With only one episode left this season, Stranger Things raises the stakes yet again. Not only does this penultimate episode deliver some of the series’ greatest visuals, ‘The Bite’ also includes some exceptional horror and exciting setup.
Considering how often Stranger Things utilizes strobe lighting and features environments drained of color, ‘The Bite’ may be the show’s most vibrant episode yet. The cinematography of this episode is beautiful and takes full advantage of the season’s colorful locales. This vividness nicely contrasts with the more dramatic moments from the episode and helps its claustrophobic, more traditionally lit post-title scene stand out.
This series has given us some remarkable horror moments, but the attack of the Mind Flayer is one of the most terrifying scenes to date. We have witnessed some truly repulsive special effects (in a good way) this season, and the flayed monster somehow makes the Demogorgon and Demo-dogs look like stuffed animals.
Unfortunately, as well as the horror in ‘The Bite’ works, the humor does not fare as well. Robin (Maya Hawke) and Steve (Joe Keery) have thus far been an excellent comedic duo, but their drugged shenanigans fall flat and feel derivative of most stoner comedies. Likewise, Lucas’s (Caleb McLaughlin) extended defense of New Coke is incredibly shoehorned in and represents one of the show’s weakest references to its time period. And while having the adults run around the carnival is amusing, but I am still unsure why Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) had to go there. Thankfully, the setting at least led to one of the show’s most arresting action sequences.
The one bit of humor that does land is the unlikely bromance of Murray (Brett Gelman) and Alexei (Alec Utgoff). Murray’s blunt, misanthropic personality and Alexei’s endearingly spellbound demeanor perfectly balance one another. Though some of Murray’s actions are essentially retreads of last season, his relationship with the Russian scientist brings a new energy to the character. And while Alexei could have been little more than a plot device, Alec Utgoff gives Alexei such goofy charm that he has quickly become one of this season’s MVPs.
Likewise, Maya Hawke continues to prove herself as a great addition to the show’s young cast. As much as Robin’s silly antics with Steve fail to deliver, their heart-to-heart is easily one of the season’s most tender moments. Without going into spoilers, the interaction also marks a very important moment for inclusion that will likely be welcomed by fans.
Of course, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) remain the heart of this series. Mike’s screen time has definitely taken a hit as the ensemble cast has grown, but his awkward but heartfelt conversations with Eleven have remained a series’ highlight. Given how much their relationship has evolved this season, it is remarkable how well the two young actors convey their characters’ shared history.
While ‘The Bite’ sticks to the show’s tradition of tying its separate storylines together in the season’s penultimate episode, this chapter features more than table setting. Balancing new characters and old, humor and horror, style and substance, ‘The Bite’ stands incredibly on its own and promises to turn Hawkins upside down.
Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 7, ‘The Bite’ is now streaming on Netflix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcnHOQ-cHa0&t=35s
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