Misty's Love Of Musicals On Yellowjackets Is More Twisted Than We Thought
"Yellowjackets" spoilers follow.
We first got hints that Misty was a fan of musicals in season 1 of "Yellowjackets" when she listened to the "Overture" and "The Music of the Night" from "The Phantom of the Opera." She also teased Nat by listening to "Mr. Mistoffelees" from "Cats" while driving. In season 2, we discover that Misty's relationship with musicals has a lot to do with Crystal, a theatre nerd who also survived the plane crash.
Walter, the other half of her detective duo, also enjoys musicals. During their road trip to find the cult, Walter gives Misty a set of cassette tapes that include "Singin' in the Rain," "The Wizard of Oz," "Les Miserables," "Rent," and more. Misty dismisses "Starlight Express" before she turns on "Rainbow Tour" from "Evita": "Oh, let's tell the story of Cinderella, except every character's a train? Ugh." In flashbacks, we see that she and Crystal sang along to the political musical while stranded in the cabin.
Misty appreciates blockbuster musicals that were popular during the 1990s — particularly those written by Andrew Lloyd Webber — the most. This is fitting because mentally and emotionally, like the other Yellowjackets survivors, she is still stuck in the past and can't escape her traumas. Another major reason that Misty still attaches to musicals is that they remind her of Crystal, the one true friend Misty made in the wilderness. In the shocking new episode, Misty threatens to kill Crystal after revealing she destroyed the plane's emergency box, then she backs her new friend off a cliff.
Misty's love of theatre amplifies the best and worst parts of her personality. It makes sense that Misty would be an overdramatic theatre kid, drawn to the heightened emotions and intense bonds you make with your cast members. There also are references to particular musicals that emphasize aspects of Misty's character and motivations.
Learn to be lonely
The Phantom of the Opera and Misty are eerily similar. Both are isolated outcasts who feel rejected by society. They are unhinged characters who will go to extreme — and often violent — lengths to satisfy their desperate need for acceptance: Misty destroys the plane emergency box so her team can use her survival skills, and Phantom tries to imprison Christine Daae as his bride in his underground lair.
They are intelligent and skilled manipulators. Fittingly, "The Music of the Night" plays when Misty takes the private detective Jessica hostage and prepares to interrogate her. During this song, the Phantom kidnaps Christine from her dressing room and tries to seduce her with his elegant singing voice. Misty's investigative skills and cleverness are also reminiscent of the Phantom, who haunts the Palais Garnier with magic tricks that cause chandeliers to crash, pianos to play by themselves, and opera singers to croak. They are both sneaky characters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want.
Misty and Crystal's bonding over theatre is very similar to how the Phantom's only way of finding understanding and friendship is through his vocal lessons with Christine. Misty's eyes light up when Crystal suggests they practice harmonizing together or work on a "Steel Magnolias" monologue for Shauna's baby shower. Much like music in "The Phantom of the Opera," theatre is a way for Misty to feel accepted and get the attention she craves so desperately. When Misty reveals her true self to Crystal, she is (understandably) not as accepting as Christine, calling her a psycho and rejecting her as a friend.
God, that's good!
One of the reasons that Walter was drawn to Misty on the Citizen Detective forums was because she dropped a "Sweeney Todd" reference — a dark, bloody musical by Stephen Sondheim about a sociopathic character who does not hesitate to kill others for his own selfish desires. Misty's dark side connects with the demon barber of Fleet Street. Stranded in the wilderness for 19 months and witnessing tragic deaths, Misty can relate to the significant trauma in Sweeney Todd's life. He wrongfully serves in a labor camp for 15 years and loses his wife and child.
We know Misty resorts to cannibalism to survive, and "Sweeney Todd" is famously about people's bodies being put into meat pies. The city of London unknowingly finds this secret recipe scrumptious. Manipulating the pies relates to Sweeney and Misty's creepy enjoyment of playing God; they both relish in the power of selecting who lives or dies — and whether they suffer in the process. There is a wellspring of rage beneath Sweeney and MIsty that allows them to commit violent acts without flinching.
Sweeney kills many barbershop customers with his razor, practicing for his sweet revenge on Judge Turpin. These victims are also the new ingredient for Mrs. Lovett's pies. In "Yellowjackets," Misty watches a rat drown instead of saving him. As a nurse in a retirement home, she often withholds medications from crotchety patients. The stone-faced Sweeney does not hesitate to slit his clients' throats, caring about nothing but his own thirst for revenge. Misty easily cauterizes Ben's leg and disposes of Adam's body because she is more excited about getting attention and earning people's friendship. Misty also values protecting her own reputation over Crystal's life, hissing "I will f***ing kill you" before edging her off the cliff.