Basically A Cat in a Human's Body

Cis / 20's / She / Straight/Weirdo who is proud of it

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Stranger Things has managed to remain a hyperfixation of mine since I watched it over this last summer/fall.

I am not a longtime fan or person who has suffered waiting for this show for years (like many of its fans). But I still love this show and want to just ramble about it for completely selfish reasons.

So, I'm going to. Once per day. For 30 days. This will take me (almost) right up until Season 5 volume 1 releases. The day before actually, as I will start posting tomorrow.

(If you stumble across my blog because of me doing this and the tags I use- welcome! Sorry to disappoint, this is not officially a stranger things blog. Or an official anything blog. This is just a blog where I post/do whatever I want.)

[rylandsgrace]

Stranger Things 5 | Volume 2

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Day 8- Favorite Female Teen Character

Robin Buckley- Socially Awkward but oh SO Endearing

The show's resident band geek. The girl who knows 4 languages and can read music. The girl who laughs in the face of danger to cover up just how much stuff sucks at the moment and how terrified she is- how can you hate that? I know I certainly don't.

One of the few characters this show introduced later in the run and didn't kill off and holy shit- am I grateful for it. Honestly, with Robin only having two seasons under her belt and not being the biggest character- there's not too much to say about her.

But I will still say some things about her. Because Robin deserves it. She deserves all of the love.

First of all? Robin is just funny. Particularly with Steve, but in general she is very funny. She torments her coworker while also establishing a bond with him. She has a dry wit to her that just leaks out all the time in her interactions with those she's comfortable with and I can't get enough of it.

And speaking of Steve? Yes. The platonic soulmates themselves are so fucking good and I love seeing them on screen together. I marginally prefer Steve and Dustin as a duo but Buckley and Harrington is still a fantastic platonic pairing that deserves all of the love.

They get along so well, so comfortably. It's honestly hard to describe what the two have and I love that fact. They don't feel like brother and sister, they don't feel like best friends. They feel like something more intimate that isn't romantic necessarily, but also not family like. As someone who is asexual, this level of closeness with another human being that doesn't have to be romantic, or even familial is beautiful. More relationships in media should have intimacy and fondness that isn't explainable under familiarized terms and labels.

I am happy in season 4 they gave Robin the chance to at least play off one other character in the cast and that is Nancy. Nancy is not my favorite character in the bunch, but the contrasting personalities of these two characters makes me grin. Robin fucking challenges Nancy and Nancy does everything she can to grin and bear it. But pretty quickly? Nancy comes to appreciate just what Robin can offer.

These two? Wonderful. Would take more of these two for sure.

I will say though, I wish Robin got the chance to interact with other characters of the cast more. There's a lot of opportunities that I hope season 5 will take advantage of.

For example? Robin should have gotten a chance to interact with Eddie more than like this one line (both were in band and of fucking course they would fight over music. I love it. Why did we not get more of this?)

On the bright side, season 5 is gearing up to give us one new character for Robin to interact with and that's with Will Byers. And so much yes. It makes perfect sense. LGBT+ community in the 80's in a small town? Uh, yes please. Let them relate. Let them talk about stuff. Both of them need the other so that way they have someone to talk to. It has the potential to build up both of their characters which quite frankly (as much as I like Will and love Robin), giving these two more to their characters is completely valid.

Final note to Robin's character and the dynamics she has with others? Vickie. Vickie and her are adorable, even if they get minimal (almost no) screen time. I don't know if there will be time in Season 5 to let Robin have the girlfriend she deserves given the high stakes of the season, but if they squeeze it in and let us have it (or just let Robin be happy with some girl)? I'm all for it.

The absolute final thing to note that needs to be celebrated. Robin is yet another of the smarties, but in a way that is different from the intelligence of say Dustin and Nancy. She is the reason they are able to decipher the Russian's secret message. She gets herself and Nancy in to see Victor Creel. She sees things that others don't see without her skill set. She says things others aren't willing to say. And for that? She's a queen.

Celebrate this lesbian language goddess. She's for sure liked in the fandom but she needs to be celebrated. Fucking celebrate her and all of her worth. And may Season 5 deliver us more Robin Buckley goodness.

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 7- Favorite Male Teen Character

Steve Harrington- *Obligatory Mom Steve/Steve the Babysitter joke goes here*

This is yet another opinion that is not controversial. Post season 1 Steve Harrington is at least tolerated by most people in the fandom I feel like, if not at least liked (if not absolutely adored/loved). Many people appreciate his transformation from a somewhat asshole that's influenced by the wrong crowd to the Hawkin's best babysitter to our favorite group of kids.

(Also, more proof this opinion is not controversial at all- The number of fanfics written about this man is insane. Hello Steve/OC fangirls, Harringrove shippers, and, Steddie stans.)

Let's get into by starting with the stuff I could argue isn't perfect about this character. Season 1 Steve? Yeah, I'm not gonna pretend I gave two shits about him. Because i didn't. I was not a 'day one Steve defender.' I also wasn't a 'Oh he's just a complete asshole and I hate him.' I was just annoyed by his presence and wanted him to go away.

Season 1 (and part of season 2) Steve was designed to be a blockade to the Nancy/Johnathan ship. That's all he was. I don't like when characters exist for the sole purpose of prolonging a ship from not happening when it's so painfully obvious they are going to be a thing. 'Will they, won't they' is a trope I personally could never see again, and it would be too soon.

But anyways, season 1 Steve? He was the popular guy, the high school jock, the person made to exist to create an artificial shipping war that in that season? No one cared about it. I groaned at every scene Steve was in and rolled my eyes as they had 'misunderstandings,' Steve being a jerk to push Nancy away, so many things that didn't need to happen. Either let Nancy/Steve be together, or let Nancy/Johnathan be together. Don't need this very shallow drama in a show with such rich character dynamics, chemistry, and depth.

End of season 1 Steve does deserve a shout out though. Not because they decided to prolong getting Nancy/Johnathan together (because fucking Christ), but because that did show this character was capable of more emotional. Going to the Byers house with the express purpose of apologizing to Johnathan- not Nancy first. Despite the fact Steve is still wearing the beating Johnathan gave him. That showed this guy? This guy could be something more than just relationship drama. And I was intrigued (annoyed but still intrigued).

Then we get to Season 2. And everything changes.

The start of season 2 Steve has more going on than the Nancy stuff at least. It's not my favorite, but him being challenged by Billy is at least interesting. His position in basketball and his 'King Steve' status has potential but really doesn't amount to much. And luckily, the stuff with Nancy doesn't last. They break up.

Or at least, Steve calls Nancy out on her lack of feelings for him walks away from her and it feels like a breakup. (They don't officially breakup until the end of the season kinda but this is pretty final.)

Steve being away from Nancy allows for the GOAT to form though. A broken-hearted Steve meets up with an unlikely alley to go take down some demodogs for the town. And it's glorious. There's not enough good I can say about this duo. Their on-screen friend/brotherly chemistry is so natural, so good. I can rewatch these two in their scenes together all the time. Dustin and Steve is the best.

And this also starts why Steve is actually my favorite (teen male) character- his relationship to other characters.

By himself, Steve doesn't get much development. We don't ever really get to know any deeper struggles or traumas he may have gotten from the experiences in his life, or in his experiences with the Upside Down. Many people have head cannons as to what Steve feels or thinks about a variety of stuff (his parents, his past trauma, etc etc). But none of that is what the show actually does with this character.

I'm all for head canons, don't get me wrong. But I want to look at the show for what it is. And show Steve still has plenty of good to offer.

His relationship to other characters, again, is what's the best part of his character. It manifests the most likable parts of Steve and the relationships Steve has to other characters- specifically two other characters- are two of the best duos in the show (for me). Steve and Dustin. Steve and Robin. Both fantastic.

Steve and Dustin will get plenty more mentions on these 30 days I'm sure (and I have already brought them up many times). But these two are just the best together. I love their moments; I love the subtle ways the writers hint at these two obviously hanging out a crap ton off screen (you don't come up with a light saber handshake overnight with someone that ain't your bestie.)

Steve and Robin are also wonderful. Their friendship and banter is so natural. And it was so necessary for Steve to get a healthy relationship with someone his age that understood the shit he goes through with the Upside Down, the kids, everything. Robin fits in perfectly and solidifies that to me? Steve has a thing for the nerds/geeks. Platonically, romantically, everything. He just wants to be one of the outcasts too.

I also want to shout out Steve and Eddie platonically in the show (because that's the only thing they were confirmed to be officially. For the record I like this pairing, but it is technically head canon territory). This duo had the potential to be among the greats. And the interactions they do have in the show are fantastic. The conversation they have about Dustin specifically is one of my favorites from Season 4...

... Until it moves on to them talking about Nancy which... Eh... Look, this is not going to be a very 'positive' Stancy posting session sorry to say. Stancy very much feels like the definition of wasted time. It was in season 1/2. And Season 4? It's an intrusion when we could have more platonic Steve/Robin, more brotherly Steve and Dustin, and some platonic Steve/Eddie bonding.

From what I understand, there is a lot of scrapped material of a whole Steve and Eddie rivalry plot that surrounded both of them having a bond with Dustin. I don't know if this true or not, but if it is? OOOOF. The stuff with Nancy makes me even more angry

But that's for another day. In the meantime? One final note.

Steve being the babysitter to all of the younger members of the party is so endearing. Of course I love Babysitter/mom Steve. You can't love Steve without loving this part of his character.

Steve watches out for all of the younger party with all of the parental sass available to him. The younger members all trust him and when shit hits the fan, they 100% respect him (but when shit doesn't hit the fan probably not so much). I take any insistences of Steve watching out for 'his kids' oh so happily.

Steve was not a character I imagined caring about when the show first started. I'm shocked he jumped into the top five like he did. But the greatest babysitter deserves it- not even for how he is as a character by himself, but for how much he deeply cares for his found family and friends in Hawkins.

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 6- Favorite Female Child Character

Eleven/Jane Hopper- The Hero (for Everyone)

I'll be honest and say out of the female 'children' characters (so Max, Erica, Eleven), none of them truly crack my top five characters in the show. So my passion for Eleven, as opposed to say Dustin (who I talked about yesterday) isn't there as much. That being said? Eleven is still great.

She's portrayed incredibly well throughout the series by her actress (cheers to you Millie Bobby Brown) and I feel her struggle of becoming 'just an experiment' to becoming a real teenager, to try to embrace her responsibilities that were forced upon her. I'm compelled by her struggles throughout every season. And I absolutely love her father/daughter relationship with Hopper.

Hopper and El are adorable and sweet and I buy them getting close. I do somewhat wish there was some addressing the season 1 conflict of Hopper being willing to sell out Eleven to save Will, but you could argue that's why Hopper tried so hard to help El once he realized she could be hiding in the woods after everything that went down in season 1

El is also just a badass and just so fucking critical to the group ever succeeding at anything. She has her powers, she's the only one that can kill the beasts of the Upside Down. She can open and close gates. This group couldn't do shit without her.

Celebrate this girl. In Season 5? She will be giving her all to save Hawkins and everyone.

I also give it up to Max and El. They aren't my favorite duo to watch but I do smile at them bonding, and that bond ultimately paying off in season 4. Sure. Max is still not doing great going into season 5, but she's alive. Because of El.

And... It would be wrong of me not to address Mike/Eleven at all. I'll be blunt, I don't appreciate their fighting and conflicts. But I appreciate their sweet moments. Their connection- particularly in season 1. But they have their moments all throughout the show and I understand why people ship the two.

Eleven may not make my top of the top characters, I fully admit that again. But I appreciate her. I appreciate her bonds with other characters, I appreciate her story, I appreciate her.

Mike was right about one thing- she's a hero. She's Mike's hero. She's everyone's hero (and should be celebrated as such).

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 5- Favorite Male Child Character

Dustin Henderson- The Genius with the Biggest Heart

Ah yes, my boy. Love this this little dork with Cleidocranial Dysplasia. He's completely perfect- no other notes.

Okay I have many other notes and he isn't perfect. He's got an ego that only grows through the seasons, gets in over his head a lot, and has a sailor's mouth.

All of this just makes him ever more endearing though quite frankly.

Dustin won me over pretty much at the start of the show. Season 1, my first time watching it- wasn't totally on board with the show (sometimes it takes a lot for me to get into a show). But when we had the party split from fighting (because El was secretly trying to lead them away from the gate), Dustin was the one who comes in and is just like logic bitches. He was the 'only one being reasonable' after all.

And we can't forget his iconic line from season 1 either

And he only gets better from there.

Season 2, everything with 'his pearls, Dart, and his brotherhood he starts to develop with Steve

Season 3, the Russians, the Scoop tropes, more brotherhood bonding with Steve. Babysitting the babysitter. Overall? More gloriousness.

Finally, season 4 Dustin. Constantly saving everyone's butts (but not humble about it), more Steve and Dustin bonding, throw in some Eddie and Dustin bonding (which I also love)- another glorious season for my boy.

There is just endless good moments and things to say about Dustin. He is one of these most solid/consistent characters for me throughout the whole show. I love his relationships and dynamics with pretty much everyone else in the show (with Steve and Eddie my favorite people he pairs off with). It's heartwarming to see him grow from what I saw was just a slight mouthy kid in season 1 to someone with so much confidence and self-assurance in season 4.

I cannot wait for season 5 either, because they are putting this poor boy through the ringer after Eddie's death (because it will emotionally destroy me). Bullying, angst, everything is coming. And I fully expect some good brotherly bonding from Dustin and Steve to come from this and will adore it.

Dustin is a pretty beloved character on the show. A beloved duo is him and Steve without a doubt. I fall into a pretty safe category by favoring him and I'm okay with it. This kid deserves all of the love and appreciation this fandom can possibly offer him as far as I'm concerned.

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 4- Least Favorite Episode

Season 2, episode 7- The Lost Sister- Oh how original I am

Alright, let's be real for a second. Is there a single person in the fandom that views this as their favorite episode?

Like don't get me wrong, I've seen people defend this episode and I agree with a lot of the defense even. But I see defenses that amount to 'this episode isn't that bad you guys come on.' Not 'oh these defenses prove why this is actually the best episode!'

I don't think there's a lot I can contribute to the conversation that hasn't already been said. I actually like Kali. I like her as a potential foil to El. I like the bond the two forge over the course of the episode and I appreciate the fact the two sisters don't leave each other on awful terms. I like the fact that Kali has her own group of friends/'party' that I think in theory could be foils to the party we know and love? (But it's a big stretch).

That all being said, this episode was... Ambitious. And it didn't pay off. Yes, arguably, El is your main character. it would make sense that the main character gets a solo adventure/solo episode in theory.

But let me compare this episode to her journey in season 4. Eleven goes off to the Nina lab to try and regain her powers. She's on her own with a bunch of characters that aren't the main cast and is spending most of the season there. And we spend a lot of time there with her in general, probably as much time as we did with El in this episode.

Season 4, and Eleven's journey to get her powers back (and traverse her past) works for me though. 'The Lost Sister' does not. Largely because Eleven's journey was more relevant in season 4, and because I got to space out that journey with regular breaks and time with the rest of the cast.

Eleven is middle of the road character wise for me truthfully. Neither a favorite nor a least favorite. So, I don't mind spending time with her but there's a lot of other characters (especially in this season) I'd rather spend my time with. And I think even if Eleven is a favorite for many people, no one wanted to see her spend a whole episode away from every other character in the cast.

No other episode is like this across the whole show. A whole story dedicated to just one character out of a large, beloved, ensemble cast.

When you have, from the start, included so many different characters across ages and perspectives, it's a mistake to then, in the middle of the season (right before the Penultimate episode), go- 'now only this character exists!'

I don't hate this episode, I truly don't. There's no episode I truly hate of this show. This is just my least favorite because it isn't what I want from the show. I want the opportunity to spend time with all of my Stranger Things idiots. :)

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 3- Least Favorite Season

Season 3- The Season of Extremes

It was a toss up between season 3 and 1 being my least favorite. After watching the rest of the show, season 1 is hard to rewatch because it is truly just so different from the rest of the show. I watch that and want to almost get back 'to normal' with the rest of the show, if that makes any sense.

But it's still really good. And I realized I still liked it. I just don't necessarily need to see a rehash of what season 1 was like some other fans do. (I would take the core 4/OG party interacting more. They deserve too, this group of best friends that got tied up in all of this).

Season 3 though...? Season 3 is complicated. While every single season has things I dislike/don't appreciate it. Season 3 was the only season where I was rolling my eyes, groaning, and actually mad at stuff.

Don't get me wrong. There's a lot to love about Season 3. The finale is one my favorite episodes of the show for so many reasons. It is also the funniest season of the show by far. I don't think this is necessarily for the best though, and I will get into that later, but the humor does make the season an enjoyable rewatch.

I also specifically love Joyce/Hopper (and Murray and Alexei). That duo that turns into that group of four (and then 3... RIP Alexei my beloved) is wonderful. Joyce/Hopper's banter throughout the whole season is top tier and I watch compilations of those two in season 3 all the time.

And then, we can't forget about the scoop troops. The return of Dustin and Steve working together- my favorite duo reunited and better than they were before. Plus, the introduction of Robin- whom I adore. And then Erica officially getting a spotlight, who is also great. The whole Russian base plot investigation between these four is great. I happily watch it every time and again, laugh a whole bunch.

So... Lot's of good. Where's the bad?

(Eleven and Max are actually perfectly fine and sweet. Nothing bad or good here. So, one last 'good' note that I didn't fit in sooner sorry.)

The rest is kind of bad. Or really bad

The 'least bad' (out of the bad) for me is the Nancy/Johnathan stuff. To be honest, neither of these two are my favorite characters and I won't talk about them much on this 30 days. But I'll bring them up here because I get annoyed by their plot a little during this season. It drags (up until they join up with the younger teens), a lot.

I also don't enjoy the fallout Johnathan and Nancy have. It's realistic and I see both sides. It's very much a both sides issue- Nancy was getting treated like shit at their place of work. But she also comes from *some* privilege, growing up comfortably in middle class. Johnathan didn't have that same luxury and needed that job. He needed to keep his head down so that way his family could keep food on the table and so that way Johnathan could gain experience in that field and advance, make something of himself. Don't get me wrong, that place treated Johnathan a hell of a lot better than Nancy, and Nancy had every right to hate that place and want to rebel. But to put the apology mostly on Johnathan was not the right call. It was a complex situation that needed a more complex apology other than "Nancy you were more right; I was more in the wrong."

My next issue pretty much comes from everyone in the party that *isn't* Dustin Henderson. The group of five left alone for half the season- Mike, Will, Lucas, Max, and El.

Lucas/Max is... Fine. They don't become a couple I'm invested in until season 4 though because of what they pull in season 3. And it's just like, a couple of lines that piss me off.

They broke up and got back together 5 times in the period of like six months (And Lucas had to fight to get her back every time? It was never on Max to do something?)? Like I know they are young teens, and that lack of relationship stability for emotionally immature young people is somewhat realistic. But at the same time, you can't expect me to be hyper invested, believe these two are endgame if they are doing such shallow shit as a couple. When you do tropey stuff like that (for humor or whatever reason), you risk portraying things you don't want to portray. And in this case? All I see from Lumax in season 3 is 'Immature kids dating because hormones.'

El/Mike aren't worse for me then Lucas/Max- both couples are doing the same thing and are literally foiling off of each other. But the Mileven fight just takes up so much space this season and I just don't care about it. Like, come on. Let's move on to actual plot. The Mileven fight really shows how slow of a start this season has and it hurts this season for me big time.

I also want to touch on Mike and Will because it needs to be said- what was the point in them fighting and then doing nothing with it for the whole season (for two seasons actually)? Like okay, I have seen the hardcore Byler shippers dissect every detail of those two. So, I am sure they can tell me 'why' in their eyes. But as a viewer not hyper looking for Byler, what am I left with story wise?

Will leaves Mike's place after a big fight, after hurtful things are said, after a season of those two being so cute and supportive to each other and Will being devastated from how much things are changing. He's so upset, he goes and destroys Castle Byers- his safe place that kept him alive in the Upside Down.

Sure, Mike and Lucas come after Will through a raging storm. That's sweet. But they don't ever really go into just how upset Will was because Mind Flayer back. Okay, sure, that's fine. Stakes have risen again- time to buckle in folks. But we can focus on the Mileven drama just fine still- apparently- why can't we focus on addressing just how upset Will was even on a friendship level? Why do we have Will do something so monumental and then ignore it for the rest of Season 3 and season 4? (Even if they address it in season 5, sorry, this isn't good writing. It comes across as the writers trying to juggle too much.)

My final issue with this group of five is how little all of them matter except for El.

The younger teens aren't good for combat much- but they are going against a possessed, can 100% fight, Billy. They have intelligence and can plan and strategize, but they aren't fighters. The older teens, the adults, are the fighters. The only fighter in the younger kids is El because of her superpowers. So, we have so many scenes where El is just doing everything and the other four look on with just... Stupid looks of concern. Again, it really shows this dragging (pace wise) problem.

Now then... We get to my biggest issue. Billy Hargrove. I will let everyone walk away now that doesn't want to see Billy bashing because I'm sorry, I'm gonna Billy Bash.

I'll go more in depth on my dislike of this character when I delve into my least favorite character another day but for today, I'll just focus on season 3 and my personal feelings.

I didn't care that Billy got possessed. Even knowing his backstory, I just didn't care. I was rooting for him to perish to the Mind Flayer in episode one. And then he didn't. And now I have to follow the long drawn-out mystery of this guy as we all wonder ''oh what is Billy doing oh no."

And come on... No suspicion from Max when Billy actually called the girl his sister in front of others? Fucking please. Idiot stick stop bashing people's heads in please. It's so annoying.

In general, I really feel like the other characters took so fucking long to figure out what was going on with Billy and the Mind Flayer and everything. It's probably partially because I just personally didn't want to see this character in a noteworthy role, so all of his scenes felt so long. And Christ, that Sauna trap episode was just particularly so agonizingly long to sit through.

Both the good and bad do create one final issue I want to touch upon... This season suffers the most from tonal whiplash and I have to admit; I don't like it. In general, if you are divided on a season, you are going to experience tonal whiplash probably. Understandable.

But my tonal whiplash comes from the fact this season is arguably the darkest villain wise (The mind flayer is made up of dozens of melted people. Kids, adults, everyone. Many people died but we are having so much jovial humor in this season you don't really get to ever feel how severe of stakes that is. Maybe that's on purpose?)(And don't even get me started on the tonial whiplash present in the Russia plot, which I happened to like overall)

In comparison, Vecna/Henry/001 and his plots are also dark in season 4, don't get me wrong. But there's less humor in that season so it's a little less 'whiplashy' for me.

Ultimately. Season 3. Stuff I love. Stuff that makes me want to scream. I will still rewatch this season, but I will probably end up skipping lots of parts unless I'm committing to a full rewatch.

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 2- Favorite Episode

Season 3, Episode 8- The Battle of Starcourt- The Everything Burger with a Side of Fries

So, for those who are stumbling across my blog randomly as I do this challenge, I will flat out admit once again that Season 3 is not my favorite season overall. But what I will also admit is that the finale of season 3 is such a great episode of television/Netflix. I adore it so much.

Action, fun, humor, heart, the tying up of every loose end throughout the season- it has it all and I am here for pretty much every second of it.

This shot right after El manages to rip the Mind Flayer piece out of her leg is just so good. The confusion but also relief that the whole party has truly come back together for this finale is just a tangible, audible 'thank god' filling the room. And it only picks up from here.

This show is fairly good about letting the group come together for a bit of a necessary 'pow-wow,' get their bearings, come up with a firmer plan to actually stop whatever is going on, and then re-split up the groups to about what they were for the rest of the season previously (minus season 4). It allows room for characters to go "yeah, you exist and we still love you" but then also resolve the character dynamics that we had become attached to over the last season.

This is also the season finale where I genuinely feel everyone contributes about equally. Season 1's finale, I'll be blunt, is the worst at this. But I also get it. Season 4 does this job okay with the group that stays in Hawkins and with Eleven, giving them good, equal roles. But the California gang (minus Eleven), and Joyce/Hopper/Murray? Personal feelings aside on either of those plots- their contributions could have been cut, and it wouldn't have been noticeable for the finale.

Season 2 does a pretty good job letting everyone contribute. It's my second favorite season finale for a reason. But 'Battle of Starcourt' edges it out pretty firmly.

Everything everyone does is necessary, minus Erica arguably (but she's also the youngest and least involved in the group at this point so she should have the smallest role.) Even Steve + Robin who are at first pretty inconsequential in the finale (all they do is just drive Dustin and Erica out to the Cerebro at first. And Robin wasn't needed there for the driving part.) come back and play demolition with cars to save the day.

Also, I will flat out defend what is technically a tone destroyer for the episode with Dustin/Suzie's whole thing because it is the single greatest moment of cringe comedy I have ever seen in any show.

I am not a fan of cringe comedy usually, but 'Never Ending Story' and the character's reaction to it is just utter perfection. I will rewatch that clip for the heart of Dustin/Suize, and the absolute grin I get watching all of the characters go some form of "What the heck?" and "We're all going to die because of these two idiots."

Everyone's reaction to these two young teenagers having to save the world by singing a duet for a numerical constant is just perfect. No notes. (Particular shout out to Joyce for the best of the best reactions here. That woman is just so done with everything after what she's been put through the last few years. Dustin/Suize is just her 13th reason at this point.)

And then the action. Oh the action. We already touched on the car crash scene for action, but then the final battle between most of the party and the older teens and the Mind Flayer? So good. So much eye candy and fun set pieces. Fireworks are an easy spectacle and that's okay with me.

And then the heart.... Oh, the heart. My fucking heart.

I will give mention to Billy's death because of the effect it has on Max... I will personally admit that I don't feel a whole lot at this scene due to how I feel about Billy as a character. But El managing to connect with Billy (having seen his trauma) and Billy sacrificing himself for her is noteworthy. And what Billy's death does to Max (both emotionally, and to her life) is also very tragic.

Joyce and Hopper truly start off the heart of this episode (for me) though with their confessional, with their promise to finally get that date together fans have been eyeing potentially happening since season 1. Ernestos baby. It's happening.

We've danced around it for so long I was fully convinced this was going to just be an end game couple, 'will they, won't they', we would never get to see them together in the actual show (and granted, they kind of do this to us with how this episode ends. But I accept it because it's not like I'm suffering through Joyce or Hopper dating others to artificially prolong them getting together).

And speaking of how it ends... Yeah, the end of this episode marks the one point in this show I did cry. (Part of the reason I do rank this episode so high.)

So yeah... Actually no Ernestos. (Not for a long time anyways). Hopper's gone, as far as the cast knows. Joyce is heartbroken.

We get the devastation of Joyce, and that's sad. But El? El is what breaks me. Joyce having to see El and know she has to tell her that her dad is dead (as far as they know)? Tragic. And El already knows what's coming before Joyce confirms it- because why else would Hopper not already be holding El in his arms after everything that went down?

All of this was awful enough, but then we skip 3 months later and get the final gut punch- the letter that Jim wrote to El to try and vent his feelings about everything in a healthy matter. Proper communication and all that.

"... for the sake of your old dad, keep the door open three inches."

Cheap line. Cheap fucking line. The three inches call back. Also, it's the first time in the show we hear Hopper call himself El's dad, a cheap shot within a cheap shot.. But I don't care. It works and it made me bawl. And the rest of the letter, as we watch how the words reflect on the goodbye of the Byers (and El) moving away from Hawkins. The devastation of the party being split. And all the while still being completely relevant to Hopper's feelings about El (and her growing relationship with Mike, her growing relationship with the world itself and becoming more independent). It all just works. So well.

From my understanding, most people (if they at least like the later seasons) enjoy this episode a lot. It's one of, if not the highest rated episodes of the show by general critics. And to me? It's a time where I agree with them. Fully.

[instanttyphoontiger]

Day 1- Favorite Season

Season 2- The season of heartfelt character dynamics

Oh look, coming swinging out of the gate with something slightly controversial (and potentially exposing me as a byler endgame supporter gasppppp)

Alright, before we get too far into conjectures and tangents, I'll just say it. Season 2/4 are my favorites, season 1/3 are my least favorites. But there's stuff I enjoy in every season and dislike in every single season. Okay? Okay.

Onto season 2 and why I love it.

This season just makes my hurt/comfort heart happy. The party gets to at least interact some together (which we all know is lacking in some seasons). It pushes to the forefront some of my personal favorite duos (and my favorite portrayals of those duos). These portrayals show these duos supporting each other through conflict and rough stuff. It has a plot I'm invested in between the mind flayer possessing Will, the whole thing with Dart, and the demodogs in general.

The second half of the season in particular is just about perfect for me because of the characters I get to see together. When I have rewatched the scenes/episodes, there's almost nothing I skip over (outside of one episode but we will also get to that later). And the 1st half is also quite enjoyable, what with reintroducing the characters, Hopper and El, the Halloween vibes, and the introduction of Max and Billy (even if neither of those two are my favorite characters).

Developing the father daughter duo of Hopper/El was 100% the right choice. They both need each other quite frankly and I love the fact that for understandable reasons, Hopper is still basically locking El up in a room/a cell (like she's still an experiment), and El resents that. She resents Hopper. It's a realistic conflict in the situation that makes me feel for both sides and remain invested in their relationship.

(The blatant parallels to the Last of Us and Joel and Ellie make me laugh though. Like come on guys, you didn't have to make Jim's dead daughter also named Sara (at least it's a different spelling?).)

Eleven running away to go see her mom and discover more about her past, and herself, is very compelling and so necessary for her character. Her solo episode is yes, far from perfect, but all of the stuff with her birth mom and Aunt was very necessary. Her also rebelling against Hopper after being locked up for so long was required. And I love their reunion when El comes back to save everyone from the demodogs. (Mike was also great in this scene.)

I love seeing Will struggling with possession, I love seeing Mike trying to do everything to keep his best friend with him physically and emotionally after the events of season 1. That loyalty and devotion of Mike doing everything he could to never leave his friend's side was so flipping heartwarming. Man literally spent days sleeping in a chair at Hawkins lab just to stay with his best friend.

Only because of this season do I ship Byler at all. If this had been their entire friendship throughout the show- not just season 1/2- I'd probably be less neutral about the ship actually happening. (As a clarification, I don't necessarily ship Mileven instead of Byler, or vice versa. My true stance at this point is neutral on both and I just try to enjoy the moments for what they are as we get them for either couple/potential couple).

And then finally, the GOAT of this show for me. The duo of all duos themselves. Steve and Dustin.

What needs to be said about this pair that go from an odd couple, unlikely duo to hilarious, bantering surrogate siblings in the span of half a season arguably? Most of the fandom already loves these two together as friends/brothers and it's for good reason. This duo is pretty much what made me finish the series. Them being the big brother/little brother the other never had is just... It makes my heart so happy and full.

And this season is just the start of these two. And their start is fantastic.

The train tracks scene, junkyard, little interactions at the Byers house, burning the tunnels together, the flipping Snow Ball scene gahhhh- all of it is great. I love every single scene these two share. Their on-screen chemistry is great from the start, and I would have taken more scenes of these two if I had it my way. But what we get in the meantime is still fantastic .

Yeah, like I said. This season is just all about making me happy to see some of my favorite individual scenes between characters. There's plenty to still love about characters and interactions that I didn't even touch on. I didn't go much into the party of 4 interacting when they did, I didn't touch on Joyce/Bob (and Bob trying his best to connect to the whole Byers family, not just Joyce, because that's what Joyce needs in a man), I didn't touch on Nancy/Johnathan who I think are at about their strongest this season. And then even more from there.

If you haven't for a while, rewatch season 2. It has so much good. So much heart between the characters that are just trying to survive the situations that have been thrusted into their laps by force. Give it another chance.

[teacake-meacham]

I had to close my eyes to keep myself from washin' away But it the dark backseat, I heard somethin' It was you tellin' me, "I got you back any day, my friend, my man" He's unlike any other

Back On You by Djo

[keeryquinn]

“ As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you” - Everything I Wanted: Billie Eilish

I just love the brotherly bond they have.

[teacake-meacham]

Make Me Choose @steadfastsaturnsrings asked: ↳ Steve and his nail bat or Eddie playing the guitar

[teacake-meacham]

#🥺🥺🥺 Steve Harrington and Dustin Henderson ST5 Teaser Trailer

[brotherly-lov3]

Who's ready for some family feels 🥺

[brotherly-lov3]

Cunning duo | Duck temper duo | troublemakers duo

🪻Check out my comms🪻

[radiofreederry]

[jelly-fish-wishes-deactivated20]

BRO THIS IS LIKE A FULL EPISODE OF DEATH NOTE HOLY SHIT WATCH THIS PLEASE 😭😭😭