User reviews

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.

By the end of the episode, you begin to realize: dang, I think I might be living through a historic moment in television with season 4. All the right feelings, at all the right moments, entertaining, great characters.

I'm having to force myself to stop and take a break before I watch the finale because already I'm in that feeling I get when I am so enthralled by a piece of television I can't think about much else.

Another episode of Stranger Things that is of high quality. I enjoyed Season 2 and then Season 3 even more than that, but I have to admit that the way the writers are using all of the characters in this season has been much more simple long and effective.

011 has has a really good arc this season, and none of her flashbacks or the Nina Project plot outstayed welcome like I thought they might. The last act of this episode felt like it was ripped straight out of an 80s action movie, with so much heart, emotion and thrills. Great pacing, set pieces and acting all around.

The moment between Mike and Will was also extremely well acted and heartbreaking. I genuinely love Will this season. I have no idea what his role will be in the final season, but I've got a feeling it'll probably be very important.

The final moments between 011 and Papa were also really chilling and felt earned. Modine was excellent, but Brown was seriously phenomenal.

A truly cinematic, great addition to the series.

Spoiler Free Zone!!!

I just have to say WOW. The quality of the series has drastically improved. I was left speechless with my jaw on the floor at the end. The Duffer Brothers have created another masterpiece episode, with all of the characters nailing their performances.

They better give some awards especially to Sadie and Millie because they frickin carried the episode with their amazing acting skills.

This is indeed the beginning of the end.

"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.

Man everyone did a fantastic job, acting was on point, writing excellent, really good leading to a wonderful comeback of the gang.

Definitely worth watching right at midnight. It was an amazing feeling that Netflix was lagging because of the amount of people that tuned in to watch it as soon as it came out!

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. 👌

The biggest issue with this show is ill thought out script. Small things can shatter the suspension of disbelief. For example, a row of machine guns can't kill the monster even with its face exposed, but one bullet by Hopper can? It's like that episode in season 3 where a shotgun had no effect at all, but an axe totally did. Sure Jane, that's how it works.

It seems anyone can get a job as a writer with Netflix, so if they need that one person in the room who says "What? That's just plain stupid!" Just tell me where to send my CV.

Also, that Will speech made me sick. I love cheese, stilton, cheddar, edam, name it and ill eat it. But my good gravy jebus that was the worst cheese ive ever seen, utter cringe ball.

Boring Episode full of exposition between all characters.

The sharing of information and feelings with each other that not only the characters already knew (mostly), but the Audience already knew - or had at the very least - easily surmised.

Show, don't tell. Stranger Things had already shown us - why did they think we needed all this exposition to re-tell us?

Also, maybe it was just me, but I really didn't care about the Papa and Eleven relationship, particularly not at this stage. It was a yawn. And it was obvious how it was going to end. But we had to sit through exposition between these two this Episode - possibly the whole Season.

What a momentum killer after Episode 7 was terrific.

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.

But not calm at all.

Things move forward the most for the Eleven and her boyfriend's plot, but the other plot lines are pretty much where they already were and they're gonna advance those further in the finale.

But I have no problem with that because it's a necessary set-up for the story and it's good that they're taking their time and are not limited by time constraints. Even if we don't consider this a "part 2" opener and look at it as the season's penultimate episode, it is still a necessary episode between the last episode and the finale.

I pretty much liked all the things in this episode, it's a setup for the finale so it's not like it's the best episode of the show or anything, but it's still one of the better ones.

My point still stands that if Vecna doesn't actually kill one of the main characters, he doesn't become the menacing and fearful villain the writers want him to be and this season would be really disappointing to me even though it's already the best season of the show, and all the tension and suspense would be for nothing and Vecna would become another generic villain who couldn't do anything and lost to a song!

So here's hoping for a great finale with actual stakes and not cheap fake-outs and writers being afraid to take risks with their story. So far, this season has been amazing with everything, music, cinematography, direction and editing, and acting for the most part because I feel like Mike and Will's acting this season is really fake and bad, but the only thing holding this show back from greatness is the writing and all the clichés and writers not willing to take risks and give us something new.

As we continue from the end of Volume 1, it feels like we never left. The continuation is extremely smooth, and feels natural. This episode, while not having any really crazy moments, is still amazing. It has lots of tension and is a great prelude episode to the finale. As all of our characters suit up and prepare for the big fight against Vecna, you can feel the intensity and desperation of the situation our protagonists are in, and the ending scene is awesome. Great episode.

P. S it's also really funny.

The wait is finally over, and the final two episodes of Stranger Things 4 have been released... And it's not disappointed me yet! This season has been an absolute blast, and it frustrates me that I won't be able to watch the finale until tonight. Its going to be a painful 10 hours, and I hope that it's worth the wait!

This show is JUST PERFECT!!! Everything is so beautiful made! Every little detail! This is so satisfying to watch. Thank you for this! So nostalgic for us over 40.

I can't describe in words the feelings i got the moment eleven came back to the group.

This season is amazing. I can't say anything bad.

This is the clam before the storm for sure.

Corny acting. Weak, pointless plotlines that are far too drawn out. Unconvincing direction. This episode had it the hardest, they are forcing drama and conflict when they should be wrapping up and moving on to the next beat. Poor pacing. 2/10 and will not be watching this season again. Duffers should have been told to cut 20% of each episode.