Okay, my thoughts for whoever wants them after I've had a bit to think.
I felt the Russia storyline was the weakest obviously but I am loving this new kinda mature Hopper and him and Joyce finally being together so I will say it was worth it. The scene where El and Hop reunites had me crying. It was beautiful.
Over the Jonathan/Nancy/Steve stuff. Hate it. That's all.
We all knew Eddie was going to die. "We are not heroes" uh huh. Sure. It was well done though and Dustin's reaction and his freaking sobbing did me in. The scene where Dustin tells Eddie's Uncle? Ugh, heartbreak. Beautifully acted.
This show has a really lovely way of bringing in minor characters for only a few scenes but really making you feel for them. Chrissy, Fred, The Uncle... even Benny!
Erica was great! Her yelling "crit hit!" as she smashed the jock across the face with her
and then running back to help Lucas was so cute.
Jason was an interesting figure. I thought it showed very well that sometimes all it takes is one random horrible thing to start somebody's descent into madness. By the end, he looked truly psychotic. I wasn't expecting the fight between him and Lucas to be so brutal though neither was I expecting him to get literally pulled in two by the upside down rift.
Speaking of possible descents into madness... Will is giving me VIBES. I can't help but be so suss. He's STILL connected?! And NOW he knows its Vecna/Henry/one? Puhlease. "Oh we're back in Hawkins, I can feel him. I can feel how he thinks." Mmmmmhmmm SUSS.
But his talk with Jonathan was really cute. And the poster was cute. The heart stuff was cringe but in a cute, kinda good cheesy way. Plus it's the 80s.
Lucas was amazing. Can't praise him enough. His scenes with Max, the whole thing with Jason, omg. I loved it. And poor Max. To throw yourself into that as bait, the trust and love she has in her friends, checking that El was real, never giving up but always fighting back, her bones snapping... her actually DYING but El being all like "No" UGH IT WAS SO GOOD. They needed to kill her off but I'm glad they bought her back, sort off. The letters seemed too important to her storyline to just discard. I can see a scene where they all read them aloud in her hospital room in an attempt to bring her back.
I cried at Owen's being so good to El. The true scientist Papa she needed. Screamed at my TV when El was yelling at Brenner and audibly gasped when he stabbed her in the neck with the needle. I was glad he died trying to save her but him still trying to justify it all at the end! Still! Her refusal to say that she understood was really well done!
The Mileven reunion! The forehead touch! Their smiles! The fact that he's just so relieved she's okay and she can't believe he's there! I died! The Mike monologue! Omg Finn knocked that one out of the park! His slight panic, hurrying over his words, the honesty, the way he's just truly putting it all out there. How anyone can say that that boy does not worship the ground she walks on.... it has and always will be El for him. Him screaming at her to just fight. Ugh. I absolutely freaking ADORED it. I loved it so so much. (Likewise the cute Hopper and Mike reunion. They're both just so happy to see each other and you know they're both happy for El's sake. El gets her dad back! El still has Mike looking out for her! Ugh. So cute) Mileven
And I really liked that they ended in the flower field where Mike picked El her wildflowers. That was beautifully shot. Bring on season 5!
also o really need to thirst over Steve talking about kids
and I think Murray is a great character for comedy value