The Rainbow Room
Full spoilers for Stranger Things episode “The Lost Sister” continue below. Make sure to read all of our Season 2 reviews here.
Since we were deprived of Jane (Eleven) in the previous outing, “The Lost Sister” gave us an episode full of surprising twists and turns that were dazzling to watch. The mystery surrounding that band of misfits from Pittsburgh is answered in one of the better episodes of the entire series. It might seem a little out of place with all of the events going on in Hawkins, but let’s not forget, the Duffer Brothers are playing the long game here.
Like any good Marvel or DC film, whenever you introduce a new character, you have to find a way to tie him/her into the ever-expanding world around them. For our latest heroine, Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), she is now a part of the Stranger Things universe, which has only just begun. While her reveal was triumphant, it’s probably the last time we’ll see her this season. We’re going to have to wait until next year before learning more about her.
Whether or not we see Eight again this season, her character will have a lasting impact on Jane as she journeys home. There is an incredible amount of development going on here, as Eight and Jane struggle to figure each other out. The compelling aspects of this episode stem from their differing views on how to seek revenge on those who’ve wronged them. These scenarios make for a pleasant hour of Stranger Things that will be difficult to forget.
The first of these strengths worth mentioning is the light side vs. dark side perspectives these ladies share. Like Eight, Jane has killed wicked men before, but those killings do not define her. Jane’s upbringing at the lab was harsh, but after her escape, she met the lovely boys from Hawkins, that unintentionally taught her a new way to see the world. Even when confronted with the man who tortured her mother, she chose to do the right thing. Jane is not Darth Vader.
On the opposing side, we find Eight, who was wonderfully portrayed by Berthelsen. The young Danish actress is believable as a girl who hasn’t met guys like Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Mike. She can’t see anything beyond killing all of her enemies. Both Brown and Berthelsen give it their all in “The Lost Sister,” most notably in that final scene after Jane decides to head back to Hawkins. There is real heartache there, with each actress pulling you into their character’s plight. They know they will need each other eventually, but right now, Jane has to help her friends. Hopefully, when we see Eight again, she won’t be on the opposing side.
Another important facet is watching Jane interact with people outside of Hawkins for the first time. Chicago is uncharted territory for her, and it was important for the writers to give us more perspective on how she views the world. When you think about it, Jane doesn’t say much. Sure, we know she’s powerful, likes Eggo waffles and enjoys a good binge on TV, but beyond that, she remains an enigma. Her quiet nature makes her a tough character to get to know. She may have been absent while her friends were in need, but these moments were necessary to gain a deeper insight into what kind of character Jane is becoming. What I’m saying is, this was no throwaway episode.
If we keep falling down this rabbit hole a bit further, the training montage is also a significant moment, since it ties into something we were speculating during the Season 2 premiere. Jane and Eight still bleed from the nose when they exert their power, which means they haven’t mastered it yet. Eight may have more control than Jane, but she still has her limits. I postulated that there could be a Professor X character within the Stranger Things world, one who could help with Jane’s training. Unfortunately, it was Eight who taught her some new tricks, but those are likely to do more harm than good. Channeling all your hate and rage is reminiscent of the Sith way of thinking from Star Wars. While those are two entirely different stories, the principles remain the same.
While there’s not much to complain about from this episode, Eight’s posse was a tiresome bunch. Even though it was nice to see former star-bodybuilder Kai Greene (Funshine) make his mark in the acting world, none of them had any gravitas. Axel, Dottie, and Mick all felt like cardboard cutouts of what a band of misfits is supposed to look like. Even their clothing felt like someone ordered it out of an 80’s Halloween costume catalog. Whenever Eight shows up again, hopefully, this ragtag group won’t be along for the ride.
Forgetting those outcasts ever existed, “The Lost Sisters” was a brilliant character study of Jane and also introduced us to another fascinating character named Eight. Berthelsen and Brown are more shining examples of why Stranger Things has one of the best ensemble casts around.
The Verdict
In one of the series' best episodes, we learn more about another teen from the Hawkins Lab. In an episode dedicated entirely to Eleven, we are treated to some wonderful performances from Brown and Berthelsen, as well as some much-needed character building for Eleven.
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