Stranger Things 2 recap - Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer

Following “Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister,” Stranger Things 2 picks up where “Chapter Six: The Spy” in the eighth episode of the season, “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer.”

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The Stranger Things 2 penultimate episode wastes no time jumping right back into the action. We pick up with what may be the most intense moment yet in the ST canon.

The demodogs are fighting their way up through the gate and into Hawkins Lab. Although Dr. Owens insists that the glass divider will hold them off, a worried Mike seems to indicate that they shouldn’t get too comfy: “We’re too late!” he screams.

Naturally, the beasts bust through almost immediately after. The building is sent into a frenzy. Mike, however, is level-headed. He suggests putting Will back to sleep to avoid another Shadow Monster spying incident. Will—already overtaken by the beast—screams in resistance and Joyce concedes to Mike’s suggestion.

Enter Hopper and Owens, who have somehow managed to escape the terror in the hallway. They help Joyce and the others escape to a side room, where they watch monitors helplessly that show the bloodshed happening in the rest of the building. The power shuts off.

Cutting away from the action, we get our first look at Max and Billy’s family. Their parents are home and lecture Billy for losing track of his stepsister. After watching his dad’s violent reaction, suddenly Billy’s sadistic behavior makes a little more sense.

In the next scene, we see Max herself, following the monsters’ tracks with Steve and the Party. They hear howls and track the noise to Hawkins Lab. “They were going back home,” Lucas observes quietly.

Inside the lab, Owens is helping the others form a plan for escape. Unfortunately, someone has to reset the lab’s breakers in order to turn off the built-in fail safe that is locking them inside the building. Bob—our resident grown-up geek and pure-as-the-driven-snow hero—volunteers to brave the monsters outside and use his tech knowledge to save everybody.

“Remember Bob Newby, Superhero.” We will, Bob. We will. Sniff.

So begins his terrifying journey through the dark lab. Hopper briefly shows him how to use a gun, just in case things go south. Bob never complains or backs out; instead, he tells Hop, “Don’t wait for me.”

Outside, Jonathan and Nancy arrive at the lab at the same time as Steve and the gang. Any awkwardness that could have unfolded between the two exes is brushed aside quickly, as all the kids turn to hear a terrifying howl coming from the building.

Back inside, Bob is on his way down the stairs. After a tense wait for us viewers, he finally makes it into the control room and restores power. His “open sesame” comment to get the doors open is sweet, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security: the journey isn’t over yet. A monster lurks outside.

Bob, that clever son of a gun, distracts the beast with some sprinklers and tentatively heads back outside. The rest of the group – minus Owens, who stays behind – gets out safe.

Stranger Things 2 recap – Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer

By Brittni Miner | Nov 3, 2017

Following “Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister,” Stranger Things 2 picks up where “Chapter Six: The Spy” in the eighth episode of the season, “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer.”