Operation beanstalk
Dec. 31st, 2025 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowhiveSo this is just gonna be a Stranger Things thoughts post! The second volume of the season went live on Christmas Day night (absurd time to put it out honestly) but I was t able to watch till Saturday night. I had hoped to do multiple eps per night, but alas tiredness won out, so I spread them out over the last three nights.
So! Thoughts ahoy!
(I really need a bunch more Stranger Things icons, expect a few in the new year when I have the focus)
Shock Jock
Mike is just so obsessed with Will being a sorcerer it makes him look stupid. Like ok, we see that you love him, you don’t need that attitude every five seconds. (And as for Will I’ll speak on him later)
(Also Erica’s sweater with the dogs is so cute)
I had wondered why Lucas had popcorn for one of his funkos and it’s cool that it’s for him figuring out a way to use the demo body to Frankenstein it, that was such a cool concept and scene later with them using the tower. (And sure it didn’t fully go to plan but still)
I’m glad we got another Robin and Will talk too, their friendship is so unexpected but so sweet.
I’m glad a large portion of the ep was with the gang in the upside down, with Hopper bemoaning the others disappearing and not leaving a note. But I loved that the others were exploring the lab and split up. The Dustin and Steve fight gave me so many feels. Like on the one hand it was kinda… but on the other i just felt so bad for them yelling at each other like that. (But again more Dustin/steve thoughts later)
Escape from Camazotz
I’m so glad that I watched A Wrinkle In Time Saturday to get the references related to the book.
I loved that there was a scene in the hospital with the demodogs that had such Jurassic Park vibes. And then sudden the sudden BOOM! Caused by Mrs Wheeler being awesome once again. I knew she’d do something when she sat up but didn’t expect it to be so cool, demos need to learn to fear her.
In the upside down Jonathan and Nancy had ended up falling into a room which… let’s face it. It looked like a cum cave. Like there’s oozing white sticky stuff everywhere what else are we gonna think?? But you know what. I’m glad that they had a healthy conversation. Usually in these situations a couple declares undying love and proposals and stuff (especially since one of them had a ring) but this time they worked out that things weren’t working. I’m glad they went that way instead of what often happens, that marriage will make everything better.
Now Jonatahn can go to his real love Steve (and/or Argyle)
(Also rip Steve’s car😭😭)
The Bridge
The plus side to this ep is it meant everyone was back together. This meant everyone got to get together, share what they learned and knew and ideas (I loved that Dustin took the lead explaining things at one point). What I loved was that Hopper had an insane idea and then Steve suddenly gets an idea that was actually so awesome! (Though did he have to do that with the slinky?👀)
(Also 👀 the shirtless Hopper scene)
And Mr Clarke being back was nice, he’s so fun to see again (and his reactions to learning everything😭) also Mrs Wheeler learning everything too like she must be so confused.
The main thing about the ep is a scene towards the end. Will decides to come out but the way it’s done isn’t exactly the best. Because he does it with everyone all at once. Joyce, Jonathan, the party, Steve, Nancy, Hopper, Murray, Kali, Mr Clarke. It is such an odd choice for them to have done that, maybe it would have worked better if he’d came out to just Joyce and Jonathan first (maybe in an earlier ep) but to do it en masse is so odd. And also there’s the fact he doesn’t do it out of the acceptance he began to feel in the first volume, but out of fear that Vecna would use his secret against him.
All in all the whole thing did feel so… off. (But then again maybe that is the point cause I saw someone say that there were some things Will said during it that couldn’t possibly be true)
Overall
One of the main questions I still have is ‘what happened to the Turnbows?’ Like they remembered them enough to have Vecna give Derek a vision of them dead but what happened to them? It kinda feels like they were just left in the barn and forgotten about.
The military have also proven themselves, again, to be the real villains. They killed Kali’s friends, drained her blood, put that blood into pregnant women and all because they have learned nothing. They’ve seen what Vecna can do and isn’t of wanting to stop him but wanting to make more of him to use as weapons. They truly are like the military in Welcome To Derry.
I felt so bad for Kali after going through all that (though the scene of her attempted escape was so badass). And yeah she is right they need to stop the military’s project. She is right Eleven’s friends will never be safe with her but I did assume that would mean them going off together… instead Kali’s suggesting a suicide pact. Which… she’s not entirely wrong with her thinking but still. (And it’s surprising Eleven is going along with it especially after her criticising Hopper for wanting to do the same himself)
I also felt so bad for Will especially at the start. He had these awesome powers that no one knew he had and he blamed himself for not using them sooner to save the kids. Like nooo Will it’s not your fault at all you had no clue tou could do this stop beating yourself up.
(It’s a trait he clearly gets from Joyce as she beat herself up for her plan going wrong even though there’s no way she could know that either)
And damn the Henry and Will stuff… like the scene of him taking over Vecna’s mind in the first ep was so cool (and Vecna flicking between Henry forms) and then Will being bound by vines again and bleeding. I feel that he might still be Vecna’s spy, that he didn’t just use him to figure out where Max was but kept using him.
Speaking of Max the whole transitions in the scenes with her and Holly were so cool (and damnit Holly you are so Will like, beating yourself up for things beyond your control)
And speaking of Henry I’m not sure about his whole thing stealing all those kids. I feel it would be better if it had focussed on the Henry/Will connection rather than having a load of kids. Having said that it was creepy how he got to Derek and that last scene looked just like a seance. (But damn those kids really did feel so gullible. Like no one questioned what Mr Whatsit said??)
I also wonder if we find out what’s in that guy’s briefcase from his memory. It kinda feels significant cause it wasn’t shown (maybe that’s what makes him afraid of the cave?)
And ahhh Steve and Dustin. Like they gave me such feels, like you can really see that the yelling and the fight was kinda needed to get everything out (but damn Steve didn’t need to say that) but I’m glad that they made up, with Dustin even saving him from being stupid and giving him Eddie’s spear in the last ep. (But damn the whole thing was like new ship unlocked too)
(…which happened a surprising amount these eps, like why was Murray constantly calling Mr Clarke ‘snookums’)
Also where were the bangers in this part? There was just Running Up That Hill (which yeah is one but it being the only one when vol 1 had memorable scenes with others felt like a missed chance.
I do wonder how things will be wrapped up in one episode. Like I know it’s 2+ hours but to wrap not just the season but the whole show up? I guess we’ll see. Do I have predications? Not really? Obviously they’re going with Steve’s plan and they’ll be a fight with Vecna but will it succeed? I guess it depends on if Will is his spy in which case he knows everything. I hope no one dies, but I could see Hopper, Kali or Eleven dying. (If Will or Dustin dies….)
I am 100% sure I’ve missed/forgot stuff (especially since I’m doing this later than I planned, I started this yesterday)
I’m not entirely sure when I’ll watch the last ep. It might be New Years Day Night but that very much depends on my energy which tends to be so off now. So maybe Friday or Saturday instead.
Hopefully I’ll have a more general post tomorrow or Friday too, but ai know snowflake starts tomorrow so there’ll be at least that.
So! Thoughts ahoy!
(I really need a bunch more Stranger Things icons, expect a few in the new year when I have the focus)
Shock Jock
Mike is just so obsessed with Will being a sorcerer it makes him look stupid. Like ok, we see that you love him, you don’t need that attitude every five seconds. (And as for Will I’ll speak on him later)
(Also Erica’s sweater with the dogs is so cute)
I had wondered why Lucas had popcorn for one of his funkos and it’s cool that it’s for him figuring out a way to use the demo body to Frankenstein it, that was such a cool concept and scene later with them using the tower. (And sure it didn’t fully go to plan but still)
I’m glad we got another Robin and Will talk too, their friendship is so unexpected but so sweet.
I’m glad a large portion of the ep was with the gang in the upside down, with Hopper bemoaning the others disappearing and not leaving a note. But I loved that the others were exploring the lab and split up. The Dustin and Steve fight gave me so many feels. Like on the one hand it was kinda… but on the other i just felt so bad for them yelling at each other like that. (But again more Dustin/steve thoughts later)
Escape from Camazotz
I’m so glad that I watched A Wrinkle In Time Saturday to get the references related to the book.
I loved that there was a scene in the hospital with the demodogs that had such Jurassic Park vibes. And then sudden the sudden BOOM! Caused by Mrs Wheeler being awesome once again. I knew she’d do something when she sat up but didn’t expect it to be so cool, demos need to learn to fear her.
In the upside down Jonathan and Nancy had ended up falling into a room which… let’s face it. It looked like a cum cave. Like there’s oozing white sticky stuff everywhere what else are we gonna think?? But you know what. I’m glad that they had a healthy conversation. Usually in these situations a couple declares undying love and proposals and stuff (especially since one of them had a ring) but this time they worked out that things weren’t working. I’m glad they went that way instead of what often happens, that marriage will make everything better.
Now Jonatahn can go to his real love Steve (and/or Argyle)
(Also rip Steve’s car😭😭)
The Bridge
The plus side to this ep is it meant everyone was back together. This meant everyone got to get together, share what they learned and knew and ideas (I loved that Dustin took the lead explaining things at one point). What I loved was that Hopper had an insane idea and then Steve suddenly gets an idea that was actually so awesome! (Though did he have to do that with the slinky?👀)
(Also 👀 the shirtless Hopper scene)
And Mr Clarke being back was nice, he’s so fun to see again (and his reactions to learning everything😭) also Mrs Wheeler learning everything too like she must be so confused.
The main thing about the ep is a scene towards the end. Will decides to come out but the way it’s done isn’t exactly the best. Because he does it with everyone all at once. Joyce, Jonathan, the party, Steve, Nancy, Hopper, Murray, Kali, Mr Clarke. It is such an odd choice for them to have done that, maybe it would have worked better if he’d came out to just Joyce and Jonathan first (maybe in an earlier ep) but to do it en masse is so odd. And also there’s the fact he doesn’t do it out of the acceptance he began to feel in the first volume, but out of fear that Vecna would use his secret against him.
All in all the whole thing did feel so… off. (But then again maybe that is the point cause I saw someone say that there were some things Will said during it that couldn’t possibly be true)
Overall
One of the main questions I still have is ‘what happened to the Turnbows?’ Like they remembered them enough to have Vecna give Derek a vision of them dead but what happened to them? It kinda feels like they were just left in the barn and forgotten about.
The military have also proven themselves, again, to be the real villains. They killed Kali’s friends, drained her blood, put that blood into pregnant women and all because they have learned nothing. They’ve seen what Vecna can do and isn’t of wanting to stop him but wanting to make more of him to use as weapons. They truly are like the military in Welcome To Derry.
I felt so bad for Kali after going through all that (though the scene of her attempted escape was so badass). And yeah she is right they need to stop the military’s project. She is right Eleven’s friends will never be safe with her but I did assume that would mean them going off together… instead Kali’s suggesting a suicide pact. Which… she’s not entirely wrong with her thinking but still. (And it’s surprising Eleven is going along with it especially after her criticising Hopper for wanting to do the same himself)
I also felt so bad for Will especially at the start. He had these awesome powers that no one knew he had and he blamed himself for not using them sooner to save the kids. Like nooo Will it’s not your fault at all you had no clue tou could do this stop beating yourself up.
(It’s a trait he clearly gets from Joyce as she beat herself up for her plan going wrong even though there’s no way she could know that either)
And damn the Henry and Will stuff… like the scene of him taking over Vecna’s mind in the first ep was so cool (and Vecna flicking between Henry forms) and then Will being bound by vines again and bleeding. I feel that he might still be Vecna’s spy, that he didn’t just use him to figure out where Max was but kept using him.
Speaking of Max the whole transitions in the scenes with her and Holly were so cool (and damnit Holly you are so Will like, beating yourself up for things beyond your control)
And speaking of Henry I’m not sure about his whole thing stealing all those kids. I feel it would be better if it had focussed on the Henry/Will connection rather than having a load of kids. Having said that it was creepy how he got to Derek and that last scene looked just like a seance. (But damn those kids really did feel so gullible. Like no one questioned what Mr Whatsit said??)
I also wonder if we find out what’s in that guy’s briefcase from his memory. It kinda feels significant cause it wasn’t shown (maybe that’s what makes him afraid of the cave?)
And ahhh Steve and Dustin. Like they gave me such feels, like you can really see that the yelling and the fight was kinda needed to get everything out (but damn Steve didn’t need to say that) but I’m glad that they made up, with Dustin even saving him from being stupid and giving him Eddie’s spear in the last ep. (But damn the whole thing was like new ship unlocked too)
(…which happened a surprising amount these eps, like why was Murray constantly calling Mr Clarke ‘snookums’)
Also where were the bangers in this part? There was just Running Up That Hill (which yeah is one but it being the only one when vol 1 had memorable scenes with others felt like a missed chance.
I do wonder how things will be wrapped up in one episode. Like I know it’s 2+ hours but to wrap not just the season but the whole show up? I guess we’ll see. Do I have predications? Not really? Obviously they’re going with Steve’s plan and they’ll be a fight with Vecna but will it succeed? I guess it depends on if Will is his spy in which case he knows everything. I hope no one dies, but I could see Hopper, Kali or Eleven dying. (If Will or Dustin dies….)
I am 100% sure I’ve missed/forgot stuff (especially since I’m doing this later than I planned, I started this yesterday)
I’m not entirely sure when I’ll watch the last ep. It might be New Years Day Night but that very much depends on my energy which tends to be so off now. So maybe Friday or Saturday instead.
Hopefully I’ll have a more general post tomorrow or Friday too, but ai know snowflake starts tomorrow so there’ll be at least that.
