poisonous gas in a cave. Their visions reveal deep fears—Van’s longing for a home turns into flames, Akilah’s talking animals hint at betrayal, and Shauna’s guilt over Jackie resurfaces in a haunting classroom scene.

Elsewhere, Tai and Van encounter a coyote devouring a rabbit, symbolizing the wilderness' endless hunger for sacrifice. Van’s cancer remission suggests more deaths may be needed to keep it at bay.

In the present, Misty burns her high school reunion photo, realizing Shauna and the others never truly saw her as a friend. Betrayed and isolated, Misty may finally embrace Walter’s warning—she was never really part of the group.

Episode 4: “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis”

Lottie’s story takes a shocking turn as she bonds with Callie, much to Shauna’s dismay. After gifting Callie Jackie’s necklace, Shauna kicks Lottie out—but by episode’s end, she’s found murdered.

The prime suspects are Melissa, the likely stalker targeting Shauna, or Taissa, whose belief in sacrifices to the wilderness may have driven her other half to kill. Lottie’s cryptic apology hints at a confrontation that ended in tragedy.

Meanwhile, in the past, Coach Ben faces a grim fate after a trial condemns him. Travis’ eerie drawing foreshadows a violent end, with Shauna growing in power and potentially leading the charge. As Lottie, Akilah, and Travis shift their loyalty to Shauna, she strengthens her grip on the group, possibly challenging Natalie’s leadership.

Episode 5: “Did Tai Do That?”

Shauna's ruthless nature takes center stage as she pressures the group to punish Coach Ben, even suggesting they burn him. Ultimately, they spare his life but ensure he can never escape by having Melissa stab his remaining foot—an act that cements Shauna’s power over her.

Meanwhile, in the present, Misty, Shauna, and Walter investigate Lottie’s death, uncovering hidden aspects of her past. Van is shaken by the news, but Taissa remains disturbingly unfazed.

Akilah's vision suggests Coach Ben is key to their survival, preventing Taissa from executing him. However, his fate remains grim. Taissa's odd behavior, especially after seeing her son, hints that her darker self may be in control—possibly even responsible for Lottie's death. If true, it would be a devastating revelation for Van.

Episode 6: “Thanksgiving (Canada)”

The episode delivers a shocking twist as two strangers stumble upon the Yellowjackets’ gruesome feast—just as the survivors, led by Lottie, descend into a wild, ritualistic frenzy. Before this, Natalie puts an end to Coach Ben’s suffering, angering the group, who force her to carve up his body for their next meal. The new arrivals' reaction suggests they are recent to the wilderness, setting up an intense confrontation.

In the present, Tai’s split personality takes over more frequently, with a chilling moment where her regular self briefly begs Van for help. Meanwhile, Misty learns that Tai secretly met Lottie the day she died—something Tai denies, fueling suspicions that her darker side may have been responsible for the murder. As Misty investigates, the truth about Lottie's death threatens to unravel everything.

Episode 7: “Croak”

Shauna finally confronts her stalker, who turns out to be the daughter of Hannah Finch (Ashley Sutton), one of the scientists who encountered the Yellowjackets in the wilderness. Hannah secretly recorded the horrors she witnessed before her death, including Lottie (Courtney Eaton) murdering her partner. Now, her daughter has the tape—and Shauna is ready to silence her, bringing along a knife wrapped in a sheath gifted by Melissa (Jenna Burgess) decades earlier.

Shauna’s violent history suggests she may kill Hannah’s daughter, just as she did Adam Martin in season one. Clues also hint that Hilary Swank’s character, seen bloodied and running in the trailers, is likely the stalker. Meanwhile, Walter (Elijah Wood) finds Shauna’s DNA under Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) fingernails, making her the prime suspect in Lottie’s death—but with three episodes left, the true killer may still be a mystery.

Flashbacks reveal that Edwin (Nelson Franklin), Hannah, and Kodiak (Joel McHale) were scientists studying frogs near the crash site. When Edwin discovers the Yellowjackets’ gruesome rituals, Lottie kills him, fearing rescue. Hannah and Kodiak flee but are captured—Hannah is forced to treat Melissa’s injuries, while Travis and Akilah try to use Kodiak to escape. However, Lottie’s faction likely won’t let them leave alive.

Elsewhere, Van’s (Lauren Ambrose) cancer worsens, seemingly proving Taissa’s (Tawny Cypress) belief that sacrifices are needed for survival. As Van nears death, she realizes “Other Taissa” has fully taken control—raising questions about whether she can stop her before it's too late.

Episode 8: “A Normal, Boring Life”

Episode eight ends with Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) confronting her stalker in a shocking twist. While episode seven suggested the stalker was Hannah's daughter, it turns out to be her wife, Melissa (Hilary Swank), who faked her death years ago to escape the Yellowjackets. When Melissa denies sabotaging Shauna’s life, Shauna forces her to eat a piece of her own arm—an act of dominance that reconnects Shauna with her primal self.

Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal why Shauna, Lottie, and Tai refused to leave the wilderness despite a rescue opportunity. Lottie (Courtney Eaton) thrives in the wild, Shauna fears losing her newfound power, and Tai’s “Other” self has fully embraced the darkness. Their decision threatens to divide the group further.

Shauna's third vision of Jackie (Ella Purnell) symbolizes her self-destructive nature, while Jeff (Warren Kole) struggles to defend her, calling her “f-ing cr*zy” in a desperate business meeting. Elsewhere, Tai (Tawny Cypress) faces a chilling revelation—her “Other” self has fully taken over, preventing her from reaching a dying Van (Lauren Ambrose).