'Stranger Things 2' Recap - 'Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

​When we last visited the world of Stranger Things, our beloved characters were facing an incredibly grim situation. The Shadow Monster had laid a trap for the soldiers at the Hawkins Lab and everyone inside said lab was now in danger of getting up close and personal with the legions of baby Demogorgons emerging from the tunnels beneath the facility. Which meant the next episode, should have been filled to the brim with action and terrifying moments as everyone worked to survive the imminent attack…right?
 
Well, as it turns out, this series decided to go in an incredibly bold direction by abandoning that action-packed storyline in favor of a dark and powerful character study since ‘Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister’ gave us Eleven’s darkest hour to date as she sought out the young woman she once shared the Rainbow Room with and well, after having watched this one, and having seen the reaction online to it, I have to say that I completely disagree with folks that found this one to be an awful episode; because this story was downright brilliant and necessary as well.
 
I call it necessary simply because Eleven has been the only real character without a purpose thus far this season. She’s been lost and desperate to find herself and peace for that matter and seeking out the only other person out there who can remotely understand her pain and her suffering is hands down the best way for that to happen. Plus, let’s be honest, her embracing of revenge as a whole is also a logical turn for this character since she’s never really enjoyed any resolution or justice when it comes to the people that have wronged her.
 
But most importantly, without going down that dark road, and coming to realize who she really is in the process and what matters to her, then there is no redemption for this troubled character and that’s what makes this episode so supremely special, the fact that this is Eleven’s long road back toward the light. Because she learns the value of life in this tale, and the dangers of revenge and of course, that there are people in this world that truly care about her and need her and this revelation could not have come at a better time since it’s clear that Mike and the gang desperately need her help right now.
 
However, regardless of whether you loved or hated this episode, I think we can all agree upon the fact that Millie Bobby Brown is ridiculously talented. She put on an acting clinic in this episode and left everything on the table and her fine performance is one of the many reasons this episode works for me, because all the pain and anguish that Eleven experiences in this tale felt one hundred percent genuine and all of that aside, this episode was a welcome break from one incredibly tense moment, one that I have no doubt we are about to be thrust right back into, because the Shadow Monster is on the prowl for blood and I am dying to know how on earth Will and his friends are going to get out of this mess. Until next time.   

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