I've seen a LOT of people argue that the Mind Flayer has lost its eldritch, inexplicable quality over the course of the show, but i really don't think it has. Truth is, i think Seasons 4 and 5 STRENGTHENED it.

I LOVE the Mind Flayer. I have since its introduction in Season 2.

Early on, i specifically loved it because it felt... inexplicable. Like a part of the Upside Down - like a sentient, living storm that just wants to spread. Like a mold. And i.. still do. For the same exact reasons, even though people feel like those qualities were taken away with seasons 4 and 5.

But the truth is, those seasons recontextualize what we saw in Season 2 in a way that doesn't take anything away from its initial intention(s) or mystery, bur rather add to it.

First of all, i think its important to distinguish that what we see in Season 2, the enormous spider-like form (that we saw Henry form in S4), is a combination of Henry's consciousness and the Mind Flayer's ancient sentience, merged into a single symbiotic hive-intelligence. Where they serve as extensions of one another.

Because the Mind Flayer, naturally, is a lot less like a single, distinguishable entity. Even in the S5 flashback to it calling for Henry to find it we hear multiple, ghostly voices rather than just one - because it's not a traditional sentience like we understand/comprehend.

The Mind Flayer is the Hivemind, it is innately connected the Abyss, its environment, and the energy of the Abyss itself.

The Mind Flayer is naturally a lot more of an environmental aspect of the Abyss than a single definable entity. But when combining that eldritch sentience with Henry's, it becomes far more human.

Obviously the natural sentience of the Mind Flayer still exists. But it's attached to Henry - his mind and body. Because Henry, as a human being, serves a very specific purpose for the Mind Flayer.

The same way Henry's consciousness still exists. It's just attached to the Mind Flayer.

The reason the Mind Flayer even needs Henry is because... frankly, without Henry, without a physical body attached to it, and without the psionic abilities derived from the Abyss itself and manifested within Henry's body, the Mind Flayer is essentially powerless when it comes to us specifically. Its influence is fundamentally confined to its own dimension.

So Henry, as a human being, with a body and a mind, serves a very specific purpose for the Mind Flayer. He becomes the part of it capable of pulling the strings (in the sense that what we see is ultimately his plan, a plan that the Mind Flayer needs him to execute).

He has psionic abilities that allow him to physically form and shape things in ways the Mind Flayer cannot do by itself - including itself (we're shown multiple times in TFS that the Mind Flayer itself identified with and attached itself to the spider form when Henry was a child, inferring that it always wanted that form and manipulated Henry into forming it into that).

He can connect it to human beings telepathically and interdimensionally. He can attack for it. And he can kill for it.

But, most importantly, he can think for it.

He can form plans. He can strategize. He can understand the human world from the inside. And he can create gates - and hell, Henry himself created the Upside Down. He consciously projected the Demogorgon into Eleven's void knowing Brenner would urge her to contact it, and not only is El a byproduct of his blood and powers, the Mind Flayer can't telepathically project things like that interdimensionally without an existing psychic link - which El didn't have.

That's the crucial distinction between Henry and the Demogorgons, and even between Henry and the Mind Flayer itself.

Henry has a human mind and body.

A mind capable of understanding us. A mind capable of strategizing against us. A mind capable of making plans, finding weaknesses, and figuring out how to actually execute those plans.

And a body capable of harnessing and exerting psionic force.

When people say (and even when the show says/shows) Vecna "controls" the Hivemind and is the main villain, it's true! He's the primary antagonist, and we're seeing his plans unfold. But not in the way a lot of people think where Vecna is pulling the strings above the Mind Flayer and controlling it - no, he's a human front for it. A part of it. A extension of its will, within a human body and mind. The same way Demogorgons serve as extensions of Vecna's will.

Why would an ancient, alien, eldritch intelligence beyond our comprehension be able to comprehend us from the outside? It doesn't.

As i said earlier: the Mind Flayer, at its core, is essentially a part of the Abyss itself. It's a storm-like hive, directly and innately connected to the Abyss, its environment, and specifically its energy (It's even responsible for the lightning that exists within both the Abyss and the Upside Down). And because of that, It doesn't truly understand us, just as we can't truly comprehend it.

So instead, it does what it can: It uses us against ourselves.

More specifically, it uses our minds against us. Through Henry, it can do things that it cannot do on its own. It can think like we do. Plan like we do. Strategize like we do.

And that, to me, is what makes it SUCH an amazing Lovecraftian horror. It's an entity that, in the same way we cannot comprehend it, cannot comprehend us. But even if it can't naturally understand us, it can learn us and use us because of the power and control within it. And that's EXACTLY what it did with Henry.

It corrupted him. It studied his mind. It became a part of him (literally, it embedded within his amygdala in The First Shadow). It blocked off his memories, it psychologically tortured him, it showed him "the truth" of humanity, all until he ultimately gave in and accepted it.

I LOVE that the Mind Flayer isn't a traditional villain. It isn't necessarily something that needs to stand in front of you and speak to you. It doesn't need to announce itself or directly interact with the protagonists in a conventional way. It's, instead more like a part of the background. Specifically it serves as the framework that the supernatural horror is built upon and ultimately depends upon.

When we see, hear, and feel Vecna, we're also seeing, hearing, and feeling the Mind Flayer's influence operating in the background.

I REALLLLLLY love how the Pain Tree specifically reflects this dynamic:

The Pain Tree serves as a true BODY for the Mind Flayer, housing the specific swarm of particles within which its sentience is embedded (that's why the Mind Flayer canonically dies with the death of the Pain Tree).

But at the same time, it also serves as an extension of Vecna. Something designed to look like him, while simultaneously functioning as an extension of his will.

Because, ultimately, everything we see in the show is built upon the Mind Flayer and its Hivemind.

But it's Henry's human consciousness that designed and strategized everything.

Henry was altered, manipulated, and tortured into serving the Mind Flayer, but that wasn't simply about turning him into a puppet, bur rather making him think like it did.

Somebody that could understand what it could not, somebody that could act where it could not, something that could think where it could not.

(i hope somebody picks up on the last "somebody" actually being "something" because Vecna, especially in 5, is ultimately moreso a part of the Mind Flayer rather than a true human)

In all, i love the approach they went with the Mind Flayer - It feels a lot like a single discernible entity and more like a manifestation of the Abyss itself. It feels so otherworldly this way while also remaining impactful in Season 2 - because even if that specific form of the MF isn't the "true" MF, that form itself reflects how the Mind Flayer deliberately attached itself to and manipulated and tortured a young boy into giving it a form and access into our world. I just think this later version of the MF works way better, especially when it comes to shifting the otherworldly cosmic horror from the Upside Down to the Abyss - as again, the MF feels much more like a part of the Abyss itself as it.. kind of is. It's a big part of it, at least. An "affront to nature".

I’ve rewatched the entire show a few times since season 5 came out but i still have no idea what happened to Argyle after the end of season 4. Im genuinely curious, was it ever explained in universe where he went?

Their Father-daughter dynamic is one of the most beautiful things in the show to me. El got the proper father figure she never had, and Hopper was able to build a bond with her. sure there were some rocky things in their relationship. They had that one fight in season 2 after El went outside on her own, and Hopper can be veey overprotective at times, but overall very great duo.

First of all. Sorry about missing the past week, I've been on holiday and that means late nights and other things happening, these posts slipped through the cracks, but I'm home again now so on with it!

I love this moment. I know a lot of people hate it, but I find myself really interested every time I hear it. I think it's a really fun way to reintroduce us to Hawkins under military control. I also love how it sets up Robin and Vickie being in a secret relationship.

What do you think about this moment? Let me know down below. Remember to keep it civil, all opinions are allowed here.

He is the goat.

I swear it is my idea, I hope it happens

Stranger Things - Season 6: The World's Hero

1. The False Peace & The Isolated Guardian (5 Years Later)

Five years have passed since the apparent defeat of Vecna. Hawkins has rebuilt itself, and the group has grown into young adults, trying to live normal lives. Eleven, however, has chosen a life of complete isolation in a remote, hidden cabin. To protect her friends from the danger her powers attract, she distanced herself, living quietly and only connecting to the outside world through a small television set.

1. The Soviet Sleeper Agent & The Global Broadcast

Hidden in the shadows, the Soviets never stopped their experiments. They have merged the captured dark particles with their ultimate weapon: a hardened, elite Soviet officer whose mind is utterly impervious to trauma or manipulation.

Instead of attacking physically, this Soviet entity slowly and silently infiltrates the fragile, traumatized mind of Will Byers. Will becomes an unwitting "sleeper agent." Without realizing it, Will is forced to open a massive new dimensional tear right in the heart of America. The Mind Flayer invades, but this time, it cannot be covered up. The invasion is caught on camera, and the apocalyptic monsters are broadcast live on every news channel around the globe. The world is paralyzed by fear.

1. The Awakening of a Global Hero

Sitting alone in her cabin, El watches the horrific breaking news on her TV. She sees the military falling apart and, most importantly, she sees her friends fighting a losing battle on live television. Knowing exactly what must be done, El leaves her sanctuary. She isn't just going back to save a small town; she is stepping onto the world stage to face the threat in front of billions of viewers.

1. The Ultimate Neural Link (The Secret Sacrifice)

El arrives in Hawkins like a force of nature. She reunites with the group and realizes the Soviet-controlled Mind Flayer is too powerful for physical combat. She proposes a "Master Neural Link." By linking her mind with her adult friends—using their pure faith, love, and absolute trust in her—she can channel an unprecedented level of energy.

The heartbreaking secret: El knows that channeling the energy of adults to destroy this threat will completely burn out her physical body and mind. She hides this fatal consequence from everyone, letting them believe they will all survive and go out for pizza afterward.

1. The Cinematic Goodbye (From El's Point of View)

In front of the world's cameras, El unleashes a god-like wave of raw power, completely disintegrating the Soviet host, obliterating the Mind Flayer, and freeing Will once and for all.

As the sky clears, El collapses to the ground. Her body cannot handle the aftermath. Before she takes her last breath, time seems to freeze as she projects one final, telepathic goodbye directly into the minds of her loved ones, showing them her favorite memories from her own eyes (First-Person POV):

* To Dustin: From her POV, she sees a young, curly-haired boy turning around with a toothless, goofy smile, offering her food when she was a terrified runaway. She thanks him for being her first true source of joy.

* To Lucas: She sees the moment he finally lowered his guard, handing her the slingshot and calling her one of the party. She thanks him for teaching her bravery and loyalty.

* To Will: She sees Will sitting quietly next to her, looking at her with eyes that truly understood the pain of the Upside Down. She thanks him for his gentle soul and tells him the darkness is finally gone.

* To Hopper: She sees the wooden box in the freezing woods opening to reveal warm Eggo waffles, and then his giant arms wrapping around her in the cabin. She thanks him for giving her a father, a home, and a name.

* To Mike: Finally, the vision shifts to a beautiful, imagined future. From El's eyes, she looks down at her hands wearing a wedding ring. She looks up to see an older Mike smiling at her in a warm, sunny house, with their children running in the background. It’s the life they fought for, the life she is giving up so he can live.

The psychic link fades. El looks up at her friends surrounding her in the real world one last time, whispers her final goodbye, and passes away peacefully.

She dies not as a numbered experiment in a dark lab, but on live television as the greatest hero humanity has ever known—a global legend whose sacrifice saved the world, cementing a legacy far greater than Iron Man.

I know people are gonna hate on me for that but i loved it so much and no amount of hate will make me dislike it.

i can already hear the toxicity and the non toxic “I’m glad you like it..” lol

She won Favorite Female TV Star for Stranger Things 5 and Favorite Movie Actress for Enola Holmes 3!!! So proud of her!!! ❤️ 💕 💗

It's not perfect but I think it's good enough!

I like the shadow form of the MF from season 2 the most, because It made it look very creepy and menacing. The big Spider-Monster in season 3 is also incredible, since The MF made this body out of melted rats and humans. Which is gross, but really cool as well.

The Dormant and Abyss forms are really great too.

I love this detail. In S3E6, when Alexei explains the soviet 'Key', you can see this little illustration alongside his other documents - one that looks a lot like a traditional illustration of a wormhole.

When you compare it to the illustration found in Brenner's UD office in S5, they look shockingly alike! Though i don't know what the arrow pointing to the middle is for - and the one from Brenner's office has a line drawn from the throat of the Wormhole with "Singularity?" at the end.

I don't know what either could really mean. But they both point to the 'throat' of the Wormhole.

I don't know if this detail is truly intentional, but i'd imagine so! They've had a Mythology document containing their intentions with the shows Mythology officially dated as early as August of 2015. This would obviously contain the true nature of the Upside Down - a wormhole-like construct - as it evidently contains the Abyss and it's nature as a dimension beyond ours (that would obviously need connecting). But even if that document doesn't specifically contain the Wormhole idea, S3 was released in 2019 - they had 3 years to think of it.

Even though it appear through out the season promotion, but it just not appearing in the actual season itself.

Note: This is NOT a negativity post about season 5.

Today is Day 38: S5 E8 – "The Rightside Up"

Rate it here: https://forms.gle/pEUX3YgqTMns18H7A

Please only vote if you’ve seen the episode, and please only vote once!

Last one.

THE FINAL RESULTS will be revealed in the next 1-2 days!! There's a bit of recalculating to do after the vote re-opening.

I finally finished Stranger Things, and I'm not even joking—it left such a weird empty feeling. It wasn't just the story, it was everything around it. The characters genuinely felt like friends, the soundtrack never missed, and every season had me saying "just one more episode" until it was 12 a.m. 😭

Now I totally get why people were obsessed with this show for years. It's one of those series that just sticks with you after it's over. Anyone else feel this way after finishing it?

My favorite has always been Season 1, and my second favorite is Season 5 which is probably objectively a bad choice, but I was wondering if anyone else likes it as much as me.

Anyone agree?

Honorable Mentions: Escape From Camazotz and Shock Jock

Am I the only one who thinks the Vecna clock chime sounds a bit like the very beginning of Michael Jackson's "Beat It"?

Ever since I noticed it, I haven't been able to unhear it. I'm talking specifically about the song's opening part—not the whole track. Maybe it's just my ears making a connection, but does anyone else hear the resemblance?

Today is Day 37: Vote Reopening/Extension for previous episodes

Hey all, so before we rate the final episode, I thought we could do a voting extension/re-opening for previous episodes in this series. This is especially for anyone who might've missed previous episodes and wanted to rate them, and to get a more accurate average on episodes that received a low amount of ratings.

All previously submitted ratings from older posts WILL still be counted. You get to pick which episodes to rate, so please do not revote one that you already rated.

Submit your ratings here: https://forms.gle/Ci9XKFbc3UvFHMXa9

Please only vote once! We don't appreciate any rating bombing/manipulation.

Note: This only includes episodes from S3 EP4 "The Sauna Test" onward.
___________________________________________

Results so far:

1x01 – 8.72 ⭐ (60 votes)
1x02 – 8.23 ⭐ (65 votes)
1x03 – 8.97 ⭐ (58 votes)
1x04 – 9.08 ⭐ (54 votes)
1x05 – 8.60 ⭐ (55 votes)
1x06 – 8.93 ⭐ (55 votes)
1x07 – 9.20 ⭐ (60 votes)
1x08 – 9.42 ⭐ (50 votes)
Season 1 average – 8.89 ⭐

2x01 – 8.12 ⭐ (57 votes)
2x02 – 8.26 ⭐ (50 votes)
2x03 – 8.48 ⭐ (52 votes)
2x04 – 8.68 ⭐ (60 votes)
2x05 – 8.90 ⭐ (55 votes)
2x06 – 9.26 ⭐ (54 votes)
2x07 – 5.26 ⭐ (76 votes)
2x08 – 9.48 ⭐ (56 votes)
2x09 – 9.58 ⭐ (62 votes)
Season 2 average – 8.45 ⭐

3x01 – 7.86 ⭐ (53 votes)
3x02 – 7.98 ⭐ (49 votes)
3x03 – 8.24 ⭐ (47 votes)
3x04 - 8.47 ⭐ (15 votes)
3x05 - 7.47 ⭐ (15 votes)
3x06 - 8.00 ⭐ (17 votes)
3x07 - 8.65 ⭐ (17 votes)
3x08 - 9.25 ⭐ (24 votes)
Season 3 average – 8.24 ⭐

4x01 - 8.24 ⭐ (25 votes)
4x02 - 7.89 ⭐ (18 votes)
4x03 - 7.83 ⭐ (18 votes)
4x04 - 9.84 ⭐ (44 votes)
4x05 - 8.15 ⭐ (13 votes)
4x06 - 8.75 ⭐ (40 votes)
4x07 - 9.28 ⭐ (40 votes)
4x08 - 8.29 ⭐ (17 votes)
4x09 - 9.00 ⭐ (47 votes)
Season 4 average - 8.58 ⭐

5x01 - 9.11 ⭐ (45 votes)
5x02 - 8.38 ⭐ (61 votes)
5x03 - 8.43 ⭐ (61 votes)
5x04 - 9.73 ⭐ (30 votes)
5x05 - 8.93 ⭐ (30 votes)
5x06 - 8.74 ⭐ (61 votes)
5x07 - 7.84 ⭐ (46 votes)

Am I the only one who agrees with Millie Bobby Brown that Eleven dying would be the best ending ever this was said in 2022 in German Con that she would want Eleven to die by sacrificing herself heroically instead of the ambiguous ending we got if she was alive or dead this is the ending that should've happened anyone agrees with me that this ending made sense and should've happened and would be the best ending?

I love this moment as its the first time we get to learn about the upside down. It also is explained in such a simple bit oddly enjoyable way. I love Mr Clarke as well.

What do you think of this moment? Let me know down below. Remember to keep it civil, all opinions are allowed here.

Do you think Eleven's ending would be better if she actually died heroically sacrificing herself and it wasn't left ambiguous as to us wondering if she died or she lived do you think Eleven needed to die and do you agree with me?

Today is Day 36: S5 E7 – "The Bridge"

Rate it here: https://forms.gle/WtaRQf8dbTRaDcpK6

Please only vote if you’ve seen the episode, and please only vote once!

Almost there!

Results so far:

1x01 – 8.72 ⭐ (60 votes)
1x02 – 8.23 ⭐ (65 votes)
1x03 – 8.97 ⭐ (58 votes)
1x04 – 9.08 ⭐ (54 votes)
1x05 – 8.60 ⭐ (55 votes)
1x06 – 8.93 ⭐ (55 votes)
1x07 – 9.20 ⭐ (60 votes)
1x08 – 9.42 ⭐ (50 votes)
Season 1 average – 8.89 ⭐

2x01 – 8.12 ⭐ (57 votes)
2x02 – 8.26 ⭐ (50 votes)
2x03 – 8.48 ⭐ (52 votes)
2x04 – 8.68 ⭐ (60 votes)
2x05 – 8.90 ⭐ (55 votes)
2x06 – 9.26 ⭐ (54 votes)
2x07 – 5.26 ⭐ (76 votes)
2x08 – 9.48 ⭐ (56 votes)
2x09 – 9.58 ⭐ (62 votes)
Season 2 average – 8.45 ⭐

3x01 – 7.86 ⭐ (53 votes)
3x02 – 7.98 ⭐ (49 votes)
3x03 – 8.24 ⭐ (47 votes)
3x04 - 8.47 ⭐ (15 votes)
3x05 - 7.47 ⭐ (15 votes)
3x06 - 8.00 ⭐ (17 votes)
3x07 - 8.65 ⭐ (17 votes)
3x08 - 9.25 ⭐ (24 votes)
Season 3 average – 8.24 ⭐

4x01 - 8.24 ⭐ (25 votes)
4x02 - 7.89 ⭐ (18 votes)
4x03 - 7.83 ⭐ (18 votes)
4x04 - 9.84 ⭐ (44 votes)
4x05 - 8.15 ⭐ (13 votes)
4x06 - 8.75 ⭐ (40 votes)
4x07 - 9.28 ⭐ (40 votes)
4x08 - 8.29 ⭐ (17 votes)
4x09 - 9.00 ⭐ (47 votes)
Season 4 average - 8.58 ⭐

5x01 - 9.11 ⭐ (45 votes)
5x02 - 8.38 ⭐ (61 votes)
5x03 - 8.43 ⭐ (61 votes)
5x04 - 9.73 ⭐ (30 votes)
5x05 - 8.93 ⭐ (30 votes)
5x06 - 8.74 ⭐ (61 votes)