First Things First…
I’m curious about this episode title. Did I meet the “weirdo” already?
There are definitely some weird people on the show. Eleven, Hopper, Joyce… even the science teacher, who’s only a bit character in the pilot… or Lonnie, who’s not even in the pilot but is mentioned… are possibilities.
After the pilot, I’m most excited to see how things go between Eleven and the boys, and if they’ll all be together going forward.
Also — and this is an obvious thing to wonder — does Will stay gone? Will I ever see him alive again? Is the search for him going to be a season-long investigation?
For all I know, they find him in this episode, and he joins the team in uncovering whatever weird shit is happening at that lab.
(I kinda doubt it, though.)
5 Things I Like
5. Upside Down?
I mentioned when I reviewed the first episode that the Upside Down is something I know is coming. It was too popular when the show came out for me to not have heard of it. I just don’t know exactly what it is or how it works.
But I assume it’s where Will is. And since I’m looking for clues about it, it sure is intriguing that when Eleven tries to show the boys what she knows about Will and where he is, she clears off their board game and turns it — yup — upside down.
Just as intriguing — the upside-down part of the board is pitch black. And the only two figures she puts on the board are the wizard — to represent Will — and the Demogorgon.
4. Voice of Reason
It’s a little obvious to see the direction Barb and Nancy’s friendship is going. Nancy still loves Barb and relies on her for awhile, but eventually becomes too cool for her. And Barb is too much of a stick in the mud.
The problem is, Barb is so much more likeable.
I was surprised to see her get killed — I think?? — at the end of this episode. Because Barb was right there with the Upside Down, Eleven, and Hopper as names I knew without having watched the show.
I didn’t know anything about her, but I knew her name and her look. If she’s killed off in the second episode after making that kind of impression, I’ll be shocked.
Hopefully that’s not the case, though, and she’s just taken. Maybe she’s with Will.
But to this point, she’s been one of my favorite characters.
3. “Should I Stay or Should I Go”
I love the flashback of Jonathan and Will.
Not for the Clash song…
(Great song, though) …
But it’s sweet to see Jonathan take his role as big brother to heart, since Lonnie clearly isn’t much of a father figure for Will.
Not only do we hear in the background that Lonnie is backing out of taking Will to a baseball game…
But as Jonathan gets Will to admit, Will doesn’t even like baseball. From the sounds of it, Lonnie isn’t mature enough as a father to even try to connect with Will on the things he does like, like the arcade or fantasy stories.
Jonathan seems to be spot-on about their dad when he tells Will…
“He’s trying to force you to like normal things. And you shouldn’t like things because people tell you you’re supposed to.”
This goes hand in hand with what Joyce told Hopper in the pilot — that Will is a sensitive kid, and Lonnie questioned whether he’s gay.
Whether he is or isn’t doesn’t matter.
What matters is that his big brother looks out for him… connects with him… and makes it clear to him that he can like whatever he likes, without apology.
Solid moment for someone who’s still just a kid himself.
2. Childhood Lost
Eleven’s flashback isn’t nearly as sweet as Jonathan’s. Whatever testing or torture they performed on her at the lab is hard to watch.
Even though she has powers — and she scares the boys when they realize that —fear is written all over her face every time she thinks she might be found out or recaptured and returned to the lab.
Or when she’s forced to hide in Mike’s closet.
Then there’s the fact that she calls the head scientist at the lab “Papa” — as she’s being dragged away from him, kicking and screaming, while he just watches.
I have no idea yet if he’s really her dad, or grandfather, or just the closest thing to a father figure she’s ever known. But the dynamic of that relationship is disturbing.
If she’s been locked away in the lab her whole life, it makes sense why there’s so much of everyday life she doesn’t understand — including the concept of friendship.
The horrible things that have been done to her… the fact that she only uses her powers (as far as we’ve seen) for survival… and the childhood she’s never gotten to enjoy all make her sympathetic — even as everyone focuses on finding Will.
1. Looking Out for #1(1)
I was in on Mike and Eleven’s chemistry from the moment she surprises him by saying “’Night, Mike,” after he said “’Night, El.”
I love how protective Mike acts toward her the night they meet, and also the next day when he plays hooky and shows her around.
It’s cute when he gives her dry clothes and then brings her to the bathroom so she has privacy to change… and when he shows her how to use the La-Z-Boy and then lets her try. Even the way he talks to her as he begs her to hide in the closet is full of compassion.
Dustin is constantly afraid of and bewildered by Eleven (especially about the fact that she almost took her shirt off in front of them) …
And Lucas is more pragmatic but also colder, wanting to stay focused on finding Will and knowing it’s insane to have this girl there who they just found in the woods — so he comes off as a bit of a dick…
But Mike empathizes with her, and they form a quick bond.
Hopefully her bond with the other boys grows throughout the season. But I really like these two together. And it could be fun if Mike’s insistence on protecting her puts him at odds with his friends. (That would be a very teenage/coming-of-age thing to happen.)
3 Things I’m Mixed On
3. New Phone, Who Dis?
Twice in two episodes now, Joyce has gotten a phone call from someone who she insists is Will trying to contact her, only to have the phone get zapped and burn out.
These scenes are tense. But I don’t love going back to the well so soon. I would’ve preferred something other than the exact same scenario and outcome the second time.
2. I’ve Heard of a Lunch Break or a Cigarette Break… but a Voyeurism Break?
Jonathan comes off as a real creeper here.
And since no one catches him taking these pictures, nothing comes of it.
Now maybe he caught whatever got Barb on film. In that case, these scenes will make more sense soon. But for now, it seems like he stops in the middle of searching for his brother for no other reason than to spy on and get pool pictures of Nancy.
1. “Hey, Uh… What’s This Creepy Lab Doing Here?”
So… did no one know the lab was there?
I mean, with the experiments that are happening and the monsters that are (presumably) there, I guess that makes sense.
But isn’t Hawkins a small town where everyone knows everyone?
How the hell does something like this stay a secret?
And frankly, it doesn’t seem that well hidden in the woods.
Considering how adventurous these kids are, it’s hard to believe they never found it before.
That being said, there’s something cool about the idea that this sinister place has been there all this time and no one knew about it.
But it’s also hard to buy.
2 Things I Don’t Like
2. Please Ignore the People in the Hazmat Suits
Joyce’s house might be so secluded that no one lives close enough to see the team of people in full Hazmat suits investigate in broad daylight…
But they’re satisfied no one is home because one person knocks and doesn’t get an answer within three seconds?
What if she’s just at Radio Shack to buy another phone, and she’ll be back any moment?
Seems like no one thought this all the way through.
1. I’ll Send These Bumbling Idiots to Investigate My Prime Suspect
Hopper convinces Joyce not to visit Lonnie. And he insists Jonathan not go because Joyce needs him.
But instead of making the trip himself, he sends whomever from his squad — none of whom seem like they have a clue about anything.
Hopper said himself that most child disappearances involve the kid being with one of the parents. He obviously suspected Lonnie as soon as Joyce came to see him last episode to report Will as missing.
Not to mention, we learn in this episode that Hopper has police experience in the “big city.” So he genuinely seems like the most qualified to check this out if he really believes Lonnie is to blame.
Maybe my suspicion from the last episode was right — that Hopper and Joyce used to date — so he doesn’t want to visit Joyce’s ex-husband. But that would be a poor excuse when a kid is missing.
Maybe this is setting up a more meaningful confrontation between Hopper and Lonnie down the road. But there’s got to be an explanation now for why he’s not making that trip. Otherwise, it’s just an odd choice.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t like this one as much as the pilot.
There’s good character development with Eleven, and in her relationship with the boys. But there’s not a lot of forward momentum with the mystery yet.
Tim Matassa
