Season 2 of Yellowjackets has started with a bang, as the show’s debut episode drew in nearly 4 million viewers across various platforms, double the number of live viewers. This marks the best premiere week for Showtime since Dexter: New Blood in November 2021. While Showtime has not released the viewership numbers for the second episode yet, the network has confirmed that the daily conversation volume around the show has continued to grow since Episode 2 hit digital platforms. It’s worth noting that the viewership data for the second episode’s linear airing has yet to be made available.
Comparing the performance of the second season to the first season is difficult, as no similar data is available. However, the Season 1 finale drew 1.3 million viewers, indicating that the second season has had a strong debut. The first season of Yellowjackets was a massive success, earning a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and receiving seven Emmy nominations. It averaged over 5 million weekly viewers across platforms, making it the highest-rated freshman series on Showtime since Billions in early 2016. It was also the second-most streamed series in Showtime history.
Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), Yellowjackets stars Melanie Lynskey (Castle Rock), Juliette Lewis (Camping), Christina Ricci (Z: The Beginning of Everything), and Tawny Cypress (Unforgettable). Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Servant) and Simone Kessell (Obi-Wan Kenobi) have also joined the second season as series regulars, along with Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) in a season-long guest arc. The cast includes Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, and Kevin Alves.
Yellowjacket is a thrilling combination of survival epic, psychological horror, and coming-of-age drama. The show follows a group of highly talented high school girls soccer players who become the unfortunate survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series tracks their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans while exploring their lives nearly 25 years later as they attempt to piece things together. Yellowjackets prove that the past is never really past and that what began in the wilderness is far from over.
The show is executive produced by Lyle, Nickerson, and fellow showrunner Jonathan Lisco, with Drew Comins of Creative Engine, also serving as executive producer. Karyn Kusama directed the pilot.
In conclusion, the buzz surrounding Season 2 of Yellowjackets is well-deserved, as the show’s premiere week drew in nearly 4 million viewers, marking the best premiere week for Showtime since Dexter: New Blood in November 2021. With its thrilling combination of survival epic, psychological horror story, and coming-of-age drama, Yellowjackets promises to be a must-watch for fans of the genre.
