Finally finished up. Episode 1 legitimately creeped me out big time. I geared up for the premier in a dark room late at night, and by the end of the episode I was damn near watching through my fingers. Definitely a turn from what I've come to expect from Stranger Things, but not a bad thing.

After Episode 1, it feel back into a pretty comfortable vibe. I'm glad they gave us a villain with a bit of personality this go around. I thought Vecna was bordering on hokey, but episode 7 really closed off that question I had ("Why in a world of monsters is there one now who wants to engage in repartee??").

Mike has always been the worst part of the series to me, so him getting sidelined with Will and Jonathan is not the end of the world.

The new characters are great. I think we all knew some version of Eddie, and the actor playing him is doing a really incredible job giving that character a surprising amount of depth. Speaking of characters, they've done a masterful job writing several of them. Steve, Lucas, Max, and Robin in particular.

TCTTS said:

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Yeah, I kept expecting Eddie to play the guitar in the upside down this last episode. I'm assuming it has something to do with the way the Walkman works, but maybe amplified?

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Since those in the upside down can hear the real world, but not vice-versa, I wonder if they are going to play music in the real house to mess up with Vecna's tethering in the upside down house?

And then, like you suggested, maybe they bring an amp with them in the real world, and Eddie is somehow about to riff on it from the upside down?

Then, in 20 years, when Eddie's kids get Guitar Hero for Christmas, he can tell them about the time he saved the word with a wicked solo.

double aught said:

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But what song will he play??. Maybe "Separate Ways" by Journey since it was in the earlier trailer? One of the many things I'm excited about.

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Should be "The Touch" by Stan Bush

Tenacious D could then write a tribute to it.

I need Eddie fighting a monster while Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden plays in the background.

NPH- said:

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Did they ever reveal why music messes with Vecna/upside down? Or am I looking for an answer to something that I should just accept and not dig too deep into?

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i thought it had more to do with the music drawing the person out of Vecna's world than any real impact on Vecna

this is hinted at in the tour of the psychiatric facility, when the warden tells them of the calming power of music.

then they figure out that the "voice of an angel" that saved victor was the radio.

then Robin mentions to Nancy that she read somewhere that music can bypass your consciousness or something like that.

on a side note, music memory is on the opposite side of your brain from speech. someone with a brain injury/swelling on the left side of their brain may be unable to speak, but they can still sing, b/c the muscle memory for singing is wired to the right brain.

This might be my favorite scene of the series. So great. Sadie Sink does an outstanding job.

double aught said:

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This might be my favorite scene of the series. So great. Sadie Sink does an outstanding job.

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I want to take a minute to thank Game of Thrones here... until that book series / show came out - I always knew in my inner mind that main characters were safe. However, ever since then, scenes like this now have me at the edge of my seat because GoT essentially gave modern show runners license to kill...

I really thought Max wasn't gonna make it in this scene.

TexasAggie_02 said:

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double aught said:

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But what song will he play??. Maybe "Separate Ways" by Journey since it was in the earlier trailer? One of the many things I'm excited about.

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I'm sorry but your just too darn loud.



Wait maybe that is the point.

SpreadsheetAg said:

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double aught said:

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This might be my favorite scene of the series. So great. Sadie Sink does an outstanding job.

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I want to take a minute to thank Game of Thrones here... until that book series / show came out - I always knew in my inner mind that main characters were safe. However, ever since then, scenes like this now have me at the edge of my seat because GoT essentially gave modern show runners license to kill...

I really thought Max wasn't gonna make it in this scene.

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This season is different. Its Deeper. Vecna prays on the weaker or those who are having troubles or who are blaming themselves for trauma that has happened in their life. What a better victim them a freshman girl or boy trying to figure out where they are in life. A girl who is a star cheer leader with bulimia and issues with a mothers pressure to be perfect or a boy that had a car accident and killed another student but walked away with just a small scratch and guilt. The black widows. The Isolation. The clock where time is running out. This hits hard with almost everyone because who has not experienced turmoil in their teen years. Teens get through that by relying on their friends. That's the reason we make friends for life at this age. That kind of stuff stays with you for life and makes the Max scene even more relatable. She is giving letters to the ones she loves. The suicide references in this episode are heavily on point. The pressure, the fear, and the feeling of being alone while still being around everyone is spot on. They turned suicide into a monster but all of the reference let you know what the real monster is.

This is literally the best and most relatable entertainment that I have seen in a long time. The Duffer Brothers are geniuses!!!!

Yellerjacket said:

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aTmAg said:

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Did the brothers just blow off the story line with that other super-kid? The one who makes people see illusions? Her super powers were totally different than moving stuff with your brain, which is what everybody else was doing. I don't remember her being in the group sessions or anything. Are they hoping we all just forget that part?

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Whoa. I just realized I forgot all about her. She came and went so fast, it does seem like they gave up on her.

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Per my daughter (recently re-watching 1-3 with 2 friends) that character is subject 008.

She says that there are internet theories that suggest...
008 will come back and will need to help 11 beat 001/Vecna. The reasoning is A) why the hell else would she have even been introduced and B) when the guys are battling D&D Vecna, Dustin rolls an 11 and can't beat Vecna but Erica rolls a 20 (11+8+1) and takes him out. Indicating the final battle will end up Vecna against 11 & 008.

BTHOB-98 said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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double aught said:

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This might be my favorite scene of the series. So great. Sadie Sink does an outstanding job.

---

I want to take a minute to thank Game of Thrones here... until that book series / show came out - I always knew in my inner mind that main characters were safe. However, ever since then, scenes like this now have me at the edge of my seat because GoT essentially gave modern show runners license to kill...

I really thought Max wasn't gonna make it in this scene.

---

This season is different. Its Deeper. Vecna prays on the weaker or those who are having troubles or who are blaming themselves for trauma that has happened in their life. What a better victim them a freshman girl or boy trying to figure out where they are in life. A girl who is a star cheer leader with bulimia and issues with a mothers pressure to be perfect or a boy that had a car accident and killed another student but walked away with just a small scratch and guilt. The black widows. The Isolation. The clock where time is running out. This hits hard with almost everyone because who has not experienced turmoil in their teen years. Teens get through that by relying on their friends. That's the reason we make friends for life at this age. That kind of stuff stays with you for life and makes the Max scene even more relatable. She is giving letters to the ones she loves. The suicide references in this episode are heavily on point. The pressure, the fear, and the feeling of being alone while still being around everyone is spot on. They turned suicide into a monster but all of the reference let you know what the real monster is.

This is literally the best and most relatable entertainment that I have seen in a long time. The Duffer Brothers are geniuses!!!!

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Great analysis! The longer I practice pediatrics the more I appreciate the critical formative years.

If Steve, Dustin, Hopper or Murray die, I will burn the Upside Down to the ground.

I'm glad they waited to release the final two. I know it's probably a subscription money grab, but I'm enjoying the anticipation. Plus it allowed the wife and I to catch up on the first part of the season while the show is still having its pop culture moment.

Spoiler alert! Vecna just wanted someone to have an iced coffee with.



J'aqan H'gar using another face for the fight scenes.



Just thought this was cool.

I think Barb pops out and slaughters Vecna and then falcon punches Nancy and leaves.

Arrakis ecologist said:

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I think Barb pops out and slaughters Vecna and then falcon punches Nancy and leaves.

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Paul Reiser wakes up and realizes it was all just a dream. Then rolls over and Helen Hunt is there with a Demogorgon face.

SpreadsheetAg said:

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double aught said:

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This might be my favorite scene of the series. So great. Sadie Sink does an outstanding job.

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I want to take a minute to thank Game of Thrones here... until that book series / show came out - I always knew in my inner mind that main characters were safe. However, ever since then, scenes like this now have me at the edge of my seat because GoT essentially gave modern show runners license to kill...

I really thought Max wasn't gonna make it in this scene.

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Same...I was prob 90% sure of it as she approached the portal.

I also want to give them props for capturing that "hard to escape" vibe you can get in certain nightmares.

helloimustbegoing said:

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Just thought this was cool.

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Practical stunts.

They kill Steve, we riot

Murray is going to die. He will volunteer to stay behind and karate fight someone, or something, while the rest escape and he will die a hero.