Ominous lab is now
under attack by waves and waves of what I’m going to call demigogs because
that’s what Dustin is calling them. And, no matter what Grandfather scientist
claims, the polycarbonate glass is not going to keep them out
The facility is in
utter chaos, people are dying left right and centre. Bob, Jim, Will, Mike,
Joyce and Grandfather Scientist whose name I should really look up - Dr. Owens
- make it to the security room. They have to drug Will as he fights them so he
can’t psychically transmit their location or plans to the big shadowy monster.
The rest of the
facility is an utter horror show - and kudos for the writers and director for
truly creating a scary horrifying setting.
To get out they need
to reactivate the power and use a computer. Which is very very Jurassic Park,
I’m going to give homage points. And while Jim is quick to step up to help, he
knows nothing about computers. None of them do, except Bob.
Bob, the genuinely
good, normal guy, doing his best and being nicer than nice. Of course Bob is
willing to do it, despite the huge risk and despite knowing nothing about guns.
He makes his way to
the basement with massively horrible levels of tension, and rests the computers
and the locks, giving everyone else a chance to make it to the exit - which
they do
Except Dr. Owens - he
stays in the security room so he can guide the others using the CCTV to help
them avoid the demigogs. Yes it seems like a genuine moment of self-sacrifice
from a the head of Hawkings Laboratory, showing again how well this show has
taken an ominous lab and utterly humanised the leader (which adds to the
complexity as well of Kali’s revenge plot).
Dr. Owens guides Bob
to the exit - and it’s unbearably tense. Again, massive points to the horror
movie directing of this. It’s awful to watch, there’s a near moment and almost
almost almost I think Bob is going to make it. Despite already being sure he’s
going to die to clear the way for Joyce and Jim, I thought he was going to make
it
Of course a demigog
catches him just as he reaches the exit
 |
| Raise a glass everyone for Bob, genuinely nice guy. You were too good for this world. |
While they were
escaping, Dustin, Lucas, Steve, Max met up with a returning Jonathan and Nancy
at the lab where they notice shenanigans afoot
Dustin and Lucas also
have a lot of arguments about Lucas telling Max everything (which seems to be
part of his Steve-led advice to shun Max into liking him) while Lucas is
supremely pissed (for better reason) at Dustin keeping Dart secret.
They’re outside the
lab when those inside make a run for it and they provide getaway cars to go to
Joyce’s house
Time for some
brainstorming: using a DnD monster manual and lots of theorising to Jim’s
endless frustration, they dub the big shadowy thing the Mind Flayer, speculate
that it wants to conquer the world and that it’s connected to all of its
minions in the same way that it is connected to Will. They theorise from there
that if they kill the Mind Flayer they kill the Demigogs. The only other plan
they have is Jim calling in police and military help which is pretty hard
considering a) no-one believes him and b) the Demigogs seems to be immune to
bullets anyway
Since Will is
connected to the Mind Flayer they decide to try and get through to him -but
firstly they redecorate to hide
Also redecorating in
a slightly unhinged fashion is kind of Joyce’s solution for everything.
When they wake Will
up, tied up, he screams about being let go - and Joyce holds him until he
exhausts himself (and it is tragic to watch them - so much pain from Joyce to
see her child like this). They try to connect with Will but he just demands
they let him go - but he taps his hand: it’s morse code. Will is in there, hearing
them and trying to communicate with them
They all try to
connect with him by sharing heartbreaking memory after heartbreaking memory:
Joyce, Jonathan, Mike, all sharing powerful, emotional memories with Will.
While this is
happening we have a moment of sadness commemorating the awesomeness of Bob and
we have a few character moments: Nancy and Steve, Dustin and Lucas making
peace, Mike still hates Max even as she acknowledges El (Jane) and Dustin
acknowledging Lucas and Max are together
After connecting to
many memories he sends the message “Closegate”. Which… isn’t exactly hard to
figure out? It’s more how than if.
But they’re
interrupted by the phone ringing - and this is enough for the Mindflayer to see
where they are. They hurriedly drug Will but it’s too late… The demigogs are
coming
Jim arms himself and
Nancy (of course Nancy. You didn’t think anyone else there would get a gun
before Nancy, right?). They prepare to stand their ground and die fighting…
But they hear
conflict outside. Lots of bangs and crashing and splats and whimpering
demigogs. And one is thrown into the room, dead.
What can kill a pack
of bullet proof demigogs?
Yes, Jane is home
For reasons
completely unknown and completely failing to add anything to the episode we
also catch up with Billy the worst to see that his dad is a homophobic abuser
and generally awful.
Which… ok? And? I mean, why is this here? Why is Billy even here? There’s only one episode left in the season and I have yet to see a point to this distraction.
Especially this
episode where we have the death of Bob, the tragic, and horror-filled death of
this excellent character. And the emotional scenes with Will and the people who
care for him - all excellently done, all perfectly done and focused. We don’t need
his weird tangent.
