**spoilers ahead**
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Episode 5 “Shock Jock” and Episode 6 “Escape from Camazotz” serve as both frustrating and fantastic final episodes of the landmark series.
Let’s discuss the frustration first.
The major frustration of these episodes is tied into the late-in-the game swerve thrown into the mix. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) discovers Dr. Brenner’s (Matthew Modine, The Dark Knight Rises) notebook and realizes that he’s been “so very wrong” about The Upside Down. The Upside Down is not the alternate reality they know it to be, it’s actually a wormhole between Earth and a realm the gang dubs “The Abyss.”
This is very much a hat on a hat situation. Changing the parameters of the Upside Down so late in the game feels very much like the writers found themselves painted into a corner, and decided to delve into the Dr. Who playbook and add some timey whimey nonsense that the audience essentially will hand wave in the end. Or better yet, it feels very much like Return of the Jedi’s choice of “Oh this is a bigger Death Star!”
The Upside Down being a wormhole ultimately does not matter, and therein lies a major problem. For five seasons we’ve been invested in the Upside Down as the ultimate source of evil and fear in this series. We’ve even co-opted the name to explain things that don’t make sense in our lives and in the modern world. To now undermine this so late in the game leaves a bit of a bitter aftertaste.
However, that’s not the biggest issue with this sci-fi swerve. There’s so much dedicated to this discovery, that too many characters and storylines get put in time out — including what should be the biggest part of the drama — Kali (Linnea Berthelsen, Devs) telling Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Enola Holmes 2) that they need to kill themselves in order to end the horrors of the government’s experiments.
Now this is an excellent, plot-driven, late-in-the-game swerve. We see in a flashback that Kali tried escaping Dr. K’s (Linda Hamilton, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) lab, only to be traumatized by discovering that her blood is being used in an attempt to grow a new generation of telekinetic child soldiers. The sight of pregnant woman after pregnant woman receiving transfusions of her blood, and suffering immensely, breaks her soul (and is a truly frightening visual). She’s now convinced ending her and El’s life is the only way to break this cycle. This, of course, comes into direct conflict with Hopper (David Harbour, Thunderbolts*), who is scared to death of losing El. This is undoubtedly going to be played out in the most dramatic, tear-jerking way possible in the finale, but it still feels undercooked because of all the wormhole nonsense.
While these frustrations are all very apparent throughout the episodes, there’s also a lot to love about these two episodes.
The break-up of Nancy (Natalia Dyer, All Fun and Games) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, New Mutants) was perfect. The shared trauma that brought them together is what ultimately makes them realize that they are absolutely wrong for each other. Their dying declarations of how much they love each other but also cannot stand one another as romantic partners pays off on the years of frustration the audience has had with these two. The scene is bolstered by Dyer and Heaton giving their undeniably best performances of the series. You can see the guilt, stress and anger leaving their bodies with each word they utter.
The “un-proposal” Jonathan does is such an excellent choice made by the writers. The introduction of the ring was something we all cringed at. It made you wonder if Jonathan was actually going to propose and then eventually get killed off. This would have been such a milquetoast outcome. However, Jonathan admitting that proposing would be the wrong move was such a moment for his character. He’s finally clear-headed enough to see this isn’t working and instead of perpetuating a cycle of unhappiness with a quick band-aid, he makes the right call. Nancy, in turn, does the same by realizing she is someone who does not know what she wants, and she wants to go prove herself to a world that still holds her down because she is a woman. An A+ scene that will go down in the annals of the series an all-timer.
The series also delivers one of its most badass scenes when Will goes into the Upside Down and takes control of Venca — breaking his leg and trying to snap his neck. Noah Schnapp’s facial expressions during this scene are so intense and violent, yet you can’t help but find yourself rooting for Will as if he were in a heavyweight title fight. This only makes his loss to Vecna in the scene even more devastating.
The hospital scene with Robin (Maya Hawke) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) trying to save Max (Sadie Sink) continues the series’ run of excellent hospital scenes. You’d think we’d all be tired of them right now, but the creatives know how to create action sequences in tight spaces. Also, the fact multiple storylines (Max and Holly, Lucas’ unflagging devotion to Max, Robin and Vickie’s argument, Karen Wheeler’s mom strength) are woven into this sequence raises the stakes to a level of almost excruciating suspense. The Jurassic Park-inspired laundry scene is such a great touch that is bolstered by Lucas’ not stopping the Kate Bush song, and Max and Holly dilly dallying (how many of us were screaming at the TV for them to run?).
The payoff of a half-dead Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) blowing up the demo dogs is yet another “put in the highlight reel” moment for the series.
Finally, the team-up of Max and Holly has been one of the most inspired choices of the season. Sadie Sink and Nell Fisher have such genuine chemistry together. Max’s salted cynicism and frustrations play perfectly with the wide-eyed pluckiness of Holly. The two have a great sisterly bond, and their strengths don’t make up for the others’ weaknesses, they actually improve upon them. They are able to push each other, protect each other, and cheer the other when they’re insecurities flare up. This plays into one of the series’ great strengths — its heart.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Episode 5 ‘Shock Jock’ and Episode 6 ‘Escape from Camazotz’ set-up so much for the penultimate episode (review coming soon) and the finale. These two episodes reflect the series perfectly — there are frustrating moments but ultimately the big action moments, and the characters outshine plot deficiencies.
