Yellowjackets S2 finale finally reveals the antler queen in the worst possible way

So Natalie is the antler queen in the wild timeline, yes – but thanks to a shocking twist in the adult timeline, it doesn’t seem to have much of an impact on the rest of the story. In the future timeline, the girls regroup at adult Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) compound, and Lottie is convinced the wilderness still wants a sacrifice; This time it’s the adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) who draws the queen.

In pursuit of Shauna, Lottie, Misty (Christina Ricci), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), Van (Lauren Ambrose) and Natalie (Juliette Lewis) scuffle only to be saved by Shauna’s daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) and one of to be interrupted by Lottie’s henchmen. While attempting to hunt down said acolyte, Misty accidentally stabs Natalie with a syringe full of fentanyl, and there is no saving her – Natalie simply dies in Misty’s arms, putting a definitive end to her future story arc.

Not only is this terribly tragic when compared to young Natalie’s victorious coronation in the Wilderness timeline, it… also doesn’t seem to make much sense at the moment. If adult Natalie is doomed, does it matter if young Natalie ends up being the Antler Queen?