The Flayed
After the intensity of The Sauna Test, it’s time to keep things going with Episode 5 called The Flayed. The episode kicks off with Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Erica stuck in the Russian elevator descending rapidly. The elevator comes to a sharp halt and the group sees no way to get out through the doors. Dustin finds a way to climb out. Things aren’t looking promising when climbing out when he discovers they’re trapped in a massive elevator shaft with no escape.
Hopper and Joyce continue on their quest at Hess Farm, attempting to figure out what caused the power surge in Hawkins. They find two Russian men who can’t understand them when they attempt to make contact. The man from the motorcycle suddenly walks into the farm with a gun loaded, ready to meet his Hawaiian shirted foe. Hopper sneaks up on him and holds motorcycle man at gunpoint. Right before he can shoot, the two men get into a fight. These two love fighting! When Hopper knocks him on the ground for a minute, he and Joyce grab one of the Russians and bring him along with them. They run out of the farm and drive away while the mysterious motorcycle man gets up and fires his gun at the car. Is this guy the Terminator? Nothing can keep him down. Opening title credits begin
Wake Up Call
Jonathan is just trying to get some rest after a frustrating week at work. The Byers’ house phone will not stop ringing so he gets up to answer it to find Nancy is calling at 6 AM. “Do you realize what time it is?” he frustratingly asks her. I may not be a big Jonathan fan, but I’m in his corner on this one. There are certain times you don’t call people and 6 AM is a big time NO. Good for Jonathan for actually listening to her at that hour because I wouldn’t have answered the phone. She tells him that she’s at the hospital with Mrs. Driscoll and she needs to speak to Will.
A Walk in the Woods
Hopper’s car completely breaks down then blows up after the high speed getaway from Hess Farm! So he and Joyce begin a trek through the woods with their new Russian companion, Alexei. Joyce tries to tell Alexei all about her obsession with magnets. He conveniently acts like he doesn’t understand her due to the language barrier. Nice try, Alexei. You’re still gonna have to hear about the magnets. She’s never gonna stop talking about them. They walk through the woods for a long time until Alexei begins running. At first glance, it would seem he’s running away, but he’s just running towards 7/11! It’s time for some more New Coke advertisement! I’ve lost count at how many times it’s been advertised, but I know I’ve seen at least 6 cans. Alexei gets a strawberry slurpee and I’m a little shocked he didn’t just start speaking English then and there stating, “New Coke is my favorite part of America.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m an American. Coke is my favorite drink, but there’s no need to be so blatant about it in every frame of the show.
After buying some NEW COKE at the 7/11, Hopper commandeers a car from a guy pumping gas who looks like a slick 80’s investment banker. He uses the “I’m a cop and this is a criminal” excuse with Alexei. The 3 drive away and show up to the home of Murray Bauman. You may remember Murray from last season as the private investigator hired by Barb’s parents to investigate her disappearance. (RIP BARB. Gone, but certainly never forgotten.) Murray opens the door to speak to Alexei and the two begin communicating in fluent Russian. This is sure to take an interesting turn. He searches Alexei with a metal detector to be sure it’s safe to have him in his house.
The Terminator is on their tail! Shortly after they drive off, he shows up at the gas station asking for information about their whereabouts. What’s going on? There’s no New Coke in this scene at the 7/11?! Why didn’t the Terminator guy buy any! What’s his problem! Doesn’t he understand when in a place of business one must purchase a New Coke!
Group Investigation
Mike, El, Max, Lucas, and Will are still together after the Sauna Test. Mike thinks it’s weird that Hopper is gone and that Dustin isn’t with the group. (I agree Mike. It is weird!) Nancy and Jonathan join the group to give their story some pizzaz. They tell the kids all about their research on Mrs. Driscoll and the rabid rats. This helps everyone realize that Billy and Mrs. Driscoll’s attacks happened at the exact same time. Research is so helpful! While talking, everyone puts the pieces together that Heather and Tom are father/daughter. They head to Heather’s house to do some investigating. No answer at the doorbell. If only someone could get the door open! Thankfully, El remembers she has powers and uses them to their advantage. Inside the house, they find a bunch of chemicals on the kitchen counter indicating Heather’s family has been taking part in the Ammonia craze that’s sweeping through Hawkins. Mike suggests they may be making something with the chemicals. Somehow Nancy pieces together every single moment of Billy’s dinner with Heather’s family just by looking at the scene of the house. What a detective! Sherlock Holmes wishes he had that kind of skill!
Stuck in an Elevator
Dustin is desperate to get out of the elevator so he sends out messages on his walkie talkie. Sadly, no one is listening. In a miraculous turn, the elevator doors are opened by two Russian workers. Steve uses the Troll 2 neon green tube to keep the elevator door open so they can slide under and get out of the confined space. As soon as he gets out, the tube explodes and melts like some kind of acid. As they get out of the elevator, they’re faced with the task of walking down an infinitely long hallway. The hallway walkers finally reach the end to find some kind of Russian facility. The 4 make it into a room with an open door. Guess what, it’s not empty! Robin begins speaking the code to the man in the room, but he’s not buying it. He starts to take out a gun, but Steve charges at him. They start fighting…Steve, it’s only episode 5. It’s too early for you to get beat up. To my surprise, Steve knocks him out. Do my eyes deceive me? Did STEVE JUST WIN A FIGHT WITH A HUMAN CHARACTER?
Robin brings the group to the control room. We’re back to that Chernobyl life! The men in the Hazmat suits are walking around the nuclear reactor trying to open that gate. Okay, this part is pretty unbelievable. How would these teens and children with bright neon clothing walk around this highly secretive facility with no one to stop them? If there was a key card just to use the elevator, there would definitely be a key card to get into the most dangerous facility in the city.
Final Moments
After hearing the story about Mrs. Driscoll, the group believes she will lead them to the source. So they return to her hospital room. She’s disappeared from her room, but Tom is there with blood on his shirt. The lights begin flickering as Nancy and Jonathan run to the hallway to find Gary Busey’s clone son chasing them. Nancy defeats him with a fire extinguisher which leads to a domino effect, knocking out Tom. The two begin shaking on the floor and melting basically. It’s very gross. They turn into a pile of sludge on the floor The melted floor sludge begins moving and forms into one unit as the lights go out. The lights turn back on to reveal a huge monster screaming at Nancy and Jonathan. End of Episode 5
Lingering Questions: Is everyone who turns into the monster officially dead?
Episode MVP: Nancy
Best Scene: Steve winning a fight
Is Steve Alive After Episode 5: Yes, and he won a fight!