Showtime’s Yellowjackets follows the aftermath of a plane crash that strands a team of soccer players in the Canadian wilderness for 19 months. As the team faces starvation, freezing temperatures, and wild animals, they must rely on one another’s skills to survive together. That makes them ideal candidates to compete in The Hunger Games.
While the characters of Yellowjackets are able to rely on their teammates to reach the same desired goal, the characters in The Hunger Games are left to their own devices, knowing they must either kill their opponents or be killed. If the Yellowjackets were forced to participate in The Hunger Games, which character would come out on top?
Coach Scott
Although Coach Scott’s fresh amputation would put him at an obvious disadvantage in terms of stealth as well as combat and hunting for sources of food, the reason he’s unlikely to win The Hunger Games is more complex than his physical ability.
Ben’s chosen career as a high school soccer coach shows his compassion and patience for dealing with teenagers and helping them improve, qualities that are only exemplified by his time stranded with the team. The care Coach Scott shows for others makes it clear that he would have too difficult a time killing another human being to win the games.
Javi
Not much is known about Javi other than his few interactions with his father, brother, and Shauna. Javi is clearly very creative from the wooden carved wolf he makes for Shauna and his willingness to try journaling as an outlet for his feelings.
If entered into The Hunger Games, Javi may have a similar outcome to Rue as both characters are skilled at hiding and use their unique knowledge to protect themselves. Javi’s young age may also help him last longer in the games as other participants would feel inclined to protect him (or at least save him for last).
Jackie
Jackie’s inexperience with wilderness skills becomes apparent from the moment the plane crashes, making her one of the least likely characters to be able to survive The Hunger Games on her own. However, Jackie’s other skills in charm and personability would allow her to gain an advantage over many of her competitors.
Jackie’s social prowess would allow her to easily convince other players to form an alliance, protecting her for a significant portion of the game. Another asset in Jackie’s arsenal would be to captivate the viewers of the games and secure herself essential food and supplies via tributes.
Van
As the fan-monikered “unkillable” character, Van would seemingly be indestructible amid any of the rough environments the Gamemakers could throw at her. Having survived two life-threatening fires and a pack of wolves, Van is the most resilient Yellowjackets team member.
Van’s natural skepticism is another aspect of her character that would help keep her from falling into traps set by her opponents. Though Van has many skills that would help her survive, it isn’t clear whether she would be able to take the lives of her teammates in order to win the game.
Akilah
Akilah may not be one of the main characters in Yellowjackets, but her calm disposition and acquired knowledge make her an excellent candidate for thriving in The Hunger Games. Akilah is introduced as a quiet junior varsity member of the team, unsure of her place among the other players, but quickly endears herself to them.
Akilah’s Girl Scout experience would prove especially useful for scavenging in various environments for food and safe water sources, which is an essential part of lasting in the games. Van’s beautifully healed face sewn up by Akilah also indicates her talent with needle and thread and could help her treat minor wounds.
Natalie
While Natalie tries to portray herself as a person who doesn’t care, she is easily the character with the biggest heart. Natalie’s impeccable skill with a shotgun makes her much more likely to win The Hunger Games. Being able to take out an opponent from a safe distance would allow Natalie to compartmentalize the gravity of the situation and focus on her target without giving away her location.
Her selfless tendencies and struggle to view herself as worthy of life, however, would cause a problem as the number of players dwindled down and Natalie was left with the choice between killing a friend or sacrificing herself.
Taissa
There’s no doubt that Taissa is one of the bravest characters in the show, having both natural leadership ability and fearlessness in all of her decisions. Although the conscious side of Taissa in the present may not consider herself capable of murder, her subconscious is an entirely different story.
The ease with which Taissa has proven she can climb a tree is a talent that would be incredibly useful for hiding from competitors as safely resting at night. As Taissa’s sleepwalking grows more uncontrollable the longer she is in a stressful situation, The Hunger Games would undoubtedly bring up old habits.
Lottie
Despite her cushy upbringing, Lottie seems right at home in the middle of the woods, away from any signs of civilization. As she runs out of her medication and begins having visions, Lottie’s behavior becomes erratic and driven by a need to honor an unseeable god of the woods.
By hunting Travis and urging Shauna to cut his throat, Lottie proves that she has no qualms about taking another life as an offering to a higher power. Although Lottie could easily convince herself that the deaths of everyone else were necessary, her sudden visions and unpredictability leave her vulnerable to outside attacks.
Misty
The memorable Misty’s dark sense of humor has made her a fan favorite among viewers, but her character’s clear desperation for friends and a sense of belonging ostracizes her from the team. With her thirst for knowledge and innate intelligence, Misty would easily survive until the very end of The Hunger Games.
Her extensive first-aid experience is a skill that would be essential to her survival as well as a useful pawn for negotiating alliances. Misty’s inevitable unpopularity with audiences, on the other hand, would limit her gifted tributes. Misty’s deep longing for friendship could also be used as a trap by other players.
Shauna
From her ability to conceal her true emotions in an almost robotic manner to her ruthless knife skills, Shauna is the most likely character in Yellowjackets to win The Hunger Games. Before and after the crash, Shauna lies and cheats, managing to convince herself that her actions are justified and merely a result of someone else’s wrongdoings.
Her tendency to lull everyone into a false sense of security makes her a threat to anyone else in her way. Shauna’s capacity for violence and the outward appearance of innocence work together to create an unbeatable contender to win The Hunger Games.
