Chapter Six: The Monster

Brilliant episode and definitely my favorite of the season up to this point

Chapter Six: The Monster continues the first season perfectly. Yes, it's not in the same complexity as the third and fourth episodes, but it's still addictive and shows that the execution of the concept can be done perfectly.

The story continues to be well written and retains the intensity of the previous episodes while advancing the characters in the situations they're still in right now. The continuous search for Will Byers while the scientists are trying to recapture El to use their experiment. Also, the scene where Mike and Dustin run from the bullies who held Dustin in knife point and forcing Mike to jump off the cliff until El shows up and saves them is well done. The writing is still superb, the pacing never drags, the performances are still great, and the music score is still respectful to the 1980s setting.

Overall, another addictive episode to the first season and shows that things are getting better so far. :)

'The Monster' is almost pure plot development, from start to finish; some of it feels contrived, but also bookended by exhilaration. The Nancy-Jonathan-Steve triangle plays like a melodrama, but I was happy to see Steve get his clock cleaned - I just wish Jonathan didn't get a raw deal in the process. And having Mike and Dustin wander the woods only to run into the pee-stained bullies is a little cheesy, it's in the service of Eleven as Deus Ex Machina. Worth it.

Ultimately, what's promised here is both hope and fear. The opening sees Nancy coming back from the upside down, which means so can Will and Barb. And that cliffhanger ending has Eleven and the boys leading the lab guys right to the Wheeler house. Why the hell are there only two more episodes left?

7/10

I have to agree that the two confrontations with the bullies are distractions. The only plot element that is really necessary is the trip to see the woman who gave birth to El. The sister supplies information that is necessary to verify what the two suspect. Things do heat up at the electric plant. Jonathan and Nancy are waylaid because he struck a police officer. We do have all the elements in place to get us to the conclusion. The big boys are out in force. But what are they going to do with this thing when they finally get to it? That's the serious question. Three is a reunion at the end of the episode. The fight are satisfying, I must admit, but they really do nothing.

Just one, but its scary enough, at least for Nancy, who is in a very dark place, Jonathan frantically searching for her. Also, the boys try to find Eleven, and Hopper and Joyce try to find the truth behind the organization directed by Dr. Brenner.

This is another strong episode for this first season of "Stranger Things". It still gets a zero for originality, and some plot developments (bullies, bullies) could have been just left out, because they just add a strange layer of angst that the show could do without, on top of just answering violence with humiliation and more violence.

Nevertheless, the episode is a strong one. The relationships have been well developed and the dynamics between the characters are good, or, in some instances, great. The production values and the direction are also good, and the atmosphere is pervasive, with a feeling of dread that keeps the viewer's attention during the whole running time (not very scary, but atmospheric enough).

And so close to the end, the pace is gaining some rhythm, which is something that gives energy to the proceedings, helping the episode to end in a high note.