First Things First…
I was a little disappointed with the last episode. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t come together as well as the final episodes of a season usually do. But the season finale is here, and I’m anxious to see how these storylines resolve. I doubt the Mind Flayer is going to survive again and continue as the villain, so I assume he’ll get beaten here. But he can cause a lot of damage first. And the Russians probably aren’t going anywhere.
7 Things I Like
7. Murray Hates Kids
“I’m sorry, why is this four-year-old speaking to me?”
Murray
Murray’s interactions with Dustin and Erica are priceless. He has no idea how to talk to kids, and Erica couldn’t give less of a shit that he’s an adult.
Just as good is Lucas’ dismay at the way his sister talks to Murray, especially when she tells the group that if they listen to Murray and waltz into the underground Russian lab like it’s “commie Disneyland,” they’re all gonna die.
I have to say, I do feel a little bad for Murray when Dustin christens him “Bald Eagle” for their communications on the walkie-talkies.
6. Lucas’ Fireworks Display
“Flay this, you ugly piece of shit!”
Lucas
I’m so glad they paid off Lucas grabbing all the fireworks. My guy is too cool a customer to give Max an “I told you so,” but he totally could have. The fireworks are instrumental in beating the Mind Flayer’s monster. Every direct hit also hurts Flayed Billy and keeps him and the monster at bay, which is extra important now that El is powered down.
Plus, the bombardment of fireworks in the mall just makes for a cool visual.
5. “I Love You, Too”
The show continues to portray young love in a cute and touching way, especially when it comes to Mike and El. I loved the awkwardness of their conversation about visiting each other for the holidays… their struggle to find something more to say… and El finally remembering Mike standing up for her and expressing his love for her a few episodes earlier, and simply saying, “I love you, too.”
4. A Little Extra Something
I think this is the first time an episode of this show has had a stinger. After it looks like Hopper dies in the underground Russian lab—that’s certainly the impression everyone is under, most notably Joyce and El—we visit a facility in Russia, where a Demogorgon is being kept and needs to be fed. That’s when they tease that locked in one of the cells is “the American.” I’m assuming that’s Hopper, especially since that’s what the Russian Terminator called him.
Also, I could be wrong about this, but I don’t remember any Demogorgons we’ve seen before walk on two feet. This one comes out of its cell on all fours, but as it approaches its meal, it gets up on its hind legs and looks awfully human—not in its face, which is still what it’s always been, but in its body structure and posture.
Are Demogorgons evolving?
3. El Depowered
I really like the challenge of everyone having to step up because not only is the Mind Flayer’s monster bigger and stronger than ever, but the bite El suffered last episode has somehow caused her powers to abandon her.
To be honest, though, I had only been excited about her being powerless because of what it would mean for this fight. It hadn’t occurred to me that her powers would still be gone after.
I don’t know if this will be permanent—I suspect not—but three months after the battle, her powers still haven’t come back. I imagine this will be a major storyline for Season 4, and that has a lot of potential.
2. Dad Mode
Considering how much of a bummer I’ve found Hopper most of this season, I absolutely love the moment he shares with El at the start of this episode. He gets to act like a dad, and they’ve both been through so much—and have almost been killed—since they last saw each other at the beginning of the season (which I guess was just a few days ago).
They have a quiet moment before everyone heads out. When she tells him she can fight, he says, “Better than any of us.” But he convinces her to stay safe because the Mind Flayer and his monster are after her, not him.
It’s not so much about the words or the message, though. His demeanor with her, the way he doesn’t just throw his weight around but makes sure she understands his decision, the way they’re holding hands… all of it makes him feel more like a dad than he ever has before. And then their final hug, and the little smile he gives her… it’s his best moment of the season.
1. Hopper’s Letter/Moving On
It’s a letter written to El, and it’s more of him being a dad, and being proud, and sad, watching her grow up and outgrow her need for him.
That on its own is emotional enough, especially seeing how it makes El sob. But what’s even better is that so much of what he says, about people’s desire to hold on to the things, the people, the times, and the moments we love, even though we can’t hang on—it’s just not how life works—applies to their whole group (not to mention to all of us).
As the Byers are moving away, they’re all losing friends… Mike is losing his girlfriend… Nancy is losing her boyfriend… and they’ve all already lost Hopper. It’s one of the best scenes the show has ever done.
4 Things I’m Mixed On
4. Too-Cute Suzie
I suspected all season we’d end up meeting Suzie, I just wasn’t sure how or when it would happen.
She comes in at a great time to help save the day. And she’s exactly the type of cute, nerdy girl I expected Dustin would have met. But the whole scene is just a little too cute, especially their duet of “The Neverending Story.”
3. Jonathan and Nancy’s Breakup?
I was surprised to see Jonathan joining his mom and Will. He’s old enough that he shouldn’t have to move with them. I guess I’m technically not sure if he and Nancy are actually breaking up. It’s not clear how far away they’re moving. It feels like a breakup, though. And I don’t want to be too judgmental about a guy deciding to stay with his family, but it feels like an odd decision, considering all he and Nancy have been through.
2. FINALLY (eventually) an End to the Bickering
“You know, I think despite everything, I mean despite the arguing, I think we make a pretty good team.”
Hopper
Thank goodness Hopper and Joyce FINALLY start getting along while in the lab, and even set up their dinner date (which now looks like it’ll never happen). But the fact that they continued to bicker even after the beginning of the episode, when they reunited with their kids, seems so petty. Hopper doesn’t like the plan, presumably because he wants Joyce to be safe, but man oh man, the fighting got old. The fact that Murray once again had to address them as “children” tells you everything you need to know about how they were acting.
1. Hopper’s Sacrifice
This should be more emotional than it is. As much as I was down on Hopper this season, I still think he’s a great character, and I’ve enjoyed most of his arc throughout the show.
Maybe it’s my negative feelings for him this season, or maybe it’s because they never show his body, which already would have made me skeptical he was really dead, even before they tease him being alive in the stinger, but I couldn’t get invested in this. I immediately assumed it was a fake-out.
2 Things I Don’t Like
2. A Waste of the Good Doctor
Owens and his reinforcements show up after the battle, have nothing to do, and amount to nothing. I don’t understand what the point was of even including him if it was just for this.
1. Saving Billy/What About the Mind Flayer?
So just because El had spent time in Billy’s memories and talks about them, the Mind Flayer suddenly loses his ability to possess Billy.
I get giving Billy redemption at the end before he dies. Once we learned his background, it’s clear he’s a guy who got a raw deal in life. But can’t we find a better way to get there?
Having him return to his senses when reminded of his childhood memories might’ve made sense if he was in his right mind but just being an abusive asshole. But he’s being possessed. How do El’s words even pierce the Mind Flayer’s control and get into Billy’s conscious mind?
And what happens to the Mind Flayer when Billy gets to play the hero? Does he leave Billy? Deactivate? Is Billy consciously suppressing him?
It’s really unclear how this happens, and it feels too convenient a way for Billy to buy everyone the extra time they need.
Tim Matassa
