Chapter Four: The Sauna Test

Like both the previous seasons, First three were setting up the plot, now the cards are open we can gave the showdown. But the only complain remains still about non realistic interaction between the characters.

Other reviews of this episode mention how good it is due to "character development, music, etc..." but then say how much better it is than episodes 1 & 2. These episodes were used to set up the rest of the season! We all know these characters so well, but time has passed since we've seen them. The writers couldn't just jump into the next encounter with the Upside-Down world without giving us reasons to continue to care about these kids. I think they did an excellent job of creating some division among the group, all while setting up the pending danger. This is the first clear sign that "Stranger Things" continues to reach the bar that it has set so high for itself.

After a rocky start to the season it finally feels like we're back. This episode has the main cast split into 3 groups, with each group trying tackle a different aspect of whatever is menacingly haunting Hawkins.

While it still feels like Dustin and Steve are stumbling on solutions to their problems too easily thanks to Robin, Joyce and Hopper are getting their hands dirty and tracing clues with some gritty detective work which is great, and the rest of the kids are (in vintage Stranger Things style) cleverly coming up with plans to find out what exactly is going on and who's behind it.

The formula is pretty similar to that which we've seen from Stranger Things in the previous 2 seasons, but the writers have thrown in a few curve balls to keep things fresh, and there's definitely a darker tone than we've seen before. The pacing in this episode is great and the acting, as per, is phenomenal. Hopefully the rest of the season is like this and not like the first 2 and a half episodes.

Wow, S3E4 is an incredible episode that turns up the dial on what started out as a slow burner of a season. With bits and pieces of the main story arc fed to us in the first 3 episodes, everything comes together for an absolute thriller of a ride in this episode! The ending gave me absolute chills, can't wait to see what happens next!

I have to admit, this episode put in the middle of my seat with goosebumps.