Yup, you're right. I keep swapping the episode counts for the first two parts in my head. 


Isn't it four episodes?
Today is the day, at long last!
WARNING: I'm putting up the Spoilers tag so people are welcomed to talk about the new episodes openly.
And on that note, I'm stepping out until I've seen all three episodes.

...and Netflix has crashed.![]()
I split the episodes between last night and this morning, and having seen all 4 episodes, I can say the season is off to a great start. Since there isn't much of a discussion yet, I'm not going to say too much, just that the Max's fate wasn't quite what I expected, and I didn't expect to see that character again. It was also nice to see some characters who had been kind off to the side away from all Upside Down crazieness get pulled into all of that now.
I do find it kind of funny how Linda Hamilton has gone from playing one of the greatest female action heroes of all time, to now playing villains. I guess she's kind of a female version of Mark Hamill.
I'm assuming this isn't full on telekenisis like Henry and El have, but just him using his connection to the hive mind to control the Demogorgons.Holy. Fuck. That was amazing. It's going to be a very long month until Christmas!*
I had a feeling Will's second sight would become more powerful in the final season...but I didn't expect him to gain telekinetic powers! Or perhaps that telekinesis is limited to beings that he shares minds with. I loved how Robin's experienced advice to Will helped him with his own struggles with his identity and helped him make peace with his relationship with Mike and I especially love how that advice ultimately aided him honing in his psychic abilities. All of this begs the question: Does that extend to Henry himself?
Yeah, this is the big hanging question for me, because this all does seem to be a pretty big change in his MO.Speaking of whom, what exactly is Henry up to? He's luring more victims but on the younger side and now with...kindness? He's always held distain for those he perceives as weak in the mind but why change his modus operandi? And why, after declaring Will's vital importance, would Henry leave Will behind to discover his potential? I suppose he didn't foresee Will's awakening but I fear a long game on Henry's part. Perhaps I'm being paranoid but the timing is curious.
My first thought was that he was Henry, but then as learned more about him and his behavior seemed less Henry like I was starting to wonder if he was a new character who was going to be working with the Hawkins gang against Henry. So I was a little surprised when it actually was Henry.Either way, I wonder about Henry's interest in Holly and if he targeted her specifically because of her relation to Mike and Nancy. I figured right away Mr. Whatsit would be him but it was still wonderfully creepy to watch him lure her into his trap and eventually relocated to a reimagined Creel House. I can't help but wonder if this illusionary house serves a larger purpose, even if I can't think what role it serves. He seemed especially concerned in maintaining the illusion for her sake. Which leads us to...
Yeah, Max showing up in the memory world was a big surprise, I knew she would do more than just be in a coma, but that was not how I expected her to show up. If we don't get more details on what she went through later in the season, I would not be at all surprised if we get a book or comic filling in more of it.Even though I figured Max's mind was lost within another dimension, I hadn't anticipated she would cross the paths with the kidnapped Holly. I loved catching up with Max and how she has...existed...since Henry crippled her body. However, I couldn't help but think in a different show, we would've seen a whole episode of her tumbling through labyrinth of her mind, her memories, and eventually Henry's memories. Clearly that's not the story the Duffer brothers wanted to tell and I respect that, but I was certainly left yearning more. That all said, I highly suspect that Max's role in the volume two, based on her brief visit to 1959 Hawkins High, will tie directly with The First Shadow and that will play a key role in Vecna's ultimate downfall.**
Yeah, her showing up was one of the biggest surprises so far for me. I had assumed her whole story arc had been dumped and we weren't going to see her again.As discussed earlier in the thread, I had actually made peace that we had probably seen the last of Kali. So imagine my absolute delight when Hopper and Eleven found her trapped inside the military's base in the Upside Down. I figured the possibility of Henry's imprisonment was a red herring and I also figured either Owens or (a miraculously saved, again!) Brenner couldn't possibility be so heavily guarded, but I didn't allow myself to hope that Kali would be the one. Which is ironic considering I thought Kali was going to be a different kind of red herring at the beginning: I thought she was responsible for the Eleven decoy the military were chasing in the woods at the beginning of the first episode (although it is weird there was no actual explanation for how that decoy existed). What I can't figure out is what does Dr. Kay need Kali for?
Yeah, even if it didn't end well it was still nice to get to see them get a couple of heroic moments.With each passing season, it has become a fun pastime to mock the pathetic nature of Ted but I loved seeing him rising to the occasion to try and protect his family. He ultimately made very little difference but my admiration for him grew greatly in that moment. Triply so for Karen, especially after her slow descent into alcoholism as well as not believing Holly's seemingly fantasized stories. The moment I saw her backed into the kitchen with the wine bottle on the counter, I knew what she would do, no matter how fruitless it would be.
That's an interesting thing to pick up on, I didn't really notice that, but now that you mention it, I can see it now.In fact, one of the best underlying themes of this season is seeing caregivers bravely protecting kids against monsters despite all odds. Karen and Joyce are the most obvious examples with their full-blown "Get away from her/him, you bitch!" energy but Mike, Lucas, and Robin also went above and beyond in the same manner. With the exception of Karen, they all knew the real severity of their situation and yet none of them hesitated to stand in protection of the innocent.
Holy. Fuck. That was amazing. It's going to be a very long month until Christmas!*
I had a feeling Will's second sight would become more powerful in the final season...but I didn't expect him to gain telekinetic powers! Or perhaps that telekinesis is limited to beings that he shares minds with. I loved how Robin's experienced advice to Will helped him with his own struggles with his identity and helped him make peace with his relationship with Mike and I especially love how that advice ultimately aided him honing in his psychic abilities. All of this begs the question: Does that extend to Henry himself?
Speaking of whom, what exactly is Henry up to? He's luring more victims but on the younger side and now with...kindness? He's always held distain for those he perceives as weak in the mind but why change his modus operandi? And why, after declaring Will's vital importance, would Henry leave Will behind to discover his potential? I suppose he didn't foresee Will's awakening but I fear a long game on Henry's part. Perhaps I'm being paranoid but the timing is curious.
Either way, I wonder about Henry's interest in Holly and if he targeted her specifically because of her relation to Mike and Nancy. I figured right away Mr. Whatsit would be him but it was still wonderfully creepy to watch him lure her into his trap and eventually relocated to a reimagined Creel House. I can't help but wonder if this illusionary house serves a larger purpose, even if I can't think what role it serves. He seemed especially concerned in maintaining the illusion for her sake. Which leads us to...
Even though I figured Max's mind was lost within another dimension, I hadn't anticipated she would cross the paths with the kidnapped Holly. I loved catching up with Max and how she has...existed...since Henry crippled her body. However, I couldn't help but think in a different show, we would've seen a whole episode of her tumbling through labyrinth of her mind, her memories, and eventually Henry's memories. Clearly that's not the story the Duffer brothers wanted to tell and I respect that, but I was certainly left yearning more. That all said, I highly suspect that Max's role in the volume two, based on her brief visit to 1959 Hawkins High, will tie directly with The First Shadow and that will play a key role in Vecna's ultimate downfall.**
As discussed earlier in the thread, I had actually made peace that we had probably seen the last of Kali. So imagine my absolute delight when Hopper and Eleven found her trapped inside the military's base in the Upside Down. I figured the possibility of Henry's imprisonment was a red herring and I also figured either Owens or (a miraculously saved, again!) Brenner couldn't possibility be so heavily guarded, but I didn't allow myself to hope that Kali would be the one. Which is ironic considering I thought Kali was going to be a different kind of red herring at the beginning: I thought she was responsible for the Eleven decoy the military were chasing in the woods at the beginning of the first episode (although it is weird there was no actual explanation for how that decoy existed). What I can't figure out is what does Dr. Kay need Kali for?
With each passing season, it has become a fun pastime to mock the pathetic nature of Ted but I loved seeing him rising to the occasion to try and protect his family. He ultimately made very little difference but my admiration for him grew greatly in that moment. Triply so for Karen, especially after her slow descent into alcoholism as well as not believing Holly's seemingly fantasized stories. The moment I saw her backed into the kitchen with the wine bottle on the counter, I knew what she would do, no matter how fruitless it would be.
In fact, one of the best underlying themes of this season is seeing caregivers bravely protecting kids against monsters despite all odds. Karen and Joyce are the most obvious examples with their full-blown "Get away from her/him, you bitch!" energy but Mike, Lucas, and Robin also went above and beyond in the same manner. With the exception of Karen, they all knew the real severity of their situation and yet none of them hesitated to stand in protection of the innocent.
I'm sorry for the long review but, fuck, there is so much to unpack and I feel like I haven't even scratched on the surface. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts and concerns and theories in the weeks to come but this is all I have for now. That and to say that my singular complaint with volume one was not nearly enough Erica!
*Congratulations to the Duffers brothers for recreating that Christmas yearning that has long since withered and died thanks to adulthood and capitalism. I can't wait for Christmas for the first time in many years!
**I know I keep harping on this point but I really do hope Netflix releases a recording of The First Shadow at some point, regardless of its importance to the final season and how much of it gets retold (as we all expect).
I'm assuming this isn't full on telekenisis like Henry and El have, but just him using his connection to the hive mind to control the Demogorgons.
Yeah, this is the big hanging question for me, because this all does seem to be a pretty big change in his MO.
My first thought was that he was Henry, but then as learned more about him and his behavior seemed less Henry like I was starting to wonder if he was a new character who was going to be working with the Hawkins gang against Henry. So I was a little surprised when it actually was Henry.
Yeah, Max showing up in the memory world was a big surprise, I knew she would do more than just be in a coma, but that was not how I expected her to show up. If we don't get more details on what she went through later in the season, I would not be at all surprised if we get a book or comic filling in more of it.
Yeah, her showing up was one of the biggest surprises so far for me. I had assumed her whole story arc had been dumped and we weren't going to see her again.
Yeah, even if it didn't end well it was still nice to get to see them get a couple of heroic moments.
That's an interesting thing to pick up on, I didn't really notice that, but now that you mention it, I can see it now.
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