Chapter Four: Will the Wise

Season 2 of 'Stranger Things', one of Netflix's better shows in its prime with a fine first season, got off to a promising if slow start with its first two episodes. Before kicking into gear with the excellent previous episode and the season went from strength from there, with one exception. "Chapter Four: Will the Wise" had a really intriguing idea and was very excited to see how it would build upon what was seen before and how it would deepen the mysteries.

"Chapter Four: Will the Wise" does this building incredibly well, deepens the story just as well in a way that is remarkably dark and leaves one truly excited for further developments to the plotting and character writing. It is every bit as good as "Chapter Three: The Pollywog" and perhaps even better, due to less of the cliches and the occasional thing that slowed things down. Luckily, it continues the story progression seen in the previous episode instead of being a case of too much set up or filler.

Really not much wrong here, though the Jim moments didn't seem as necessary to the plotting as everything else, while developing him as a character more.

Have nothing to fault everything else for. All the cast are uniformly great, children and adults. Millie Bobbie Brown is always fantastic on the show, as are her fellow young cast members, and Winona Ryder has come on a long way from the first season (not as melodramatic). All the character interactions are terrific in all the subplots, Jonathan and Nancy's subplot could have been time wasting but was very nicely done and wasn't dominant. It's the mystery development that takes centre stage and that is a triumph as is Eleven's development.

Furthermore, "Chapter Four: Will the Wise's" production values are superb. Very stylish and atmospheric, with some truly beautiful images that one can't believe such high quality comes from a Netflix show. Not to mention the highly impressive special effects that put a good deal of big budget films in recent years to shame. The music has a wonderful 80s nostalgic vibe while also being quite haunting, enhancing the atmosphere beautifully.

Writing is thought-probing and has a lot of brains and heart. The humour is gentle but amusing, while there is a poignancy (without being too sentimental) and tension. Throughout "Chapter Four: Will the Wise" has creepiness (being one of the creepier and darkest episodes of Season 2 and of 'Stranger Things' even), intriguing mystery, inventive sci-fi, affectionate nostalgia in a 'Stand By Me' like way and emotional impact. The mystery again is even deeper and more complex than before but is always intriguing and never confusing. The ending is incredibly suspenseful and makes one excited for what happens next in subsequent episodes.

In conclusion, excellent. 9/10.

Dustin is responsible for unleashing a monster. He gets caught up in his connection to Dart, that he fails to see how dangerous his complicity is. He doesn't tell his friends, trying to protect the beast, but in doing so he sends them on a wild goose chaser. Jonathan and Nancy go off to tell the truth about their friend's death. The sad thing is that the bad guys listen in on everything, so when they go to meet the girl's mother, she doesn't show up, but men from the lab do. They basically kidnap them and give the a story, telling them to keep their mouths shut. Max is snubbed by the boys and seems to have had enough (rightfully so). But Will continues the mystery. We remember the scene leading to his ingesting the monster that he had run from. When he is brought home, he begins to need it cold because the creature inhabits him. Hopper goes to a place and begins a subterranean investigation.

Is "Will the Wise" the quintessential season 2 episode? I believe so, since everything that has been carefully and meticulously built up to in the first three episodes comes to a giant explosion here. All the characters are either led back to Hawkins' Lab or straight to the Upside Down. Nancy and Jonathan's "justice for Barb "quest provides them with an exclusive tour in the sinister lab, given by the new head doctor Owens. The sequence at the park, where they are literally awaiting to be abducted by one or several of the mysterious people surrounding them, is a masterful example of suspense. Eleven is also drawn back to the lab, when she finds a box of photos and newspaper clippings in the shed's secret basement. Poor Will is possessed by the giant spider-like creature from the Upside Down and must communicate with his mom and Sheriff Hopper via drawings. Via these drawings, Hopper discovers what caused the rotten pumpkins on the fields and finds an entrance to the Upside Down. And, finally, Dustin may have underestimated the impact of hiding an unknown and rapidly growing creature in his room.

Marvelous episode! Relatively short, compared to the others in the season, but at least twice as powerful and exciting! We have come to a point with "Stranger Things" that you need to pay attention to every detail and be suspicious of every character. What's the deal with the uncanny Billy Hargrove and why is he so rude to Max? And what about Dr. Sam Owens? Is he really rectifying the mistakes of last year, or will he turn out more dangerous and vicious than Dr. Brenner? "Will the Wise" is such a great episode that I didn't even notice the lack of a nice and catchy 80s song.

It is really awkward if you are Dustin. I felt sad for him. This episode is again fun to watch and starts to expand the story further.