Yellowjackets’ Samantha Hanratty Debunks Popular Misty Fan Theory

Yellowjackets inspires a multitude of fan theories — but which are true and which popular one has gotten debunked?

During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Samantha Hanratty shared her reaction to the most popular speculation surrounding the hit Showtime series.

“There’s so many good ones. Not only do we have the best fanbase but we have the most clever fanbase. It’s been so fun and there’s a lot of theories that I’ve been really enjoying about this season,” Hanratty, 29, shared before specifically pointing out the side of the internet discussing Steven Krueger‘s character, Coach Ben Scott. “I don’t know if I want to say the theories [to not spoil it].”

There is one theory Hanratty is clearing the air on.

“People think Nuha Jes Izman‘s Crystal is all part of Misty’s imagination. I have to just debunk it because it’s just not true,” the actress noted. “Other people have acknowledged her existence. But I did love the idea of Misty creating a whole best friend because that’s something she would do. But yeah, no, it can’t be true.”

Hanratty pointed out the more creative speculation, adding, “I always enjoy the theories of Jackie being alive somehow. I don’t know if they think this is the show’s supernatural aspects, but we’re not Sam and Dean [from Supernatural] over here. But I just enjoy getting to see how people piece together these puzzles.”

The Showtime series, which premiered in 2021, follows a high school girls soccer team that ends up stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. The survivors don’t return home for 19 months during which time they are driven to eating each other in order to survive. Yellowjackets also features a present day timeline that reintroduces the survivors more than two decades later.

Hanratty has played the younger version of Christina Ricci‘s character Misty since the first season. As a result, she has seen just about every fan theory but nothing stands out more than those that turn out to be true.

“There are some theories that people have put together for this season that are very true. They might just be a little bit off from what happens but close enough to where we share about it in our group chat being like, ‘Oh, s—, they’re onto us,’” Hanratty joked. “There is one thing that I think is going to blow a lot of people’s mind this season that they’re not prepared for.”

Hanratty continued: “I also love all the Pit Girl theories. One of my favorite theories has been that Pit Girl is Shauna’s daughter, Callie. People think it’s not a flashback and it’s actually current day and that some of it is flashback. I love that theory. I’m not going to say if it’s true or not, but I think it’s really cool. All the Pit Girl theories are great and we’ll get some answers very soon.”

While teasing the season, Hanratty noted that there would be major highs and lows.

“This is the season of mourning. In my opinion, there is a lot to lose this season and it’s definitely the most emotional season to me,” she shared about how the show picked back up after Juliette Lewis‘ character, Natalie, was killed off in season 2. “Just starting it off with us losing somebody so crucial to our story. It just doesn’t really get better from there, unfortunately. In a delicious way, this is a rough season to watch, and it was a rough season to film.”

Yellowjackets is available to stream on Paramount+ Fridays and airs on Showtime Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.