[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

Overall I would say a solid B+ this season.

I'd rate it A+ from a plot driven standpoint. A+++ if it wasn't for the Russia plot.

I'd rate it maybe a C+ from a character driven standpoint. Someone already mentioned it with Infinity War/Endgame but I agree. Maybe more Game of Thrones pre-final season. Scattering all the characters meant we didn't get the interactions and character development that we could have. I recognize it's the penultimate season and now everyone is together for the final season but I don't think we even had a scene with the four boys together. This show isn't Game of Thrones, it's entire premise is based on fanfare, give me it! Not even Dustin and Suzie-Poo?

I was disappointed because it did look like they were going to get everyone together quickly instead of dragging out Hopper's imprisonment. But no, he escapes, then is back, then escapes, then is back, then escapes. Plus I just hated everything about the Russian plot. Joyce and Murray, oh yeah, exactly the people who could totally take down the Soviets.

I don't know, maybe I can suspend disbelief when it's kids, but when you got adults (and not even bad ass ones but the comic relief) it just took me out of it. Or maybe I just cared so much more about the other plots that everytime they went back there I just wanted them to go back and that's why I hated it. I think I would have been happier without any Hopper showing up at all until like the 3rd or 4th episode instead of that plot.

Also I think they did my boy Eddie wrong.

Spoiler!

By far the best of the red shirts (Bob, the slurpee Russian guy). But like the dude saw himself as a coward or at least not a hero because he ran. Except he thought was running away from a mob of angry people who wanted him dead and literally Satan. Like those are okay to run from dude.

And his heroic sacrifice was also...pointless? Like Vecna knew about the trio in his house, they had already touched the vines. Hivemind could have sent the bats there, they didn't need to chase Eddie. And then when he does die, the emotional impact quickly changes when get hit with that "holy #### they are actually going to kill Max" I was not ready for those limbs breaking.

I think, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out at one point it was planned and cut, that Eddie's redemption would have been better if he had ran and left someone in danger or to die. Or even focused on him running away from responsibilities and that's why he wasn't graduating. Build up the cowardness or whatever, instead my biggest gripe with him was that he didn't run far enough. Get out of Dodge dude.

Despite everything that happened, I do think they wrapped it up in a nice little bow too much though. Like if the town thinks that Eddie and the Hellfire Club actually were going around killing people, then the kids (and especially those older randos in the Hellfire club) would be ran out of town at the very least. Mason family level of stigma attached to them.

The one thing to keep in mind:

Spoiler!

While we as viewers may know that Eddie distracting the bats was irrelevant; Eddie didnt know that. One thing about Stranger Things is that the characters make decisions based on the info they have, regardless if it's correct or not.

Reminds me of the Big Giant Head episode of Rick and Morty where the cult is worshiping the heads, and to them it all makes sense and seems to jive, they couldn't be further from the truth.

I only say this to say, remember the characters don't know everything we do.