"Before you say anything... I know it's five o'clock in the morning, but I need you to build me a telemetry tracker."
Fortunately, in the light of what we soon learn, Nancy's shot does only minor damage, despite the pyrotechnics, because we get some fascinating new lore here: the Upside Down is not what we thought, as outside is simply void. This is pretty damn cool.
So is the lovely scene between Nancy and Jonathan, within which they reconnect and confirm their love by not getting engaged at what would have been the wrong time. Plus they don't die, which is nice. We also have a nice scene with Dustin and Steve reconciling, and one in which Joyce and Hopper bond on what we parents know is the impossible question- how to get the balance right between being overprotective of your child and risking harm. The characterisation for this episode in particular is superb, but one could say the same for the season as a whole.
But the main focus of the episode is Max and Holly's eponymous escape from Camazotz. Holly's cleverness finds the way out in a superb sequence of scenes which also reveal that Henry was carrying some serious childhood trauma. This, of course, makes sense, with him as a metaphor for abuse. The cycle of abuse is a terrible thing.
With Holly having made the breakthrough, Max in turn helps her to find her own portal, albeit not to Hawkins but where her physical body is. But Max is in trouble- Vecna has Will, and is cruelly gaslighting him with "vessels" and "new and better worlds", and goading him with how he's Vecna's unwitting accomplice.
Even worse, he uses Will's mind to locate Max's body, leading to the awesome hospital sequence which brings the episode to an exciting climax, while also resolving the tension between Robin and Vickie. Yes, the Demogorgons do rather seem to be taking their time finding the gang, but Karen Wheeler to the rescue....
Another superb episode. I have high hopes that the Duffer Brothers will stick the landing. Fingers crossed...
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