Of all the ways to lose a person…

There’s been a lot of discussion related to the dream sequence at the end of episode 3 regarding the meaning of the slap bracelet and the quote written on the board that says “Of all the ways to lose a person, death is the kindest.” I think these two things are directly related.

While I’m sure the slap bracelet and the whole dream is meant to be mostly ambiguous and could have multiple meanings, I do think who is harmed by the bracelet is a reflection of the quote. “Lose a person” might mean more than just gone from our lives. I think it means who has lost themselves and who they truly are.

Jackie is the one who has the bracelet to begin with. Her issue within the wilderness was her inability to adapt and change. This lead to her death, with both literally and metaphorically froze her in place as the person they always knew.

Akilah is not harmed by the bracelet, and I think this is because she has been seen to stay true to who she is. She is very caring and does her best to help others within the group. Her role within the group hasn’t led her to change her morals. She cares for and raises the animals. She helped with Shauna in season 2. While she has fallen in with Lottie’s group, she still is a good person who hasn’t had to deeply compromise herself.

Van is cut by the bracelet. She has definitely been changed by her time in the wilderness. We see this especially after the hunt with Javi. Again, a lot of this is purely survival instincts and not all of it can be condemned, but she’s not the same person she once was.

The one hurt the most is Shauna. And she’s obviously the one most corrupted by the time in the wilderness. Between Jackie, the baby, Javi, and the girls around her creating this “religion” which mostly seems like a way to distance themselves from their complicity in what’s happened has led her down a dark path. It’s a mix of anger, rage, self-hatred, and disgust at the other girls to accept the reality of what’s happening, which are all understandable to varying degrees, but she’s become violent and bloodthirsty in ways no one else has.

I think the bracelet is a symbol of the wilderness’ effect on the girls, with it being least kind to those who are the most lost.

I also wonder if Lottie’s statement to Akilah to help Shauna or “She’ll die. We’ll all die” is more literal than we think. Maybe Akilah has to help Shauna work through her pain and grief or at least temper her rage in order to save her and the whole group from the results of her wrath. This could also lead to Akilah’s own death, which we might see sooner than later based on her vision.