This episode started off stupidly but got a lot better as it went on. The demogorgon really couldn't have just brought that house down or something? Made another limb so it had more than El? I've also noticed just how much screaming and shouting there's been this season having seen other reviewers pick up on it. Murray's rant to Hopper and Joyce, as funny as it was, is yet more comic relief and deviation from the plot. It's got to the point where there's so much comic relief that it doesn't even feel like relief. More like the drama feels like relief from the comedy, most of which isn't actually funny. I liked the character moments in this episode, particularly El and Mike and Steve and Robin, although the latter didn't need to be high for as long as they were. Honestly, this episode has made me realise that throughout the season, the plot has felt really quite mechanical. It should feel natural and carried by the characters for the most part but it just hasn't really felt that way. I get it's a sci-fi show and now apparently Cold War thriller but still. The reunion at the end was nice as well although brief, although yet another saved at the last minute trope which has got so ridiculously tiring. I don't really have any feelings towards Alexei's death, although how he was shot in the middle of a bustling festival by the literal Terminator sticking out like a sore thumb and not even concealing his weapon was a testament to what the writing has been like this season. Also, I'm not entirely convinced by his willingness to chuck away his project that he'd worked so hard on so easily. Maybe he was lying, maybe it's because he wanted to defect, maybe it's because he knew he could never go back. I guess we'll never know. That being said, the overlapping of the plots was great, visually it was amazing once again, and the pacing was relentless. One thing I haven't mentioned but has been a constant across the season is the brilliant dialogue. Overall, this episode has set up the finale well
Low 8
Low 8