WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Yellowjackets season 2, episode 7. One of the biggest Yellowjackets mysteries is the victim's identity in its premiere episode, known as "pit girl," but signs as of late have pointed to her being Mari. While Mari was never fully a background character in Yellowjackets, her presence on the show has grown exponentially since being introduced on the plane in season 1. Teen Mari has always been there to throw some shade Misty's way, help with the cooking, and provide some bombastic side-eye whenever things go awry. It was her suggestion to serve homemade alcohol at the Doomcoming event while simultaneously partially her fault that Misty's psychotropic mushrooms got added to the mix.
However, Mari (Alexa Barajas) has quickly risen the ranks of the Yellowjackets season 2 characters, with more attention being paid to her actions, thoughts, and comments. Among the group, she has become one of Lottie's fiercest supporters, quick to point out how she has either been right about current events or that her words should be regarded with the utmost importance. Mari believes the most fervently in Lottie's seemingly supernatural abilities and will defend her leader tooth and nail. Despite being in good with the antler queen, there are several major hints that point to Mari eventually being the "pit girl" that the tribe consumes in the Yellowjackets series premiere.
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Related: Yellowjackets Season 2 Ending Explained: Where Do The Survivors Go From Here?
1 Mari Fits The Pit Girl’s Description
The biggest determining factor of the "pit girl's" identity is her appearance — and Mari fits the bill. The Yellowjackets pit girl, as does Mari, has long dark hair and lighter skin. So far, the female adult survivors consist of Lottie, Taissa, Shauna, Van, Misty, and Natalie, meaning none of them can be the victim. Yellowjackets season 2 gave names to three of the Yellowjackets teammates extras and have been introduced as Misty's friend Crystal (Nuha Jes Izman), Gen (Mya Lowe), and Melissa (Jenna Burges). Along with these three is Akilah (Nia Sondaya), who was introduced in season 1.
Neither Akilah nor Crystal can be the Yellowjackets pit girl, especially after Crystal's death, leaving Melissa, Gen, and Mari. Melissa's hair looks lighter than the girl who gets consumed by the group in Yellowjackets episode 1, and Gen's hair is only down to her shoulders by the time season 2 comes around. Therefore, Mari fits the description of who gets eaten in Yellowjackets episode 1. While Gen's hair could grow out as they continue their time in the wilderness, the pit girl's hair is bone straight like Mari's, whereas Gen's has a much wavier texture.
2 Mari Had A Relationship With Jackie
One of the key things revealed to audiences about the pit girl is that she was wearing Jackie's necklace when she was killed, and outside of Shauna, Mari was the only girl to hit it off with Jackie in the wilderness. While many believed the necklace hint meant that Jackie was killed in Yellowjackets episode 1, the season finale subverted these expectations by having Jackie freeze to death outside the cabin. Jackie's heart necklace has passed between Jackie and Shauna throughout seasons 1 and 2, with it currently being in Shauna's possession after the girls decided to cremate her.
It's unclear how the necklace would pass to Mari, but if she stole it, it could lead to her being hunted down. The point stands that Mari is the only one who fostered any sort of connection with Jackie after the plane crash. In typical mean-girl fashion, Jackie somewhat lauded the relationship over Shauna's head when the team first found the lake, but it stands to reason that the small friendship they shared wasn't pointless if Yellowjackets decided to show it. No one else would have a reason to take Jackie's necklace from Shauna, except for Mari, and the girl who fell into the trap was wearing Jackie's necklace.
3 Mari Turned On The Group During Natalie And Lottie’s Hunting Competition
In Yellowjackets season 2, episode 4, Mari picks a fight with Natalie by claiming that it's her fault they haven't been able to find food, and Lottie is the only one that has managed to feed the group. Natalie, therefore, wages a competition in which both girls go out without the assistance of others and bring back food. Natalie finds the white moose from the previous episode frozen in the lake and tasks the others with helping her get it out. Mari vehemently protests, saying they shouldn't help her, but the rest of the team argues that this is about food and not competition.
Related: What The White Moose Means In Yellowjackets Season 2 (Was It Real?!)
Mari is quickly showing that she isn't necessarily focused on the team's overall well-being, and her hero worship of Lottie is putting her at odds with the remaining survivors. This could spell particular trouble for Mari in the future. While being Lottie's fiercest follower makes it seem like she wouldn't face the antler queen's wrath, adult Lottie's speech about the queen bee stinging all the other unborn queens to death for the good of the hive could mean that Mari's lack of concern for the group would mark her eventual downfall. Lottie is first and foremost focused on protecting the hive, and Mari's attitude could stand in the way.
4 Mari’s Only Friends Are Akilah & Lottie
Mari had a quick friendship with Jackie, but after her death, Mari's only friends on the team are Akilah and Lottie. This doesn't bode well for what the Yellowjackets team will eventually become: a hive mind hunting down potential detractors and engaging in ritualized cannibalism. Yellowjackets foreshadowed that Ben would be the next to die because he didn't engage in the cannibalism seen in season 2, episode 2, with his marked separation from the group being a key factor. This was subverted when Crystal bit the dust in episode 5, but it's worth noting that Mari has only two confidantes, and even Akilah is showing signs of not trusting her.
When Mari asked Akilah to help her find the source of the dripping noise, Akilah found a mouse and promptly hid it from Mari. This shows there is a certain amount of distrust between the two. While Mari constantly praises Lottie's thoughts and actions, their relationship in Yellowjackets is nearly nonexistent outside of this. The cannibal cult depicted in episode 1 requires a hive-minded group of individuals bound strongly together. Mari has no real strong ties in the group outside of Akilah, which could single her out to the rest of the girls in the future.
5 Mari Is Dividing The Group
Not only does Mari lack strong ties among the team, but she's causing dissension among the group, particularly with her impassioned worship of Lottie. Lottie calling the fallen birds "offerings" provided the setup for the 1996 survivors cult, but it was one of the first times that it was clear the girls were becoming divided. Directly before this scene, Lottie had embroidered Shauna's baby blanket with the Yellowjackets symbol, beginning an argument with Natalie. Mari immediately jumped in and caused further rifts when she declared her undying trust for Lottie in the situation.
Mari also tried to blame Coach Ben for stealing the girls' bear meat before Natalie came to his defense, spurring her on to blame Natalie for being unable to find food. Mari is quickly causing fractures in the team with her flagrant placement of blame and her clear reverence for Lottie's perceived abilities. If Mari continues to cause disunity in the hive, Lottie may no longer take her admiration into account and make her a target. The signs that Mari is the pit girl in Yellowjackets are adding up, and she may not have anyone on her side pretty soon.
6 Mari’s Mean Girl Attitude Is Making Enemies
If dividing the group weren't enough, Mari's attitude is starting to make her some enemies, namely Misty. Mari's disdain toward Misty has been outwardly apparent from the beginning. From a high school mindset, her feelings are understandable. Misty lacks social skills and was an outcast prior to the plane crash, so it makes sense that Mari would bring the adolescent status quo with her to the wilderness. However, as audiences have learned, being on Misty's bad side doesn't bode well. When Mari and the other girls are talking in Yellowjackets season 2, episode 7, Mari trashes Misty for not looking for Crystal and correctly suggests that she killed her.
Misty overhears this conversation, and it prompts her to start a fake search party. Mari is in attendance, and when Misty leaves the group feigning emotional distress to go hide Crystal's body, Mari rolls her eyes and makes it apparent that she's burdened with having to find Misty's friend. Misty doesn't react, however, if their interactions continue to go in this direction, then Misty will definitively become her enemy. She may not have as much power as Lottie in Yellowjackets' past timeline, but Misty does have some sway because of being essential to their survival. If she and Mari are on the outs, Misty could make her a target.
