Season 3, Episode 5 has to do a fair amount of narrative heavy lifting. It brings together the disparate plotlines of the previous four chapters, but that means our characters are doing a lot of walking and having a lot of revelations rather than engaging in action, at least until the end. Hopper and Joyce decide to visit Hess Farm, the last parcel of land connected to the Starcourt Mall property deal, where they encounter a secret Russian cell. Later, they call upon Murray to join them in their efforts, as he speaks fluent Russian. Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Erica escape a stalled elevator and deduce that the Russians are interested in the Upside Down.
Meanwhile, Will, Mike, Eleven, Lucas, and Max are licking their wounds in Mike's basement. Sure, an enormous spider-like monster is taking control of minds and bodies in Hawkins, but Mike's upset that El and Max might be talking about him, since they've been in the bathroom for too long. This episode features one tough-as-nails shot of Eleven that was used as a promotional clip for the season, but, content-wise, it mostly ties up loose ends and serves as filler between more interesting plot developments.
