First Things First…
I’m hoping for more forward momentum here in terms of the mysteries. The previous episode has good character development for Eleven and the boys — and develops their relationships — but we didn’t learn too much about what’s actually going on at the lab or with Will’s disappearance.
7 Things I Like
7. A Range of Emotions
The scene between Nancy and her mom when Nancy tries sneaking in late is uncomfortable. And it’s obvious that her mom sees through her lies.
But what I love about this scene is the range of emotions the mom experiences. She’s furious because she was scared, and because Nancy wasn’t considerate enough to even call… then she’s disappointed at the lying… but you can see it all melt from her face when Nancy practically begs to be allowed to go up to her room. She realizes her daughter is hurting, and you see the hurt on her own face too.
It’s really strong acting. But I’m not surprised. I just realized the actress, Cara Buono, played one of the women Don almost marries on Mad Men — and she’s also great there.
6. Snacks
Lucas brings binoculars and weapons “from ‘Nam” for their search party, and Dustin brings snacks 🤣
I’m sure I’m not the only one who actually thought to myself, “I bet Dustin just packed snacks…”
And sure enough, he doesn’t disappoint.
5. Life’s Not Fair
Barb is fighting for her life against a monster (possibly in an alternate dimension) while Steve and Nancy have sex (with Foreigner playing in the background).
Sometimes life isn’t fair.
But this was another great way to open an episode. And I was thrilled to see Barb NOT dead — although maybe she is by the end of the scene??
Either way, I’m guessing this is the Upside Down…
She’s in what looks like Steve’s pool… but a scary version of the pool. It’s empty, but it’s covered in the same goo that’s in the lab. And there’s a monster.
It’s like she’s in a very deranged version of the real place she just was. And when Will communicates with Joyce at the end of the episode, it seems he’s experiencing the same thing.
I don’t know how the monster took Barb there, or if she can escape (if she’s even still alive after this ). But it’s freaky. And it’s the perfect juxtaposition to her BFF about to sleep with her douchey boyfriend.
4. Detective Hopper
Hopper doesn’t seem to take his job all that seriously in the pilot. But now he has a major investigation on his hands — a real conspiracy. And I’m enjoying him sinking his teeth into it.
He knows he’s being lied to by the guy at the lab who shows him the surveillance footage from the night Will disappeared, but he doesn’t let on.
And things look like they could get hairy now that he’s investigating Dr. Brenner. They come across someone named Terry Ives, who filed a lawsuit against Dr. Brenner at some point for kidnapping her newborn daughter — supposedly to use in LSD mind-control experiments.
Sounds like this could be the answer to our question about where Eleven comes from. If she was abducted as a newborn, she probably never knew a life outside the lab, and only knows Brenner as her “papa.”
3. Eleven Drops More Bodies
I wonder how many people this kid has killed.
She murders two “agents” in the pilot. And now in one of her flashbacks, she murders two lab techs (or guards, or whatever) who are about to lock her in solitary confinement.
And the reason is that — from the looks of things — they were running an experiment on her where they wanted her to kill a cat with her mind, but she wouldn’t do it.
It’s an effective way to show she has a kind heart, even as she continues to rack up a body count.
But watching her snap necks with just her mind is wild.
Even more wild is Dr. Brenner’s reaction — zero empathy, just fascination. If Lucas knew about this shit, he wouldn’t be so quick to call her a “weirdo.”
What I find fascinating, though, is that Eleven really is dangerous.
Yes, she’s innocent and has been preyed on, but she has powers — and she’s not afraid to use them.
2. Will’s Light Show
I wasn’t digging the light display Joyce set up earlier in the episode. I was prepared to have it in a different category.
But the payoff was so good!
This starts as a situation where you think Joyce is probably crazy, but maybe there’s a chance she’s right and Will is trying to communicate with her…
It progresses to where you know there’s definitely something real happening, but you still don’t understand what…
And it culminates with her having clear and direct communication with him…
Including a few major reveals — that he’s alive but not safe… that he’s “right here” (again, probably meaning just like Barb, he’s in the Upside Down, or whatever funhouse mirror version of the real world that is) … and that she should RUN.
Chills.
1. The Body
This ending is intense.
It’s also a little odd — I don’t expect Will is dead, considering the lights. And we don’t get a good look at the body on screen. But it seems like they can tell it’s really him.
Something doesn’t add up. But for now, I’m assuming he’s still alive. (Although I’m not at all convinced Will makes it out of season one alive.)
But what makes this scene so special is the kids’ acting.
Mike blows up at Eleven — unfairly, but understandably — for not helping them find Will alive. It’s so out of character for him, which is why it’s powerful.
Same for Lucas shedding tears. We know he loves Will, but he’s usually a dick. Seeing him so hurt and vulnerable here works too.
And Eleven doesn’t know how to act. And even though she’s often in that position, it’s for a different reason now. I don’t know if she knows Will is really in the Upside Down but doesn’t know how to explain it to them, or if she’s just as confused as they are.
Either way, Mike is the one she trusts — her friend. Having him so mad at her has got to hurt.
0 Things I’m Mixed On
2 Things I Don’t Like
2. Every Bully Ever
This is kind of a nitpick, but do the bullies who pick on the boys have to be SO cliché?
We’ve seen them a few times now and they’re completely one-note and act like every other bully ever. They trip Mike and then slap hands when he falls and hits his chin on a rock… they say Will is dead… there’s no nuance.
But who knows… maybe they’ll amount to more eventually. Or maybe being without nuance is the point.
1. Creeper in the Dark Room
Well, I got my answer about Jonathan’s forest photography “excursion” from last episode. It’s important after all.
But is he really this effing dumb?
He took these super shady pictures of his classmates without their consent — some where they’re partially undressed — and now he hangs them on the line in the school dark room like they’re as innocent as pictures of apples.
Really dude?
He knows enough to pull them down when the other girl comes in. He obviously knows how terrible it looks for him to have these pictures. There had to be another way to have him get caught without looking like such a doofus.
Final Thoughts
I’m only three episodes in, but this was the best episode so far. As the mystery comes into focus, it should keep getting better.
In the meantime, the light show was a masterclass in peeling back layers slowly. And we got an emotional ending, where I felt for all the kids for different reasons.
Tim Matassa
