Stranding a group of young people in an inhospitable wilderness isn't exactly a new concept, but Yellowjackets makes sure to set itself apart from others of its kind. Unlike Lord of the Flies or Alive, the Showtime series shows what happens when a group of teenage girls have to scrap to survive with no help of rescue. Yellowjackets follows two timelines, one in the '90s when the girls initially crashland in a charter plane and one in the present day that follows the same characters almost 30 years later.

The characters of Yellowjackets pop onscreen because they are vibrant. Although complicated, nuanced, and selfish at times, the soccer team feels like real, lived-in people—at least for the most part. The main clique of friends can always be depended on to give the series life, but some characters aren't nearly as timeless.

Lottie's Schtick Gets Old Quickly

In Yellowjackets,...