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Netflix

Netflix

We have reached the final episode, which means SHENANIGANS ARE GOING DOWN!

Last time we saw Hopper and Joyce, they had failed in their attempt to sneak into the Hawkins Lab. We first see Joyce cuffed and in an interrogation room. Dr. Brenner comes in and tries to bullshit her and guilt trip her into giving away information on where the kids are. Since he made her believe that her son was dead and has basically abandoned her son in this poisonous alternative dimension, Dr. Brenner has some balls. After being bullshat by people all her life, like her ex husband, she sees right through Dr. Brenner’s lies and tells him to go to hell. Atta’ girl!

Hopper, on the other hand, is prepared to be more compliant. Considering how much he wishes he had a second chance to save his own daughter from cancer, something we see interspersed throughout the course of this episode in flashbacks, we can see what he’s willing to do in order to give Joyce a successful second chance to be with her son. Hopper strikes a deal. He will give them the location to find ‘Eleven’, and they’ll pretend that none of this stuff ever happened. I call shenanigans on that deal, but the government scientists seem to think they are getting the better end of the bargain. Silly government scientists! Hopper and Joyce are given their own hazmat suits because the atmosphere in the ‘Upside Down’ is poisonous. With that, they are left alone to venture into the creepy oozing tree and explore the ‘Upside Down’.

Netflix

Netflix

Meanwhile Jonathan and Nancy are almost done setting up the trap for the monster. They’ve sliced their hands open in order to attract it with their blood. Just as they are done bandaging up their wounds, frickin’ Steve decides now is the best time to come over and apologize to Jonathan. He barges into the house when he sees Nancy’s wrapped up hand. What ensues is the most childish argument ever that is, thankfully, interrupted by the Monster’s presence making the lights flicker. The monster tears through the wall of Jonathan’s house, causing the teenagers to freak out and barricade themselves in Jonathan’s room in order to wait for the signal to light the monster on fire. Suddenly, the monster disappears. Steve, of course, runs out of the house like the little chickenshit that he is. Just as he is about to leave, he sees the lights flickering again.

This is probably the only time I’ll say this, but kudos to Steve for gathering up the courage to go back and help them out. With a beautifully awkward team effort, they manage to get the monster into a bear trap and light it on fire. In the ‘Upside Down’, Hopper and Joyce hear the creature screeching in pain. Jonathan proceeds to put out the fire, revealing that the monster is gone and has left behind rust colored blood on the bear trap.

Hopper and Joyce track the monster’s tracks with the smears of blood on the ground, leading them to the ‘Upside Down’ version of the Hawkins Middle School. It is there that they find Will wrapped up in a cocoon with a weird tentacle slug thing covering his mouth. Joyce starts trying to resuscitate Will, which triggers a dramatic flashback sequence where Hopper is watching the doctors fail at resuscitating his daughter. This prompts him to start slamming on Will’s chest, which is definitely a way to break someone’s ribs and I don’t recommend actually doing that when trying to bring someone back to life. However, Hopper successfully gets Will to gasp for air. He is alive, but barely.

Netflix

Netflix

Meanwhile, back at the middle school, Mike is telling ‘Eleven’ what could possibly happen after everything dies down. He’s talking about her becoming a part of his family, that Nancy will be an older sister to her. When asked if that meant Mike would be her brother, he slightly freaks out and explains more about inviting her to the dance. Then he kisses her and, I’ll admit, it warmed up the insides of my dead heart. However, the cute moment ends quickly when they all realize that the Hawkins Lab people have found out where they are located and are coming in with guns a blazin’. After they run around the school a bit, they are confronted on both sides by the Hawkins goons. ‘Eleven’, in her weakened state, uses her powers to make the bad guys bleed internally before killing them. The resulting strain causes her to collapse, making her too weak to fight off Dr. Brenner when he swoops in to grab her.

The thing is that when there is blood, the monster will come. And, with such a large offering of spilled blood, the monster comes charging into the school with a wall and makes quick work of Dr. Brenner and the other Hawkins Lab folk. The kids manage to get away, but the monster finds them after taking care of the bad guys. Lucas valiantly starts using his slingshot to hit the advancing monster. It isn’t until after the third or fourth one that the monster is propelled backward and held against the chalkboard. ‘Eleven’ is using the last of her strength to protect the boys, knowing that she will probably die or disappear in the process. In a heartbreaking moment, she whispers that she is sorry to Mike before going at it with the monster. In a blast of light, we are left to see the crumbling remnants of matter left behind with no sign of ‘Eleven’ or the monster ever being in the room.

The episode ends about a month after the events around the Christmas Holidays. Jonathan has come over to pick up Will after a successful Dungeons & Dragons campaign with the trio. Nancy gives Jonathan a present (hint…it’s a new camera). before snuggling down next to her (ugh) boyfriend Steve. We are then shown back at the Byers’ House where they are all getting ready for holiday supper. Will excuses himself to the bathroom where he proceeds to puke up a slug creature. While he is gasping for air, he shifts back briefly into the ‘Upside Down’ before coming back to his dimension. Well, that’s definitely foreshadowing for next season. Hopper is shown briefly attending a holiday party at the police station, taking lots of leftovers with him before he goes. He drives out to the middle of the woods and finds a box of some sort in the ground. He leave food and Eggo waffles, giving us the hint that ‘Eleven’ may still be alive and out there.

Damn them for their cliff hangers…

GENERAL THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS

  • This episode confirmed, once again, that I’m a chickenshit. But, hey, I’m not alone. So is Steve.
  • Ugh…please don’t get back together with him, Nancy. You need someone better.
  • Go, Joyce! Go, Joyce! YOU TELL HIM, GIRL!
  • Not sure how to feel about the flashbacks to Hopper’s daughter deteriorating from cancer. It worked for its intended purpose, but was also cheesy as all get out. The timing of showing that was weird too. I thought it should have been done earlier.
  • Winona Ryder is tiny. I forgot about that.
  • I am now shipping Mike and ‘Eleven’. The ship has been establish and has sailed.
  • You know, this season needed more Dr. Brenner. All we really established was that he was a predatory, generic scientist creep. That was it.
  • He-he. Where there is blood…-cue Jaws music-
  • Ugh…’Eleven’! You are giving me sad feels! I HAZ THE SADZ!
  • I really wanted more of the monster. Whether it’s because I have strange tendencies to snuggle things that can kill me or whatever, I thought that this season needed more of the monster.
  • Of course, Nancy is with frickin’ Steve. WHAT DO YOU SEE IN HIM BESIDES EDWARD CULLEN HAIR???
  • Will’s new diet is full of protein and mucus. Mmm…mucus.
  • The ending definitely set up potential storylines for the second season of Stranger Things. I really could care less about Will at this point, but sincerely want ‘Eleven’ to be alive and kicking.

 

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Sarah Musnicky

Sarah is a freelance writer and self-described workaholic. She loves fantasy and sci fi and will admit having dual loyalties between Star Trek and Star Wars as well as Marvel and DC. When she's not being socially awkward, she is in a corner obsessing over dragons, cute things, and a need to master all languages on the planet. She would like to be a professional blanket burrito when she reaches the peak of maturation.

2 CommentsLeave a comment

  • It’s funny, because the whole season revolves around saving Will, but I have no interest in seeing Will-screen time in season 2. Eleven and Hopper are where it’s at. They’re like two heroes working together on opposite sides of the story the whole time.

  • I dont understand the ending. But I hope elle is still alive. Lol. Chief is also mysterious seems like he’s really have a big part on the story (aside from saving will)