Respect and Responsibility
Full spoilers for Stranger Things episode “The Mind Flayer” continue below. Make sure to read all of our Season 2 reviews here.
Stranger Things has a way of ripping your heart out at just the right moments. “The Mind Flayer” is a tour de force in the art of agony. As entertaining as this season has been, you just want the anguish to stop, so the town of Hawkins can finally take a breath. This is the most brutal of episodes for our cast, and it was executed to near-perfection.
This is an excellent episode for this season. Superhero Bob Newby deserves an MVP award. Upon first seeing him, I thought he was a spy for the Hawkins Lab, but he’s proven that theory wrong in spectacular fashion. Both Bob and Dr. Owens attempt at escape was a tense and wonderfully atmospheric experience. Our brave Radioshack employee never stood a chance, but it’s hard not to root for the guy. His death was shockingly gruesome.
For a guy so sweet and kind, it was hard to watch the camera linger over his corpse as it's ripped to shreds by the “Demodogs.” This was a firm reminder that anything goes in this world, and that means no one is safe. It’s a quality the show keeps putting on display. There are many reasons to enjoy Stranger Things, but one of the critical fixtures that makes it so great is its ability to convince the viewer that there are real-world consequences. There’s no magical pit to through Bob into that will save him.
One of the best scenes from this episode comes shortly after Bob’s death. It’s a subtle camera pan that shows the kids sitting together in silence. There are very few words spoken here, but you can feel everyone mourning the loss of the people at the lab. A quick joke during this sequence would have been in poor taste. These quiet moments, which are so difficult to execute, were handled exceptionally well.
Finally, the scene that will have everyone in tears as they enjoy their Halloween candy took place in a small shed, with nothing but friends and family in attendance. Awards to all involved throughout this sequence, most notably Winona Ryder. There are times when the veteran actress can overplay her hand in the drama department, but she handled it like a pro in this episode. Ryder shows you her anguish in a way few actors can. Her simple, but effect stories concerning Will’s history bring you into the moment, and you feel like you’re in the shed with them.
Schnapp resumes his stellar portrayal of Will, who is always on the brink of destruction. That wide-eyed stare he gives to Joyce, Jonathan, and Mike shows just how much turmoil he’s feeling. It’s like his facial expression is pleading for them to understand, but his mind is too far gone, as the shadow demon gains the upper hand. Child actors are the most difficult to cast in any production, so the Duffer Brothers should be proud of their team producing such a dynamic ensemble. Schnapp is going to be a rising star worth watching.
Even with an episode this good, there was a moment that didn't leave its desired emotional impact. Billy’s evolution, especially when you compare it to his step-sister Max, has been a slow uphill battle not worth following, until now. To be clear, that’s not a dig on Australian-born actor Dacre Montgomery. The young Aussie gave a stirring performance, as his dad humiliates him in front of his step-mother. The problem lies in its execution, which has been building ever since our first encounter with him.
Billy is the classic example of the "misunderstood bad boy" trope that has been used in popular fiction for years. It’s like you could see his story unraveling before we even arrived in this penultimate episode. Of course, we're going to feel bad for him now, even though he's been a consistent jerk to his step-sister. As soon as Max mentioned her broken family to Lucas, a scene like this one was inevitable. The fault now lies with the parents and not with the abused son. Will Billy ever have to answer for his mistakes? Only time will tell.
With that being said, I’m still excited to see what’s in store for Billy down the road. Montgomery has proven he has the acting chops to take his character to the next level, but from this point forward, it’s in the hands of the show’s writers. Let’s hope they give him some suitable material to work with.
Now that Eleven is back in the fold, anything is possible as the Season 2 finale is up next. Which gate does Will need his friends to close? Keep watching to find out these answers and more.
The Verdict
This penultimate episode delivered all the goods leading up to what should be a thrilling conclusion. Bob really did prove that he's a superhero, with Sean Astin giving us another memorable performance. Let's just hope it's not too late for Will.
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