Stranger Things: Chapter 3: The Monster and the Superhero
May 28, 2022 6:34 AM - Season 4, Episode 3 - Subscribe

Murray and Joyce fly to Alaska, and El faces serious consequences. Robin and Nancy dig up dirt on Hawkins' demons. Dr. Owens delivers sobering news.
posted by Navelgazer (11 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Dr. Owens' big monologue felt a little over the top for me, but I liked the apparent kindness and decency that Paul Reiser brings to the character (though was it just me, or did they not leave any money on the table for that poor waitress? I might need to go back and check.)

El being interrogated with no representation present (lawyer or even parent/guardian, what have you) wasn't unrealistic but set me absolutely on edge, especially with how guileless she was.

Robin/Nancy is the team-up I didn't know I was waiting for (though it might take Nancy a bit to warm up to the idea.)
posted by Navelgazer at 6:45 AM on May 28, 2022 [5 favorites]


They didn't stiff the waitress, I definitely noticed a couple of bills by the coffee cup.

I liked this episode better than the first two -- we got some fun Dustin+Steve moments, Robin+Nancy was good, and it felt like there was better momentum towards the plots converging.

My memory of the previous seasons is so hazy, I couldn't remember if Dr. Owens was Reiser playing a Burke-from-Aliens-type-weasel or was playing against that type and on Team Good Guys.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:05 AM on May 28, 2022 [2 favorites]


oh yeah: One of the things I like about Reiser is how thoroughly he’s able to infuse his villains with a veneer of decency. We all know how Aliens played out *now*, but watching it for the first time, it’s entirely possible to think “eh, maybe Reiser’s character really is on the level.” He’s empathetic with Ripley, patient, and amplifies her good advice while giving her credit for it. (For example, “oh, she’s absolutely right” when Ripley warns against gunfire in the colony nuclear plant.”)

So … I’d say “is Reiser’s character in this series a baddie” is still very much an open question. :)
posted by Mr. Excellent at 9:57 AM on May 28, 2022 [7 favorites]


Totally, Mr. Excellent - Reiser as Dr. Owen was too much of a good guy that my suspicion was immediately raised.

Holy shit, I did not recognize Reiser as Paul Reiser, or maybe I'm thinking of someone else. Nope, "'Mad About You' with Helen Hunt" Paul Reiser.
posted by porpoise at 9:35 PM on May 28, 2022 [1 favorite]


Is that town the same set that was used for Back to the Future (the library with the clock tower)?
posted by Grangousier at 1:52 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Grangousier: I did some checking around. "Lenora Hills, CA" is actually Albuquerque, NM. Hawkins is Georgia, and Hill Valley, CA (from Back to the Future) is a bunch of different places in CA, but the clock tower is part of the Universal Studios Backlot.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:46 PM on May 29, 2022 [1 favorite]


Nearly four hours in, this season is finally starting. This overwrought script could’ve been tightened up a lot because I’m getting LOST/Game of Thrones final season vibes.

Re Paul Reiser, we never got a good explanation for how he survived the blood bath at the lab when everyone else was killed. But then he arranged for Hopper to adopt El legally and basically disappear so, it’s a toss up.

The current kid villain, the blond basketball jock, he looks so much like Madison Cawthorn that the dislike is visceral.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:31 PM on May 30, 2022 [4 favorites]


The current kid villain, the blond basketball jock, he looks so much like Madison Cawthorn that the dislike is visceral.

Also, don't know if it's intentional, but I feel like he's affecting a Tom Cruise accent.
posted by ishmael at 8:54 PM on May 31, 2022 [11 favorites]


No one really believes Eleven killed a building full of kids back in the day, right?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:02 AM on June 1, 2022 [2 favorites]


Also, don't know if it's intentional, but I feel like he's affecting a Tom Cruise accent.

I said exactly the same thing.
posted by octothorpe at 6:55 PM on June 2, 2022 [1 favorite]


El being interrogated with no representation present (lawyer or even parent/guardian, what have you) wasn't unrealistic...

My husband asked "is that legal?" and I had to inform him that yeah, that's how a bunch of true crime stories got started: by cops questioning kids with no other adults in the room. And we both had the same Tom Cruise impression.
posted by harriet vane at 8:48 AM on June 9, 2022 [1 favorite]


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