'Stranger Things' Recap - 'Chapter Eight: The Upside Down'

Written by Scott Edwards

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Chief Hopper does not think being picked up by the military and Dr. Brenner is a setback, he is actually kind of happy they have him. Being able to make a deal to keep what has been happening in the town of Hawkins under wraps, Hopper and Joyce will be allowed to take the trip to the Upside Down realm to try and find her son. Even though Dr. Brenner does not believe that they will find the boy, much less make it back from their adventure. Also having to give up the location of the girl, Hopper is comfortable in his decision, especially since it is to save a life. Seeing that the Upside Down world is a dirty reflection of his world, Hopper moves through with ease, but when finding that Castle Byers is destroyed, the two will have to find another familiar place to hunt. 
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Nancy and Jonathan have left the youngins alone and are ready to set up their trap for the monster. Going back to Jonathan’s house, the two set up everything that they need to catch the beast when they get a knock on the door. Steve comes into the house and cannot wrap his head around what the two are doing. Being told to leave, it is too late as the monster comes out to kill whomever it can get its hands on. Not being fooled by the trap, the monster is able to escape, but it does not go far. Leaving the house, Steve sees the lights start to act up again and decides to help Nancy battle this thing. Being able to get the monster to back into the bear trap, the group lets loose on it with flames, but when they are put out, the creature once again has vanished, but this time for good, they hope.

Sitting and waiting for Nancy and Jonathan to return is not going to keep the boys occupied, especially when Dustin gets the hankering for some chocolate pudding. As Mike sits alone with Eleven, he tells her how different the world will be for the two when this is all over and even wants to take her to the school dance. When hearing a car pulling up, Mike thinks that Nancy has returned, but when he walks outside, he sees that it is the government men again. Trying to find the perfect hiding place in the school, the boys and Eleven are caught in the hall and all guns have been trained on them. Seeing her friends being picked up by the troops, Eleven will not allow any harm to come to them and uses her power once again, this time destroying the troops brains. Seeing Papa again, Eleven starts to feel safe, but with all of the blood on the floor, Eleven and Mike know that the monster is not far behind as it comes through the wall and attacks the troops, but thankfully the boys and Eleven are able to find a place to hold up, but they will need more time in their safe place since Eleven needs to rest to get her power back.

Being able to track the monster by the blood trail that was caused by Nancy, Steve and Jonathan’s assault on it, Hopper and Joyce make their way into town. Keeping their eyes open to see the monster, they have no idea what is happening in their own world. When the monster is finished with all of the troops, it turns its attention on the kids in the classroom. Without any real weapons that can do any damage to it, the boys are out matched, but once again, Eleven will not let any harm come to her friends. Being able to overpower the monster, Eleven uses her talents once again, this time dissolving herself, along with the beast that she has released on the town. In the Upside Down world, Joyce finds her son hanging on a wall with something stuck down his throat. Hopper is able to get the boy breathing again, but the two have no idea what they are dealing with and just want to get Will back to the land of the living.

Well, there it is, the final episode of season one of Stranger Things and we are primed for a second season as long as it gets green lit.  I don’t see why not as the story seems to be far from complete and there are still so many questions about the Upside Down world that need to be answered, especially an egg looking thing that has apparently hatched. I really dug the boys’ interaction throughout the series, as these are the same things we all fought about when we were kids, just without really having to deal with monsters. Hopper was still my favorite in the series and this episode really shows why as he is able to keep his cool under pressure and get exactly what he wants, and then some. I liked how the relationship between Jonathan and Nancy worked out in the end and while they will not be together all of the time, they seem to have bonded over the experience. I still did not really like the Nancy and Steve storyline throughout the season, but that is just me as I think the teenage love stories have been completely played out. I can see that this series is truly catered towards my generation since it is just an 80’s joygasm. Well, I hope there is a season two, but until then, I will have to find another show to binge on, but I don’t know if there will be another one that will be so much fun.

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