Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero

Slow moving of storyline but there were some interesting parts which were really exciting. Looking for the best episode of the series... Dear Billy. The storyline of season 4 is actually different and good. Vecna is a real threat. The Clock sound is actually making me disturbing and scary.

If anyone ever needs to know how to set an epic episode up then this is certainly the best way possible. So much of this episode was story and world building leading to an epic first arc conclusion to this series, not the series as a whole but this first part.

I cannot fault any of the acting or writing in this series, they've all grown up so fast since the last, having heart but also being able to drop a few of the more mature elements to keep the series fresh!

The dynamic of Steve is still a standout of the series as he is just perfectly cast as the 'mama bro' for all of the younger characters. To have Robin by his side as well they are just great and will always cause a laugh.

I just cant wait for the next episode where all of this could really go down!

This episode was honestly great all around and that cliffhanger ending really has me freaked out! This season is going pretty well so far and has so much potential from here!

'Stranger Things' "Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero" (2022)

Opening thoughts: While really enjoying Seasons 1 and 2, which had many exceptional episodes, Season 3 was a lot less consistent. It did have two episodes that were outstanding and a couple more that were close, but the others were uneven but good and at their worst barely average. Expectations were high for Season 4, though did worry about due to the longer break between Seasons 3 and 4 for obvious reasons whether it would forget what made 'Stranger Things' work so well at its best or remembers.

On the most part, Season 4 did remember what 'Stranger Things' is about. It was an uneven season that did try to do too much and the pacing wasn't always there, but there was a lot of great things about it. This was obvious in the previous episodes of the season, it is even more obvious here in the first truly great episode of it "Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero". While not all the few problems of the previous two episodes are solved, the main weak link of them is.

Bad things: If there is any criticism about "Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero", to me there could have been less characters, as the episode has an occasional over stuffed feel.

Good things: Everything else is superb however. What immediately stood out is the truly powerful beyond her years performance of Millie Bobby Brown, some of her best acting of the show. Loved Eleven's complex, tortured character development, this is the most interesting she has been in a while. Also loved the perfect mix of fun comic timing and hard hitting drama shown in Finn Woolfhard's acting, as well as the intense and heartfelt chemistry between them.

Visually, "Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero" looks wonderful, one of the best looking episodes of Season 4, a season where the amount of time and money showed even more so than before. Loved the creepy horror vibe to the photography and lighting and the effects are better than those in many films today. The music is haunting and nostalgic.

Writing is thought provoking and entertaining, the more dramatic moments not being melodramatic. As ever, couldn't help being reminded of 'Stand By Me' in points. The story is always compelling and never dull, also genuinely moving and the creepier moments are truly unnerving. The ending is a real shocker, not expected and hand to the mouth inducing. The gruesomeness isn't gratuitous or gimmicky, quite nightmarish.

Closing thoughts: Overall, superb.

9/10.

I'm giving this episode a ten because it just really stood out to me. There are so many shows going on currently that rely only on action scenes and fight sequences to make their episodes entertaining, and are otherwise mostly soulless without them.

This show also has very well done action scenes, and yet you have episodes like this one where they dial back the action and still manage to make an incredibly captivating and entertaining hour of television that feels like it just flies by. Seriously, this hour long episode felt shorter to me and dragged less than a 35 minute episode of a Disney+ show.

All of the storylines have me intrigued currently, I really forgot how much I love this show.