16th August, 2022.
It’s official: I’m looking out of the window at a remarkable dry evening.
Given my part of the world is supposed to be getting rain? After forty odd days of heat?
That’s a little disappointing.
After all, we had rain, over night.
We could do with more.
Frankly? I hope we get some, this evening.
It would be needed … and would add a hell of a lot of atmosphere to what I’ll be doing.
Yes: it’s Tuesday.
So I’ll be watching Papa, the next episode of Stranger Things’ fourth season.
Rain would add some atmosphere.
17th August, 2022.
Chapter 8 — Papa — picks up from where The Massacre at Hawkins Lab left off: and shows us a young Eleven confronting Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine), after having beaten Henry Creel: the young man who became Vecna.
It shifts, again.
To show us Nancy, stuck in the Upside Down, being given a warning by Vecna … and a message for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown.)
“Tell her … everything.”
Post titles, we move to Kamchatka, in the Soviet Union.
When Joyce and the newly released Hopper (Winona Ryder and David Harbour) are talking about the gap since they last saw each other.
The pair — with Ivan, Murray and Yuri (Nikolai Nikolaeff, Brett Gelman and Nikola Djuricko) — trying to find a route out of the base that doesn’t involve the locked dungeon that is Cell Block 2.
There’s things in Cell Block 2.
Back at Project Nina?
Eleven is coming around from deep sedation.
The induced flashbacks? Have been powerful enough to restore her abilities.
Something that Drs Brenner and Owens seemed pleased about.
Although the pair differ.
Owens (Paul Reiser) is happy for Eleven to help her friends in Hawkins: although warning that it will be dangerous.
Brenner, on the other hand … ?
Wants Eleven to stay at the base for further training.
Taking on Henry Creel is a job he believes is too dangerous.
Elsewhere? In a van on the open road heading for Nevada are Jonathan, Will, Argyle and Mike (Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp*, Eduardo Franco and Finn Wolfhard): they’re intent on rescuing Eleven from the Nina Project … with the optimistic Will planning out what the she and Mike should be doing, once she’s free.
Meanwhile, back in Hawkins?
Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is recounting everything that happened to her in the Upside Down: to Erica, Eddie, Steve, Robin and Max (Priah Ferguson, Joseph Quinn, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke and Sadie Sink).
From what she’s able to tell them … ?
Vecna needs one more victim in order to conquer the world.
As Max points out? The only person for the job is Max … unless she gets protection …
~≈🧟♂️≈~
Now …
What did I make of Papa?
Was it literally good, bad or indifferent?
I have to confess to a certain amount of mixed feelings, again.
This is a superbly written and acted piece.
Indeed during the first 25 minutes or so of the episode that sees Will talking to Mike in a way that — to me, at least — makes it perfectly clear the former’s in love with the latter.
Will’s saying it without actually saying so, Mike quickly cottons on, and Jonathon — Will’s brother — realises it too.
The only person in the van who doesn’t is the perpetually stoned Argyle.
Bar Will’s speech? And breakdown, in tears?
It’s all down with faces, looks and expression: in a way that I’ve rarely seen.
Although, saying that … ? The other recent example I know of was, was in a recent episode of Star Trek Picard.
However?
As beautifully written and acted as Papa was?
This episode’s big, like other episodes this season? Was simply in its length: it’s not as long as The Massacre at Hawkins Lab, but also not as well paced.
That’s a little disappointing.
~≈🧟♂️≈~
With that all said … ?
That is not going to stop me watching more fine TV shows.
I’ll be watching Hide and Seek, the next episode of Star Trek Picard on Friday, 19th August: and posting my written and video reviews of it on the 20th.
I’ll be watching The Piggyback, the last episode of Stranger Things on Tuesday, 23rd August: and posting my written and video reviews of it on the 24th.
I’d love it if you joined me for both.
Papa.★★★☆
* He’s got possibly the best speaking voice of the entire cast!
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