Stranger Things Episode 7

Stranger Things Episode 7 Rating: 9,2/10 6290 votes

Jul 05, 2019  The penultimate episode of Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3, titled ‘The Bite’, lives up to its name and does carry a sharp nip of its own. In Episode 6, we saw that the Mind Flayer had made its way to the surface, so obviously it was inevitable that this monster would show up in this.

The Hawkins squad faces their toughest adversary.

  1. Stranger Things 2016 TV-14 3 Seasons Teen TV Shows When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.
  2. Oct 28, 2017  It’s early, but I’d bet this will go down as the most divisive installment of Stranger Things 2, and maybe the entire series to date. On paper, an Eleven bottle episode sounds amazing.
Posted: 7 Jul 2019 4:57 pm
Warning! Full SPOILERS follow for our review of Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 7, titled 'The Bite.' For a refresher, be sure to check out our review of 'E Pluribus Unum.'
The penultimate episode of Stranger Things Season 3 is a bloody affair with jaw-dropping battles, a scary new monster, and a surprising departure for one of our favorite new characters. The fight between the Mind Flayer's host beast and the kids is a great showcase for how the series has improved on its use of special effects. The creature is really terrifying up close, making it difficult to tell where the practical and computer-generated effects come together. The show has had its share of spectacular set pieces this season, but watching the monster attack the kids from both inside and outside the house is a unique and suspenseful twist on previous battles.There's no denying that El is the most powerful member of the Hawkins crew, but knowing that she's not invincible from time to time makes this scene more thrilling. Lucas' handling of the ax mixed with Nancy's efficiency with the shotgun helps the encounter feel like a team effort. And while we don't wish any harm on Eleven, it does raise the stakes when she's weakened and no longer able to efficiently protect her friends. How will the gang defeat the Russians and the monster with their top player on the bench?Also: We need to have a brief chat about product placement. Stranger Things enjoys playing with '80s nostalgia, which is fine in moderation. However, Lucas' speech about how 'new' Coke is better than the older version takes things a little too far. The scene feels like you're watching an actual commercial, and the timing is all off. The kids just had a significant encounter with a deadly creature, Eleven has a severe leg injury, and they're all on the run, but Lucas has time to talk about how good Coke is? The scene could have worked if it took place in a less important part of the story, like during a D&D quest, or at the pool, but here, it just feels distracting.
Meanwhile, Hopper and Joyce's adventures lead them to Mayor Kline's Fun Fair where we get a surprise visit from Grigori and his cronies. The formidable Russian has been a thorn in Hopper's side all season, and their encounters never disappoint. The shot of Hopper getting the better Grigori is a real jump-out-of-your-seat moment until we quickly realize that Grigori is smart enough to wear a bullet-proof vest. And while the 'Hall of Mirrors' backdrop has been used in numerous action films over the decades (Enter the Dragon, Conan The Destroyer, and John Wick, among others), it's still an effective way to add tension. I hope we get a 'Why won't you just die?!' scream from Hopper before the season's over.
On a more depressing note, Alexei's death is a surprise. The young Russian scientist's endearing banter with Murray appeared to be a promising indication that Alexei might become a valuable member of the team. In the past, we've criticized Stranger Things for how flippantly it handles death, but props to the Duffer brothers for making Alexei's passing a real tear-jerker.
It's also a relief to see the Starcourt Mall squad finally reunite with the rest of the Hawkins crew, with Eleven making a big introduction by throwing a car across the food court. Hearing Steve casually inform Robin that 'El has superpowers,' and Max's shock that there are actual Russians at the mall is a charming moment amidst all of the chaos. But even before all of that takes place, Dustin and Erica's parenting skills are comically put to the test, with Steve and Robin still hopped up on truth drugs. Robin's heartfelt reveal about her sexual preference is handled with care, and instead of having Steve overreact to Robin's confession, he simply carries on having a conversation with her. Finally, Steve has a friend his own age!

Verdict

Apart from the poorly placed product placement, the penultimate episode of Stranger Things Season 3 has some incredible battles and a particularly moving conversation between Steve and Robin. And while we're sad to see Alexei go, the episode sets up an exciting finale, especially with the Hawkins crew reunited, and the giant Mind Flayer monster still on the loose. For more, check out our review of Stranger Things Season 3, episode 8.

In This Article

Netflix's Stranger Things: Season 3, Episode 7 - 'The Bite' Review
Stranger Things' penultimate episode features jaw-dropping battles, a scary new monster, and a surprising departure.
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The off-brand X-Men Stranger Things didn't need

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Spoilers for Stranger Things 2, up through Episode 7, 'The Lost Sister,' below

An episode that focuses entirely on Eleven--and on her quest to reunite with another of Brenner's psychic kids, no less--should have been a highlight of Stranger Things Season 2. Instead it goes down as the opposite, in large part because it breaks the unspoken rule that makes every other episode of Stranger Things better: It all feels like it could really be happening.

Yes, Stranger Things is a fantasy horror show with pretty much actual magic. But the characters and settings all feel like real people and places, and a government conspiracy to develop human weapons and then cover up the botched results has grounds in our world too. The CIA has done some messed up stuff!

But a gang of off-brand X-Men living in a weirdly well-furnished warehouse, systematically murdering people for no real reason--and looking like a Hot Topic parody while doing it--stretches disbelief to the point of breaking. Kali's crew feel like cartoon characters from a much worse show--all but Kali herself, who, ironically, is the one with psychic superpowers. But well-drawn as Linnea Berthelson's character is, she's mired in a pointless, cheesy distraction of an episode, and her awaited return after a great introduction in Season 2's premiere episode is a disappointment.

That's not to say it was all bad. Millie Bobby Brown continues to sustain her fantastically idiosyncratic performance, managing an impressive balance between a vulnerable, naive child and a powerful outcast out for blood. Her scream when pushing her powers to the limit is still unbeatable. Whether that makeover worked is debatable, but on the other hand there was nowhere to go from overalls and curls besides up.

Dr. Brenner's return to the show was welcome, if a bit anticlimactic, considering he was simply a Kali-induced hallucination. Whether he's actually alive is, it appears, still up in the air.

Kali herself is a great addition to the show's living universe. Free download corel x3 full. Her power--to make other people hallucinate whatever she chooses--has potential for creativity, moreso than Eleven's vaguely defined abilities to slam doors and pop people's brains with her mind.

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