Yellowjackets Who Was Caligula Mistys Bird Explained

Yellowjackets: Who Was Caligula? Misty’s Bird Explained

Misty’s bird in Yellowjackets is named Caligula; we explain the Roman Emperor namesake and what it sets up for the show going forward.

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Yellowjackets Who Was Caligula Mistys Bird Explained

WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Yellowjackets episode 2, “F Sharp.”

Misty references her bird Caligula in Yellowjackets episode 2, “F Sharp” — and likely there’s a subtle meaning behind her choosing such a distinct name for her beloved pet. Misty is one of several characters in Yellowjackets played by a recognizable actor. While the dorky teen version of Misty is portrayed by Samantha Hanratty, the adult version in the present day is played by Christina Ricci, an actress known for subversive roles with a dark edge. Misty is no different, and is quickly shaping up to be the series’ biggest villain.

Showtime’s Yellowjackets is a genre-bending thriller series that infuses moments of tension and drama with black comedy; this is perhaps best illustrated with Misty. Characterized as lonely, bullied, and desperate to be accepted, the teenage version of the character has a distinctly sinister streak — seemingly enjoying hacking off Assistant Coach Ben’s leg, then shockingly destroying the plane’s black box at the end of Yellowjackets episode 2.

In the present, adult Misty isn’t much better — although her overly chipper (yet slightly twisted) demeanor makes her one of the show’s most frequent sources of comedic relief. Her cringeworthy date is a perfect example of this; she manipulates the poor man into coming into her apartment, only for Nate (Juliette Lewis) to scare him away. Before that happens though, she references her bird, Caligula. For many viewers, the name likely sounded familiar. This is because the real-life Caligula is an infamous figure from Roman history.

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It makes sense that the nerdy Misty, whose role in Yellowjackets as an outsider is a foundational aspect of her character, would name her pet after a historical figure. What’s interesting about naming her affectionate bird Caligula, however, is that he’s such a controversial and infamous figure from that point in history. Often referred to as an insane, sexually deviant tyrant, Caligula was the third emperor of Rome and is most commonly associated with sadism, perversion, and excess. Although there are few historical records to work from — most accounts of his reign have been lost to time — what historians do have paint a damning picture. His legacy is that of an unstable, self-indulgent oppressor who actively worked against the interests of his people.

While contemporary historians often question the accuracy of Caligula’s reputation — including the extent of his sexual deviancy, as well as the possibility of underlying mental illness or disease — in popular culture, he is firmly a figure associated with perversion and instability. This was solidified by the erotic 1979 Italian film Caligula, which The Spool described as “the sleaziest costume drama ever made.” Starring Malcolm McDowell in the title role, Caligula is among the most infamous movies from that decade — if not from the entire history of mainstream film — and was universally derided following release. Overly violent and uncomfortably explicit sexually, Caligula was so distasteful that Roger Ebert left part-way through the screening (something he almost never did), and in his review gave it zero stars.

As a result of the movie Caligula, the real-life figure is (however unfairly) remembered today as an over-the-top sexual deviant, as well as an “insane” ruler whose reign ended with his assassination. Clearly, Yellowjackets is hinting at a deeper meaning by using such a recognizable name for Misty’s bird. Just as how Shauna killing the rabbit in Yellowjackets sets up expectations for her character, the Caligula reference foreshadows Misty’s sexual deviancy, emotional instability, and corruption. The fact that she chose to honor a historical figure who is generally considered as the person who led Rome to a moral ruin is telling, particularly regarding her own ethical framework. When Nate sees her, she calls her a “crazy b***h.” Audiences so far have only seen a glimpse of what Nate is referring to — and chances are, there will be much bigger reveals as the Yellowjackets continues.

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Link Source : https://screenrant.com/yellowjackets-caligula-misty-bird-history-roman-empire/

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