The good news is that, after eight episodes of varying quality (although the majority have been great), the final chapter wraps things up brilliantly, with a solid mix of drama, action, danger, and even romance. It's everything I had hoped it would be.
The Gate starts with Eleven's timely arrival at the Byers house, to the surprise of those inside, especially Mike, who is angry when he learns where she has been for the past year. Eleven's appearance means that there is a chance that the gate between our dimension and the upside-down can be sealed, but to do so the Shadow Monster must first be forced out of Will, and the demodogs lured away from the lab.
Highlights of this season's closer include a tense fist fight between Max's nasty stepbrother Billy (Dacre Montgomery) and Steve, the expulsion of the Shadow Monster (shades of The Exorcist), and the scenes inside the tunnels as Steve and the kids play their part in defeating the evil that has been plaguing the town of Hawkins. Best of all is the epilogue, which sees the boys and girls attending the Christmas ball at their school: I'm not usually one for the sappy stuff, but seeing the characters developing relationships and enjoying themselves is heartwarming stuff.
All told, I liked this season even more than the last. The wait for Season Three is going to be a long one.
