Been thinking a lot about the first episode of Yellowjacketsâspecifically, how it frames Jackie and Shaunaâs dynamic. People always paint Shauna as the obsessed one (which, yeah, she is), while Jackie is the oblivious, repressed, straight girl. But letâs be real: Jackie Taylor knows exactly what sheâs doing.
That scene where Shauna is getting dressed, and Jackie is telling her what to wear? It reminded me of Mean Girls, but with a key difference. Regina George wouldnât even let her disciples own clothes she didnât approve of. But Shauna? She has optionsâJackie just rejects them one by one until she finally hands her the outfit she picked.
Because Jackie loves Shauna. And not just the polished version she presents to the worldâshe loves all of her. The nerdy, book-reading, soccer-hating, flannel-wearing Shauna. The parts of her she tries to control arenât the ones she wants to change, but the ones she wants to hide. Not out of embarrassment, but obsession. She wants that version of Shauna to belong to her.
She doesnât want Randy fucking Walsh to get that part of her. Doesnât want anyone to see Shauna as more than an extension of Jackie Taylor, because the second someone else sees Shauna for who she really is? Jackie loses her. And that terrifies her. Itâs not about needing Shauna to be her sidekick. Itâs about needing Shauna to be hers.
And letâs talk about Jackieâs sexuality for a second. Someone who spends years obsessing over how they want to lose their virginity, how special they want it to be, but never once considers their boyfriend of four years? Until they decide to just âget it over with,â and suddenly, now heâs an option? Thatâs not straight behavior. Thatâs not oblivious behavior either.
Jackie is waiting. For Shauna. For the flannel-wearing wordsmith in the driverâs seat to figure out how to say it first, so she can finally let herself say it back.
TL;DR: Jackie Taylor is just as obsessed with Shauna Shipmanâif not more. And the way they handle those obsessions is exactly what rips them apart.
