@lefthandedguitarist, I really liked the episode, as well; however, I think the actress playing Kali is a better actress than Brown.
@lefthandedguitarist I don't understand what people still see in Eleven. She was great in the first season, but in this one she's been completely useless and annoying. Like someone mentioned around here, they clearly don't know what to do with her character this season. 7 episodes in and she's contributed nothing to the story. Precisely because of that, they could have easily divided this whole episode into several scenes throughout the other 6 episodes; no need for a filler like this. Character development is a crucial part of any good story, but I feel it has been poorly done in this case (really, they've already had 6 episodes to do it). Also, anyone can do the whole "ET phone home" routine and look angry, which is all Eleven does most of the time. She really is, to me, the weakest link in this season, we've all been having quite a good time without her. But the worst thing is this episode didn't seem to share the same tone of the rest of the show. It felt out of place, it looked like a subpar episode of The Gifted. Sorry for ranting at you, but you're a familiar face and that makes stuff like this easier, ahah!
Review by LeftHandedGuitaristBlockedParent2017-11-08T12:13:31Z
I have to admit, I find myself quite perplexed at the dislike this episode seems to have received from all over the interwebs. While I was a bit put out when it began by the revelation that we weren't going to be picking up from the massive cliffhanger of the previous episode, I soon settled into what is easily one of the most emotionally powerful and interesting episodes of the season so far. What it lacks in thrills it makes up for with superb character development.
I could understand the hate a little bit more if this were a traditional show and we had to wait a week between episodes, but the series' format negates this entirely in that, at worst, this is a 50 minute diversion before getting back to the Hawkins plot.
Eleven's/Jane's story here was heartbreaking and riveting. The gang of outcasts she falls in with were a lively, interesting bunch and her "sister" is remarkable in that she's evolved along an opposite path to Eleven, having friends but never really being friendly with them in the same way that El has. Once the intercutting back to her friends in Hawkins began, it tied things together in an immensely satisfying way that had huge emotional payoff.
Loved it, and Millie Bobbie Brown was spectacular.