Yellowjackets Theory: Travis Was Killed Due To His Connection To Lottie's Cult
Contains spoilers for "Yellowjackets" Season 2, Episode 1 — "Friends, Romans, Countrymen"
The mystery surrounding Travis' (Andres Soto) apparent death by suicide is one of many questions we still have after the Yellowjackets Season 1 finale. While Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) and Taissa (Tawny Cypress) scramble to find the identity of a blackmailer, Natalie (Juliette Lewis) becomes more and more convinced that Travis' death is connected in some way. But when Shauna discovers her husband, Jeff (Warren Kole), is the culprit, Travis gets no justice.
His death remains a confounding mystery that starts to come into focus at the beginning of Season 2. The colder the '90s timeline becomes, the more spooky and occult-ridden the season turns. The teens struggle to survive and teen Lottie's (Courtney Eaton) connection to a higher power becomes an asset. We see the beginning of a cult starting to assemble, and not just because she lured a bear into camp with magic. Lottie and Travis (Kevin Alves) form a strange connection, triggered by Javi's (Luciano Leroux) disappearance. Only Lottie seems to have the cure for Travis' impending panic attacks which creates a strange bridge of trust between the two. In a direct contrast to Natalie's (Sophie Thatcher) realism, Travis starts to buy into the spiritualism of the camp which may have devastating consequences for him in the future.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Travis falls under Lottie's spell
The Natalie and Travis relationship was a hallmark of the first season, but now cracks are starting to show. Though they make amends after Natalie saves him from a sacrifice attempt in the woods, the winter months have not brought them closer together. They continue to hunt for game as well as Javi, who has not been seen since he ran from the night of a million shrooms. Travis is convinced he is still out there, but Natalie feels it is a lost cause. The two splitting up while hunting strengthens this division and becomes even worse when Lottie enters the mix.
During his panic attack, Travis receives visions of a strange tree that certainly belongs in the wilderness. As much as Natalie wants to help, only Lottie can temper him. He sees her bathed in a glowing light, and when his panic attack ends, he shows evidence of arousal toward her. Though it's unclear if this connection is romantic, it isn't a far leap to see Travis becoming a true believer. Some girls, such as Mari (Alexa Barajas), have already committed fully to Lottie as their Messiah. They believe that Lottie holds some kind of power, and only by praying to the wilderness will they survive. This growing chasm between Travis and Natalie and the connection between him and Lottie will surely be explored further down the line. But what does this mean for Travis' fate as an adult?
Did adult Travis join Lottie's cult?
Throughout the first season, adult Lottie (Simone Kessell) had a big question mark over her. While Shauna, Taissa, and Natalie tried to solve the mysteries surrounding them, they were under the assumption that their former teammate was institutionalized. But at the end of "Yellowjackets" Season 1, that mystery is finally resolved. Not only is Lottie seemingly free and clear of her mental health issues, but she also happens to be a leader of a quote-unquote wellness center. Her purple-clad worshippers don the mysterious occult symbol that terrorized the girls while they were surviving in the wilderness — the very same mark at the scene of Travis' death. With this in play, it seems likely that he and Lottie were in contact in their adult years.
With Javi's disappearance and Travis' continual struggle with substances, he may have needed something to believe in. But in addition to the normal ramifications of joining a cult, Travis also could have encountered Lottie's connection to the dark arts. While he seems vulnerable to Lottie's influence in the woods, adulthood could've brought more clarity. If Travis realized that the symbol is not what Lottie thinks and is instead a portent of evil, it seems plausible that there was only one course of action for her to take. Some people will do anything to hold onto power, and Lottie emptying Travis' bank account on the day of his death makes her the number one suspect in his demise.