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Yellowjackets: How did Jackie die and what happened to her body?

The team captain tragically perished in season one

Ella Purnell as Jackie in Yellowjackets
Nicky Morris
TV and film writer
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Yellowjackets is back! The second season of the popular thriller is well underway on Showtime, following a high school soccer team as they fight to survive after their plane crash-lands in the Canadian wilderness on their way to a national tournament in Seattle.

The first season ended with the shocking death of team captain Jackie Taylor, played by Ella Purnell. But what exactly happened to the high schooler?

Jackie met her tragic death on the show, which time jumps between 1996 and 2021, when she froze to death after sleeping outside all night in the cold and snow.

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The teenager had left the cabin after getting into a huge fight with her best friend, Shauna. Through reading Shauna's diary, Jackie discovered that her boyfriend, Jeff, had been cheating on her with her bestie. Not only that, but Jackie also learned that Shauna's baby was Jeff's. 

After a failed attempt to get Shaun kicked out of the cabin, Jackie decided that she would be the one to leave. Watch the dramatic moment in the clip below.

WATCH: Jackie's huge fight with Shauna before her death on Yellowjackets

While she tried to build a campfire to keep herself warm, she struggled and was forced to sleep outside for the night, with only a blanket to protect her from the harsh conditions. 

Jackie froze to death in the night and was discovered by Shaua the next morning, who was left devastated and cradled her friend's lifeless body in the snow. 

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Flashforward to season two – Jackie's body has been kept in the meat shed for two months, frequently visited by Shauna, who would talk to her dead friend as she struggled with the guilt. 

Major spoiler alert!

In the second episode of the series, the other Yellowjackets decided that it was time to cremate their dead friend after realizing Shauna's unhealthy attachment to Jackie's body.

The Yellowjackets attempted to cremate Jackie in season two© SHOWTIME
The Yellowjackets attempted to cremate Jackie in season two

But the cremation didn't go to plan. Snowfall stopped the body from fully burning on the pyre and instead left Jackie's body effectively cooked, giving off a smell that was irresistible to the starving high schoolers.

After some encouragement from Shauna, the teens devoured the body of their dead friend in a dramatic and gruesome scene.

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