Yellowjackets Co-Creator Thinks Fans Are Playing A 'Dangerous Game' Getting This Tattoo
Being a part of a fandom can be an incredibly affirming experience. Sure, some of our friends and loved ones might not understand why we feel compelled to wear full cosplay and jam ourselves into overpopulated convention centers, but for those that understand our pop culture obsessions, an immediate familial bond can be forged by the power of wearing a matching T-shirt. Fans express their appreciation in countless ways, with some of the more die-hard folks willing to name their children after their favorite characters, or permanently alter their bodies by getting tattoos.
I'll admit that I'm one of those people, as all three of my tattoos are references to movies I love ("Dracula's Daughter," "Fright Night," and "Let The Right One In"). Getting a fandom tattoo is a risky decision because while something might feel good at the moment, there's always the chance the creator of your favorite property might turn into the world's loudest mouthpiece for transphobia, and suddenly that "Always" tattoo feels more like a scarlet letter.
And then there are the wildcats who are willing to get a fandom tattoo for a TV series that hasn't even finished its story yet — meaning, whatever character or bit of iconography they get inked might have a completely different denotation by the end of the run. This is precisely what's happening with the "Yellowjackets" fandom, as more and more members in the Hive get the mysterious wilderness symbol tattooed on their bodies ... even though we still don't know what the symbol actually means.
'That is a dangerous game to play'
During a recent interview with Insider, "Yellowjackets" co-showrunners and executive producers Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, and Bart Nickerson were asked about seeing the symbol everywhere, and in particular, on the bodies of their fanbase. Lisco told Insider that he was "actually very nervous" to see the journalist with the symbol drawn on her hand, only to tease "But we can't tell you why." The symbol has so far been shown as an omen for unexplainable events around the cabin but also adorns all of the necklaces worn by the members of Lottie's cult intentional community. Ashley Lyle told Insider that she'd seen a number of fans with the symbol tattooed on their body, and more or less said these fans are playing with fire.
"I'm like, 'You don't know what that means,'" Lyle said. "That is a dangerous game to play." It's hard not to think about the number of people who named their daughters "Khaleesi" or "Daenerys" at the height of "Game of Thrones" excitement, not realizing that she was not only not going to become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but that she was destined to be an unlikely villain. I was gifted a vinyl decal of the "Yellowjackets" symbol for my birthday last year and have yet to put it anywhere because ... Okay, yeah, I'm superstitious! I don't wanna end up putting a decal on my car that turns out to mean "I SUPPORT SACRIFICIAL CANNIBALISM!"
Let this be a lesson to us all: don't get something tattooed unless you know precisely what it means ... or, yanno, do whatever you want. I'm not your mom. I'm just trying to keep you from getting haunted by tree demons.