So Natalie is the Antler Queen in the wilderness timeline, yes — but thanks to a shocking twist in the adult timeline, this doesn’t seem like it’ll have that much impact on the story going forward. In the future timeline, the girls reassemble at adult Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) compound and Lottie is convinced that the wilderness still wants a sacrifice; this time, it’s adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) who draws the queen.

A scuffle ensues with Lottie, Misty (Christina Ricci), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), Van (Lauren Ambrose), and Natalie (Juliette Lewis) in pursuit of Shauna, only to get interrupted by Shauna’s daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) and one of Lottie’s acolytes. Trying to take down said acolyte, Misty accidentally stabs Natalie with a syringe full of fentanyl, and there’s no saving her — Natalie simply dies in Misty’s arms, putting a firm end to her future arc.

Not only is this horribly tragic when contrasted with young Natalie’s victorious coronation in the wilderness timeline, it… doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense in the moment. If adult Natalie is doomed, does it matter if young Natalie is the Antler Queen in the end?