Chapter Eight: Papa

Volume 2 starts with a bang and doesn't let up! This is one hell of an intense episode, and doesn't ever take the foot off the gas. Every scene escalated into the next with emotional moment after emotional moment and tons of glorious payback in the end. I am beyond excited for the monstrous 2.5 hour finale next. This show is beyond great.

I'm an old guy, not much for kid actors. I know there are some stereotypes here, but I find this bunch to be so much fun. I thought the story had to be told to get us ready for the finish of the season. With an ensemble cast we need to add meat to the story. They do this so well. If there's a weakness to the whole thing it would be how quickly they determine what they can do to stop this monster. Of course, then you dismiss the show. I'm always amazed at the limited attention spans of some of the viewers. It's as if there has to be a significant scene every few seconds to hold their gaze. I like getting deeper into characters and motivations. I also enjoyed the parallel plot in the USSR. What an amazing contribution to the film world.

A journey...

A little drawn out, yet I'm so invested in the characters, and the show, everything is still very compelling. I'm happy for the filler, but there still is at least 30 minutes of it in this episode.

Very, very little happened through the first hour. The gang is all kind of spinning their wheels, moving into place to set up the finish. The Gun Store was completely pointless, as was much of the B Squad in the Mystery Machine driving around the desert, the Russian storyline is hit and miss. All that said, Eleven/Papa was great, really setting up some answers with some great back and forth between characters. I enjoyed the redemption arch that was given to Martin/Papa, even if it lacked subtlety.

The show continues to use music as well as any series I've ever watched, seems like such a small thing, yet ST turns music into a POWERFUL character. Also, I loved the multiple Kate Bush references made during the episode, shows rarely do that, breaking the wall a bit, letting the viewers know there is some self awareness.

Satisfying with a dash of fan service. 👌

"Papa" sees Stranger Things dialed up to 12, delivering on all emotional points and plot points with gusto. Matthew Modine and Millie Bobby Brown are brilliant onscreen together, particularly Modine with his delivery and use of his eyes. The California group finally shows some life from it's actors, with Noah Schnapp knocking it out of the park, and Finn Wolfhard offering solid support (finally). The writing is outstanding, with a minimal amount plot holes and every move so far is in-character, showing that the Duffers really have learned from season three. A pleasant surprise was the Russia group proving themselves to be at times as riveting as the Hawkins group, although the chemistry of the Hawkins group is so compelling. However, the heart and soul of the story lives in Eleven and her journey, and boy does it deliver on all fronts. So far, phenomenal stuff from chapter two of Stranger Things. We are back, ladies and gentlemen.

Really good episode before the season finale, which I'm looking forward to watch in five minutes. I won't spoil anything, but it's clearly building to something epic. There are some emotional moments, the cinematography is amazing, and all of these subplots we've been following are seeming to finally come together. Should be an epic finale to conclude what has been my personal favorite season of stranger things so far.