Every season of every show has that episode, the one that reminds you why you watch. The overwhelming response has been that this is that episode. The first few episodes set the scene for this new world of the Hawkins crew: half no longer in Hawkins, Lucas trading his D20 for a basketball, Soviet gulag, El bullied and powerless … all stuff we saw in a year-and-a-half of trailers. ‘Dear Billy’ kicked us into gear. $#!+, I may have to put Kate Bush on my workout mix because of it.
After the revelation that Max was in Vecna’s crosshairs, it seemed pretty bleak. With El leaving California with Owens, the Byers boys and Mike seemed to lack purpose. Eddie “The Banished” Munson was being investigated by the police for murder and hunted by a lynch mob of jocks for the same. The only bright spot for our heroes was Hopper, revealed to be alive and planning to escape with the help of Joyce and a corrupt guard they’ve codenamed “Enzo.”
A bright spot for viewers, though, came in the form of Robin (Maya Hawke) regaining her chutzpah from season three with an improvised but impassioned (although somewhat disingenuous) call for gender equality while undercover with Nancy. Together, they bluff their way through the gates of Pennhurst Mental Hospital to meet with local legend, Victor Creel (Robert Englund!). In addition to the quasi Easter egg of having Freddy Kruger face to face with another Nancy, we get a look into the horrific hauntings and deaths of nearly 30 years prior (and war years before even that). They lose their covers but gain a weapon that could help against Vecna.
In Siberia, Hopper gives up his meals and his ankle to ready his escape and, in doing so with fists and dynamite, develops a bit of a Rick-and-Louis-in-Casablanca dynamic with the impressed Enzo. His smuggler’s sanctuary of blue jeans and peanut butter is great relief but short-lived. Hopper, Joyce, and even Enzo (Thomas Wlaschiha, Game of Thrones) find out that anything bought can be cheapened.
Agents of an undisclosed agency are sequestered at the Byers’ home for the boys’ protection. More concerned with watching golf, they prove more than effective when the time comes. A pizza delivery/getaway car from Will’s stoner bud, Argyle (Eduardo Franco, The Package) saves them for the time being.
There’s a lot of action in the episode, but nothing more compelling or dynamic than what Max goes through. The maturity and grit of Max are on display, as well as proof that she did actually listen to school therapist Ms Kelly. She writes letters to her loved ones in case Vecna kills her and she forces perpetual babysitter, Steve, to drive her to a cemetery so that she can have a very honest, necessary, and overdue conversation. When the time comes, she reaffirms her status as the badass of the Hawkins youngsters. It all plays out in the best scene of this “Volume One,” and possibly the best of the series so far.
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