Stranger Things Season 2 "Chapter 3: The Pollywog"/"Chapter 4 Will the Wise"

Chapter 3: The Pollywog

In Stranger Things Season 2, "Chapter 3: The Pollywog," Dustin makes a surprising discovery at home. At the same time, Eleven's growing desire for freedom leads to a significant act of disobedience against Hopper's strict rules.

Dustin's Curious Discovery & Will's Terrifying Vision

As soon as Dustin investigates the noise in his trash can from the previous episode, he finds a strange creature. He takes it inside, adding it to his collection of pets, much to the dismay of his pet turtle and mother's cat. What he's brought home appears to be a pollywog, with an insatiable appetite, especially for candy that Dustin readily provides.

He eagerly introduces the creature to Mike, Lucas, and Max, and they attempt to identify it, ultimately naming it Dart. However, Will soon recognizes the same scream he heard from a creature in the Upside Down and immediately freaks out. Dart quickly scurries away, leading the group on a chase. When Will finally confronts the creature, he suffers another terrifying episode involving the Upside Down. This time, he attempts to stand up for himself as Bob had advised, but the shadowy creature brutally extends its tendrils through his mouth and ears, possessing him.

Eleven's Quest for Freedom

Meanwhile, Eleven's longing to leave the cabin and see Mike intensifies, but Hopper continues to put off his promises, a frustration many can relate to with parental figures. As soon as Hopper leaves, Eleven, defying his orders, ventures out. She's briefly spotted by a mother and child, who then report her to the police. Undeterred, she presses on, determined to see Mike. However, she's heartbroken when she sees him seemingly enjoying time with another person (Max), leading her to retreat.

Review: Standout Performances and Emotional Proximity

"The Pollywog" was a very strong episode. The dual storylines of Hopper and Eleven, contrasted with Dustin and the boys' meeting and subsequent search for Dart, were equally compelling. I was on the edge of my seat when Eleven and Mike were so agonizingly close to seeing each other again. The writing of this episode was excellent, and the performances from both Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) and Noah Schnapp (Will) were particularly outstanding, truly standing out in their respective emotional arcs.

Overall, I give this episode an 8/10!

Chapter 4: Will the Wise

As Joyce races to find Will, a multitude of other issues surface in "Chapter 4: Will the Wise," escalating the tension and deepening the mysteries in Hawkins.

Will's Worsening Condition & Hopper's Investigation

Joyce finds Will outside the school with Mike, locked in another trance-like vision of the Upside Down and its terrifying creature. After he awakens, he's taken home, struggling to articulate what he's experiencing. The next day, Will's condition worsens; his body temperature drops dangerously low, and he refuses a warm bath, finding the heat unbearable.

After numerous attempts, Joyce finally reaches Hopper, who quickly attends to the situation. Hopper tries to get Will to explain his visions, but Will, unable to find the words, communicates through frantic drawings. What initially appears as scribbles coalesce into a massive, unsettling puzzle revealing blue vines. This leads Hopper to a chilling realization, prompting him to head straight for the pumpkin patch.

Dart's Disturbing Evolution & Team Hawkins's Struggles

Dustin continues to keep Dart as a secret pet at home, feeding him more candy. Meanwhile, Mike, Lucas, and Max futilely search for Dart around the school. Mike confides in only Lucas and Dustin about the creature, explaining its connection to Will's episodes in the Upside Down. Later, Mike checks on Will, questioning Joyce about the creature he's seen.

While Mike is preoccupied, Lucas attempts to reconcile with Max, urging her to join their hunt for Dart. However, she's still hurt by Mike's earlier declaration that she's not a "real" member of the party. The two part ways, with Max heading off in her so-called brother's car (who, by the way, is proving to be a real pain).

Nancy & Jonathan's Dangerous Quest

Nancy and Jonathan embark on a dangerous mission to meet with Barb's parents and reveal the truth about her disappearance. Their efforts put them squarely in the crosshairs of the Department of Energy (DOE) and lead to an unsettling meeting with Dr. Owens. What seemed like a failed attempt turns into a victory, as Nancy cleverly records their conversation with Owens while inside the highly secure DOE building. What a move!

Eleven's Rebellion & Discoveries

One of the most compelling storylines in this episode revolves around Eleven and Hopper. Upon her return to the cabin, Hopper shifts into strict, "mean dad" mode, attempting to impress upon her the importance of his protective rules. Eleven, however, perceives this as a lie, leading to a dramatic outburst that trashes the cabin. Hopper, in response, confiscates all her comforts – from her beloved Eggos (a true tragedy!) to the television (a crime!), though he's forced to merely pull the plug on the TV due to her powers. After a night spent cleaning up the mess, Hopper offers a compromise: if she cleans the cabin, he'll repair the TV.

While cleaning, Eleven stumbles upon a hidden door concealing boxes filled with files marked "Hawkins Lab." Delving into the documents, she discovers her own file, complete with her name, "Jane," and information about her parents. Using her powers with the radio, she manages to momentarily glimpse her mother, but the vision vanishes when her mother calls out her name, "Jane."

Chilling Cliffhangers

The episode ends on a particularly creepy note, with a scene so unsettling I had to look away even though I knew it was coming. Dustin rushes to his room only to find Dart's tank shattered and a shed skin. He then hears guttural growls from the closet and sees blood on the floor. Peering inside, he discovers that Dart has grown significantly larger and is gruesomely devouring his cat. Shockingly, Dart is now shown as an early stage of the creature from Season One, with its terrifying, petal-like mouth opening like a blooming flower.

And let's not forget Hopper's chilling discovery: as soon as he deciphers Will's blue vine drawings, he heads to the pumpkin patch farm. Digging into the soil, he unearths something gross and blue, which leads him directly into a dark, tunnel-like structure that eerily resembles Will's visions of the Upside Down's inner workings.

Review: A Packed and Potent Episode

"Will the Wise" was an incredibly good episode, packed with pivotal moments. From the grotesque reveal of the cat being devoured by Dart to the poignant and sad scene of Eleven glimpsing her mother, and Hopper's horrifying discovery of the Upside Down tunnel, this episode truly had everything to offer and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone's performance, but Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp once again delivered particularly standout work.

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10.

You can catch Stranger Things Season 2 now on Netflix.

The Best Treat of All: Stranger Things "Chapter 1: MADMAX"/"Chapter 2: Trick or Treak, Freak"

"Chapter 1: MADMAX"

The season two premiere of Stranger Things, "Chapter 1: MADMAX," wasted no time plunging us back into the eerie and captivating world of Hawkins, Indiana. This episode introduces a new top video gamer in town, hints at escalating nightmares, and delivers a few genuinely shocking moments, expertly setting the tone for the season to come.

The Mystery Expands

The episode opens dramatically with a robbery a year after the events of Season 1. A group escapes in a van, and during a police chase, one member causes the pursuing officers to stop by seemingly making a bridge collapse – a hallucination, as we discover. This individual sports a tattoo with the number 008, immediately signaling that Eleven isn't the only one with unique abilities.

Things in Hawkins appear deceptively calm. Hopper, in his usual gruff yet endearing style, tries to ignore new arrivals at work, but finds himself dealing with a freelance journalist investigating Barb's disappearance. His routine is further disrupted by calls about someone's pumpkins being mysteriously ruined, hinting at a new, subtle strangeness brewing in the town.

Will's Lingering Trauma

Joyce is deeply concerned for Will after he experiences another vivid vision or dream of the Upside Down, featuring a terrifying storm cloud. Will is taken to see Dr. Owens, a Department of Energy executive now in charge of the lab. Owens conducts tests and questions Will about these visions, initially attributing them to PTSD, but the audience knows there's more to it.

Where is Eleven?

Amidst all the new characters and expanding mysteries, the lingering question of Eleven's whereabouts is finally answered in a jaw-dropping moment at the episode's close. As Hopper drives into the woods and walks towards a secluded cabin, the scene initially suggests a new home or perhaps a girlfriend. However, the revelation is far more thrilling: Eleven, now with curly hair, walks in to join Hopper for dinner, confirming her survival and his surprising role as her protector.

Review: A Perfect Tone-Setter

"MADMAX" was a fantastic episode that really captured the spirit of Stranger Things Season 2, just as I was hoping. It was such a joy to see these beloved characters return, especially Eleven, who was especially thrilling to see back and safe. Watching Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas rushing to the arcade was fun, but what truly made the episode stand out was its wonderful music, the introduction of the intriguing new character Max, and the charming chemistry between Joyce and Hopper – honestly, I think they might even be a better match than Joyce and Bob! The writing was superb, perfectly blending character moments, mystery, and atmosphere.

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10.

"Chapter 2: Trick or Treat Freak"

It's Halloween in Hawkins, and "Chapter 2: Trick or Treat Freak" plunges us into the festivities with the gang ready for trick-or-treating. But the arrival of a new face creates tension among the group, while more profound mysteries and personal struggles begin to emerge, particularly for one beloved character.

Halloween Hijinks & Shifting Dynamics

Mike and the boys are thrilled, decked out in their Ghostbusters costumes, only to find themselves as the sole ones dressed up at school. When Dustin and Lucas invite Max to join their trick-or-treating adventures, her initial silence is broken by a jump-scare reveal of her own costume, which clearly doesn't sit well with Mike. This scene immediately highlights the shifting group dynamics with the introduction of Max.

Will's Lingering Visions

Will's unsettling visions of the Upside Down continue, now featuring a menacing giant creator that he's meticulously drawn. Joyce remains deeply worried by these drawings. During trick-or-treating, Will experiences another terrifying encounter with the creator, triggered by other kids cruelly calling him "Zombie Boy." Mike quickly intervenes, taking Will home, where they discuss the disturbing visions.

Eleven's Secret Struggle for Return

The episode masterfully weaves in Eleven's untold story of survival and her desperate attempt to return after her apparent demise in the Season 1 finale. We see her navigating the Upside Down, searching for Mike, before finding her way back to the real world through the same opening. Her attempt to return to Mike's house is thwarted when she spots FBI agents and police there. After Mike briefly sees her through the window, she quickly flees, forced to rely on her survival skills to hunt, protect herself, and find suitable clothing.

The narrative frequently flashes between her past survival and her present frustration. Eleven desperately wants to trick-or-treat, believing her ghost costume will make her invisible, but Hopper refuses to let her leave the cabin. He attempts to compromise by getting off work early and bringing a plethora of candy. Still, his plans are derailed when he's pulled into investigating the mystery of the dead pumpkins and goo-covered trees—another unsettling sign of the Upside Down's influence.

In a particularly heartbreaking moment, an upset Eleven telepathically attempts to reach Mike through a TV screen. For a fleeting minute, Mike's excitement suggests he senses her presence, but he walks away, doubting his own perception, leaving Eleven visibly heartbroken despite being so physically close.

A Cliffhanger Creature

The episode culminates with a chilling surprise: as Dustin arrives home, he hears a strange noise near his trash can. He investigates, opening the lid to a startling revelation that sets the stage for the third episode's mysteries.

Review: Eleven Steals the Show

"Trick or Treat Freak" was a fantastic episode that truly shined thanks to Eleven's captivating story. I think this episode features one of Millie Bobby Brown's best performances, showing her incredible growth and deep emotion as Eleven deals with loneliness and heartbreak. The subplot with Jonathan and Nancy, while not the most memorable part, was still enjoyable. Sean Astin as Bob also continues to bring a charming mix of humor and awkwardness as Joyce's new boyfriend.

Overall, this episode strikes a lovely balance between exciting new threats and heartfelt moments. I’d rate it a 9/10!

You can catch the second season of Stranger Things, available now on Netflix, along with Season One.

A Captivating Introduction: Stranger Things Season 1

Here are my thoughts on the first season of Netflix's Stranger Things. 

The Blacklist "Ilyas Surkov (No. 54)"

This week's episode of The Blacklist gave a twist that not only comes in the middle but the end when someone makes a call.

When a bombing happens, Red informs Liz about an Intel of the event that is by an international terrorist group. When they search for a suspect that has ties with the head of the terrorist group, they get bumped by another team from the CIA.

They split the interviewing process for one another until when Ressler gets a call from Cooper that this CIA team is not at all any part of the U.S. Government, which turns into a shoot out til they capture one of the members who thought that they were actually working with the CIA.

After the interview, the left behind agent checks out with her story but shows Liz and the team of their headquarters that turns out to be abandoned. The suspect they are after turns out to be part of the CIA but got blacklisted and disappeared. He's set to take out someone who's about to blow up a Navy Ship but was stopped by Liz but turns out the suspect was right when he says the solider walking in was carrying a bomb.

Meanwhile, Nick was found dead from what shows to be a bombing and kind of blames Red for it, even though Red didn't know about it. Later in the episode, Liz, Tom and Red were at the funeral.

Red gets into the dog grooming business and gets someone, who happens to have the cuttiest bulldog in the world, to search for someone that worked with Kaplan. He gets the person's belonging that includes a cell phone and when he makes a call to a number that happens to been called and recieved many times, he hears Tom answering the phone.

"Ilyas Surkov" was a very good and entertaining episode. With the very intense twist at the end when Red calls and gets Tom on the other line, the one momnet or few happens to be the bulldog. That bulldog, Coco, was the cutiest thing that I've ever seen and she didn't have to do a whole lot. I just wanted to take her home after Red drives away. Anyway, the writing of the episode was very good and Spader was a good as ever once again. Overall, I give this episode a 8/10.

You can catch The Blacklsit Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

The Blacklist "The Endling (No. 44)"

"Isn't there anything in the universe more powerful than a mother's love for her child?"

I really don't think there is and what this eposode of The Blacklist has shown that a mother's love can stand anything even for her dying child.

Red sees that someone has been killing anyone who is part of The Endling, meaning the last of in the world. What this person is trying to do is more personal than anything could ever be. When Liz and the team are searching they try to protect Princess Sonya that's in the town.

As they try to get to the Princess, things take a turn and the suspect escapes with the Princess' daughter. Asking the Princess about what would someone want with their daughter, turns out that the daughter has a rare blood that's known around as The Golden Blood.

They search for the anymore rare blood disorders and found one that's in the DC Hospital. As Ressler and Samar get there, the child that they were going to protect is gone. And soon findout who the suspect is, Nirah Ahmad, who happens to be the child's mother.

Liz gets Red for help and knowns who the doctor that's helping Ahmad and sees an old friend that fixed his left butt from a wild bore long ago. As soon as Red and Liz get there, Red talks to Ahmad with probably one of the most heartwarming messages probably of the week and gets her to leave the donors. They take her and the child to another location where Liz gets Nick to help, even though he doesn't want to but does.

The mother not only tries to save her child but gives her own life to save his as she shot herself in the head to give her heart to her child.

Meanwhile, Tom is getting worried that Pete might be pulling somethng after getting access into files thanks to Tom stealing Liz's ID number. Nick, who was done with Liz, Red and Tom, check on Pete and gets killed in Pete's apartment. The suitcase is gone and that Pete has gone rouge.

Red gets into a new style of B&B thanks to the mailman, who gets a list of homes of owners that leave for a vacation of so. A very good buiness indead I think.

"The Endling" is a very good episode with a very easy conecpt of a mother who tries to save her child from death and gives her own life to save his. Even though I probably have seen many of these kinds of stories before, it still shows an impact for me as a viewer. I thought Red's speech to Ahmad was really good and really stood out from other moments in the episode. Overall, I give this episode a 8.5/10.

You can catch The Blacklist Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

The Blacklist "Miss Rebecca Thrall (No. 76)"

When there’s a spree of killer cops, Liz and the team investigate and find it shocking, while Red deals with his own issues and makes a deal that would allow him to kill two birds with one stone. Here's my recap and review of this week's episode of The Blacklist.

No Kids, Karaoke On!! Fresh Off The Boat "Kids"

With Jessica and Louis sees that Eddie might be grown up to get them out of "kid jail," they live like it was no tomorrow (in their own way). Plus Eddie and Alison have a hard time telling Evan the truth about them breaking up.

Just when Jessica and Louis thought that when Eddie was making his "suicide soda" and taking it to the living that he might make a huge mess, but they thought wrong. As they see for themselves, Eddie made no mess and used a coaster. With them thinking that Eddie has grown up, Jessica and Louis decides to bring back their first couch that they got in 1982 and soon after that they decide to go out and live like there was no tomorrow: having dinner and Karaoke with Honey and Marvin.

But that idea wen south when Honey and Marvin tells them that they were planning to have a baby. With shock, Jessica and Louis decides to get them to think that having a baby was a bad idea and pushed Marvin to stop the reverse vasectomy. But on their second night of dinner and karaoke, Honey and Marvin were Karafighting with songs like "All That She Wants" and "RESPECT."

But after Marvin tells Honey how Jessica and Louis showed him what parents with kids look like, Jessica and Louis apologies and tells Marvin and Honey that they should have a child as it's their choice not Jessica and Louis.

Meanwhile, after their break up last week, Alison still comes over to Eddie's house to hang with Evan. Eddie and Alison agrees to tell Evan that they shouldn't be hanging out anymore, but it really turns into two parents trying to confront him before telling him the news, which he didn't take too lightly and ruined the white couch as payback.

Also, Emery and Grandma Jenny try to use his bad luck for good and to get back at her enermies from distorying old gifts that she's gotten to winning over an enemy at a retirement home game night.

"Kids" was a very good and hilarious episode. The Louis and Jessica story was hilarious as usual. Randall Park and Constance Wu really stole the episode with a lot of scenes from confronting Eddie about him growing up, talking about how they can do things without kids and even the karaoke scenes as well. The Eddie, Alison and Evan story was good at times along with Emery and Jenny too. Overall, I give this episode a 8/10.

You can catch Fresh Off the Boat Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on aBC.