We open with the
introduction of a bank robber who seems to have powers - seeing the future and
able to cast illusions. She has an 8 tattooed on her arm - I never thought
about it but the fact Eleven is, well, Eleven does suggest there are at least
10 more out there.
She does need some
advice though - if you’re going to rob a place, do it with a co-conspirator who
doesn’t have a mohawk. Really, I don’t care what kind of mask you’re wearing,
if you have a mohawk you’re identifiable
After that we catch
up with where everyone is.
The central kids:
Mike, Dustin and Lucas are getting on with their lives rather happily with no
great dramas - mostly concerned by a new student Maxine (Max) whose awesome
arcade game skills means she’s completely blasting Dustin’s high scores. This
leads to them following her around in awe with more than a little stalking.
Mike is having some
family friction as he’s been acting up and stealing money from Nancy (which
given her badassery is an act of considerable courage) and Karen is addressing
that being supremely awesome (though that Regan sign in her front line has
collapsed my faith in her. Oh Karen no).
Will is having more
troubles. He still has “episodes” where he suddenly finds himself in the Upside
Down only the dark and ominous ruined space now has a raging, red-lightninged
storm tearing the place up.
Joyce is clearly
worried about Will and trying to not hover over him in overprotective
smotheriness. She and Sheriff Jim (who is awesome and supportive) take Will to
the hospital to continue to be examined about these episodes. The doctor
considers this to be PTSD and gives quite good advice and support to Joyce and
Jim about what they need to expect and be prepared for - including more
visions, more nightmares and increasing irritability. Above all the doctor
insists they need to trust him and the Ominous People are gone
The Ominous people
are in the basement and their Ominous computers are Ominously freaking out over
the Ominous red storm. They’re also using flamethrowers on the portal.
Will himself is
getting more agitated with both the storm and pressure and bullying from
others. He snaps at Jonathan about how everyone is treating him - either the
freak who came back from the dead or Joyce and Jonathan who are treating him
like he’s made of glass. Jonathan continues to be supportive, awesome and the
best big brother ever (hey, and points to Stranger Things for positive
sibling relationships rather than having younger siblings constantly at war
with the elders)
Joyce is also dating
a guy. He seems… nice. Jonathan and Will kindly tolerate him. Joyce is also
still paranoid about her phone ringing
Jonathan is still
friends with Nancy and she is encouraging him to come out of his shell and
socialise and party more… he is still dodging that. Steve and Nancy are still a
thing, though Steve is having some shaky doubts over going to college, leaving
Nancy and his own capacity. This may get more tense now new Designated Hot Guy
has arrived in town with flash car and Unfortunate Hair.
Nancy does convince
Steve to go to Barbara’s parents’ house. They’re not doing well with Barbara’s
disappearance, blame Sheriff Jim and have hired an ex-reporter, Murray, to
investigate. Apparently his fees are high because they’re having to sell the
house to pay him
Murray is giving Jim
grief, but Jim is not remotely impressed and shuts him down hard. He only
listens to him at all because he chased rumours of a weaponised Russian psychic
Girl. But when he realises all the rumours he’s heard are out of date from season
1 he ignores the wretched man
Instead he goes to
investigate a pumpkin field which is full of blackened rotting pumpkins… which
could be ominous, I guess. Do pumpkins rot?
He’s concerned about
people chasing rumours about El because she’s living with him. And it’s
adorable
One thing to note
about Stranger Things is how they’ve done a good job of having opposite
sex friends support each other without it turning into a romance. I noted last
season about Nancy and Jonathan and how they are friends, willing to work
together and support each other without having a relationship: and without
jealousy or pushing. And now we have Joyce and Jim - I’m not convinced that Jim
isn’t still pining after Joyce or we won’t get there eventually, but so far we
have Jim happy to support Joyce despite her being in a relationship with
another man; continuing to support her and Will. I like this - I like that
friendship, respect and support is not merely a prequel or side effect of a
religious relationship.
