El: My battery's low, but... it will recharge. Hopper: I know it will, kid. I know. El: I can fight. Hopper: Better than any of us. But right now, I need you safe. This thing is after you. It's not after me. Do you understand?
*
Hopper: There's something I've been wanting to talk to you both about. I know this is a difficult conversation, but i care about you both very much. And I know that you care about each other very much. And that's why it's important that we set these boundaries moving forward, so we can build an environment...where we all feel..comfortable, trusted, and open to sharing our feelings. Feelings. Feelings. Jesus. The truth is, for so long, I'd forgotten what those even were. I've been stuck in one place, in a cave, you might say. A deep, dark cave. And then, I left some Eggos out in the woods, and you came into my life and for the first time in a long time, I started to feel things again. I started to feel happy. But, lately, I guess I've been feeling...distant from you. Like you're - you're pulling away from me or something. I miss playing board games every night, making triple-decker Eggo extravagances at sunrise, watching westerns together before we doze off. But I know you're getting older. Growing. And I guess...if I'm being honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change. So, I think that maybe that's why I came in here, to try to maybe...stop that change. To turn back the clock. To make things go back to how they were. But i know that's naive. That's just...not how life works. It's moving. Always moving, whether you like it or not. And, yeah, sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's sad. And sometimes...it's surprising. So, you know what? Keep growing up kid. Don't let me stop you. Make mistakes, learn from 'em, and when life hurts you, because it will, remember the hurt. The hurt is good. It means you're out of that cave. But, please, if you don't mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches.
*—*—*
Episode Extended Bechdel Test Score: All points on each level must be received before we move on to the next.
Basic Bechdel Test - up to 3 points
More than one named female character = 1
Two female characters have a conversation = 1
About something other than a male character = 1
Level two - up to 4 points
Still not just made for girls = 1
At least one female character for every 3 male characters = 1
At least one female not in a best friend/ girlfriend/ love interest role = 1
One woman has a positive ending = 1
Level 3 - up to 4 points
Equal or nearly equal female and male characters = 1
One power scene featuring a female = 1
No main female villain = 1
No refrigerated women! = 1
Level 4! - up to 4 points, and last level!
Female lead character = 1
Females are more than best friend/girlfriend/love interest = 1
Any female villain is not doing it for a man = 1
This one’s no surprise, though at least Billy got to turn to good at the end. RIP, Billy.
Total Score: 14