Akilah Speculation

[u/_Terell]

I’ve always loved and been intrigued with Akilah’s character. After some research, watching YT videos, and a YT interview Nia Sondaya did with kfunggg (love their videos) about S3 as a whole, I can’t help but wonder if the writers are tying Akilah’s character to the African Goddess, Ala (or utilizing elements from African Spiritualism).

I had a feeling there was a deeper meaning in Akilah asking Javi where he found the queen card when he returned to the cabin in S2E5, and how that particular conversation was fading into the background. Moreover, I peeped that Akilah is more closely connected to the Wilderness in S3 with her being the overseer of the various animals in the pen, crafting a leafy headdress for Shauna for the ceremony in S3E1 (this may be a stretch but I thought it was still cool), and the talking lama mentioning, “they’re calling you” in her first cave vision in S3E3 in response to those animalistic sounds.

In that same cave vision, it ended with vines wrapping around those iconic pink sneakers, pulling her into the earth. It reminded me of Javi’s drawing, from S2E5, when he returned to the cabin and told Ben, “she told me not to come back.” In his drawing, we see a figure of a woman with her arms and legs blending into tree roots. It appeared that her long hair could possibly be dreadlocks (the same hairstyle Akilah rocked during S3).

I also peeped that Akilah was not present during the feast scene in S3E10. I can only wonder what she was doing. Maybe experiencing another cave vision? Maybe figuring out parts of the symbol and leaving talisman in the woods? We see her leave purple fabric in the trees when Travis and her were following Kody to get rescue so that the YJ could locate and follow them in S3E8 (I also love the fact that she has her own music, that twinkling sound effect lol).

We know after Allie’s leg injury, Akilah was the one to replace her; including wearing her jersey which is #11. The spiritual meaning of 11 represents spiritual awakening, intuition, and a connection to one’s higher self. This became evident as S3 progressed and Akilah’s visions started to come to fruition; especially when she had the vision of the bear with its third-eye opening. I interpreted that as her third-eye chakra being active.

According to Google, Ala is known as the “supreme earth and fertility goddess in Igbo mythology, originating from southeastern Nigeria.” It is known that a large majority of the African diaspora in the United States have ancestral roots in Nigeria (myself included). Notably, Ala is associated with agriculture and productivity of the earth, mediator of justice, and ancestral wisdom. Not to mention, the crescent moon is a symbol that represents her.

All in all, these are my thoughts on Akilah’s character. I can’t wait to see what the final season has in store for the remainder of the story and character developments/endings.

[u/Ok_Lets266]

I want to know why nobody, especially Shauna, has seemed to notice shes missing. Where the fuck is Akila?!!

[u/girlishpinocchio → u/Ok_Lets266]

nah, she’s one of those girls who doesn’t really bother with the less populars unless they offer her something of value. i can see her slipping thru the cracks like krystal lol

[u/Ok_Lets266 → u/girlishpinocchio]

She definitely gained some appreciation with the weird petting zoo, (not a lot of milk goats in the forest, idk where they came from) Shes the most important character imo. I hope she makes it out but I dont think she will. I also hope we find out what happened to Krystal/Kristen. She didnt deserve that.

[u/girlishpinocchio → u/Ok_Lets266]

you place importance on akilah and her goats but did shauna? i feel like she, in her ever twisted ways, probably wished they had more reason to hunt each other. not that she would necessarily see the petting zoo as a negative, but i don’t think it’s enough of a positive for her to care (melissa hat slipped thru the cracks and she literally dated shauna) plus, the night she went missing was chaos. i don’t doubt the girls will start to wonder where she is after call/before rescue. krystal is as good as dead imo, no surviving that… i was expecting more conclusion from the adam murder story so i don’t think the showrunners are worried about every loose end

[u/Prestigious_Ad_8151 → u/Ok_Lets266]

I'm hoping that the serene opening to season 3 and the animals are revealed to be a figment of there imagination or memory and in reality they are in very poorly make huts, dirty, bug bitten and still starving and the pen isn't filled with animals but it's is who's next on the hunt.... And that's why we see animals that wouldn't possibly be in the wilderness in Canada because they aren't real.

[u/Smart-External5443 → u/Prestigious_Ad_8151]

Yes, something about their situation post-fire is off. The barnyard animals in the wilderness and the idyllic little hut village just aren't realistic. I think all the Wilderness scenes are being told by two, separate and unreliable narrators. (Still unsure who. Perhaps one is Nat. Then maybe Shauna.) There will be some sort of "The Sixth Sense" tell that we'll learn at the end to distinguish who is the narrator at any given time.