Creator of Yellowjackets Explains Why Adam Being Javi Is a Bad Idea

According to Yellowjackets co-showrunner Jonathan Lisco, a significant Adam fan theory almost became a reality before it became popular among fans.

In season 1, Adam, the mysterious man Shauna had an affair with, was revealed to possess prior knowledge of her being a stranded Yellowjacket in the woods after a plane crash 25 years ago.

However, Shauna ends up stabbing Adam and conceals his body with the assistance of Taissa, Natalie, and Misty.

Although Adam’s identity and intentions towards Shauna remain unclear, fans speculated throughout season 1 that he was Javi as an adult.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Lisco acknowledged that the theory of Adam being an adult Javi was considered for the first season of Yellowjackets.

Nonetheless, the makers discarded the idea to avoid diverting attention from Shauna’s emotional expedition in the season. Here’s Lisco’s statement on the matter.

There may have been some viewers out there who wanted, for example, Adam to be Javi come back from the wilderness to torture and torment Shauna. And, and by the way, that was absolutely something that we considered, well before we ever read that theory on Reddit.

We looked at the emotional and psychological arc of the story and we felt at the end that yes, it’s a cute surprise and it might be good in the moment, but the audience would be more shocked if Shauna winds up killing someone who actually liked her, somebody who actually wanted to be with her, and that too because of her post-traumatic stress. So, to stay true to her story and the story in general, we had to let that twist go in the service of the emotional and psychological story. And of course, our audience can debate whether or not that was a good move.

Why Adam Being Javi is a Bad Idea

Yellowjackets’ emphasis on the psychological aspects is highlighted by its decision to prioritize Shauna’s emotions over a character-based twist.

In episode 9 of season 1, Shauna kills Adam amidst flashbacks of a disastrous Doomcoming caused by Misty’s hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Had the twist involved Javi instead of Adam, it may have diverted attention from the show’s psychological aspects and would have also meant the end of his character’s story.

While Travis survived his ordeal in the woods, Lottie may have played a role in his supposed suicide. Javi’s current fate is uncertain, allowing him to potentially return in the future and be more involved in the mystery surrounding his brother’s death.

If Adam had been Javi, there would be no lingering questions about Javi’s fate in the second season of Yellowjackets.

As Javi is not Adam, it allows Yellowjackets season 2 to keep hinting at the puzzle of Javi’s destiny in the woods.

Although Travis and Natalie looked for him in season 1, episode 10, his location remains a mystery. As it’s uncertain whether Javi survived to the present timeline, his plot can progress separately from his previous link to Adam.

Even though Javi isn’t Adam, many unknowns about his tale will unfold in Yellowjackets season 2.

About Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets is an American television drama series created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson. 

In 1996, a team of New Jersey high school soccer players travel to Seattle for a national tournament. While flying over Canada, their plane crashes deep in the wilderness, and the remaining team members are left to survive for nineteen months. The series chronicles their survival attempts while also tracking their current lives in 2021.

It stars Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Lauren Ambrose, Simone Kessell, and more. The second season is premiering now