Stranger Things 2 The Gate Television 

Five Thoughts on Stranger Things 2‘s “The Gate”

By | September 24th, 2021
Posted in Television | % Comments

Welcome to this week’s installment of the Summer TV Binge of Stranger Things, looking back at the second season finale, released October 27, 2017:

“Chapter Nine: The Gate”
Written and directed by the Duffer Bros.

In this episode, Eleven and Hopper return to the lab to close the “gate” to the Upside Down, while Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy take Will to Jim’s cabin to “exorcize” him. Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Max concoct a plan to distract the Mind Flayer, much to Steve’s disapproval, but are forced to contend with Billy first.

1. Reunions and Reconciliations

Events already get off to an emotional start, as Mike realizes Hopper has been lying to him about El for the past year, and loses his temper at him; being a mature adult, Hopper ignores the boy’s insults and attempts to hit him, letting him tire himself out, and subsequently providing a shoulder to cry on. El hugs Dustin and Lucas, but — still jealous — ignores Max after she introduces herself. After Joyce and El work out what they need to do, Hopper takes El to the lab, separating her and Mike once again.

Hopper's struggle to be a good guardian continues

On the way, Hopper asks El why she now looks like “some kind of MTV punk,” and learns that she went to her mother’s house. He becomes worried that she asked a stranger for a lift, leading her to respond she shouldn’t have left, but he understands, and apologizes for lying and overreacting. He explains he’s afraid of losing her the way he lost Sarah, prompting Eleven to ask who she was. Realizing he’s never mentioned her until now, Hopper carefully explains who she was, but El has matured enough now that she immediately understands. She concedes they were both stupid, and Hopper admits she actually looks “kinda cool.”

2. Max Intimidates Billy for a Change

After Mike and the rest of the party come up with the idea of burning the centralized area in the tunnels, Billy arrives looking for Max, and attacks Steve and Lucas. Steve manages to land a few good blows, but is soon overpowered and knocked unconscious. While Billy revels in beating him, Max grabs the syringe that was being used to sedate Will, and jabs her brother in the neck, rendering him unable to move. She then grabs Steve’s spiked bat, and strikes it between Billy’s legs, warning him to leave her and her friends alone for good, before grabbing his keys.

Make no mistake, the girls are the most intimidating people in Hawkins

Well done Max: I do feel sorry for Steve’s wounded pride though, he recognized protecting the kids was the one thing he was good at, but wound having to be saved by the kids instead. And waking up to find he’s in a car being driven by someone much younger? I would’ve probably freaked as much as he did.

3. Dustin Says Goodbye

Dustin and the rest of the gang are confronted by Dart in the tunnels, but they both recognize each other, and he feeds him some of his beloved nougat as the others quietly walk around them. It’s fascinating that Dart does remember being looked after by Dustin, and it makes his death after El closes the gate oddly poignant, despite him killing a lot of people (and Dustin’s cat.) It also shows a lot of growth on Dustin’s part that he’s able to see this creature as neither a cute pet or a monster, but just an animal that doesn’t know better, and it’s very clear his unlikely friendship with it, as well as its death, will leave him a more mature kid.

4. A Pincer Exorcism

Over at Hopper’s cabin, Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy light a fire, and turn on several heaters to make Will’s body as hot and uncomfortable as possible for the Mind Flayer. The exorcism nearly goes awry, with the Mind Flayer breaking a restraint and grabbing Joyce by the throat, only for it to finally let go after being attacked in the tunnels, the particles it controls flying out of Will’s body into the night sky. The attack also upsets the Demodogs in the lab, sending them away from Hopper, and preventing him from experiencing what would’ve inevitably been a fatal last stand.

Continued below

Jonathan calls Jim, and tells him they’re now free to close the gate without endangering Will. He and El descend down the elevator to the main part of the gate, and unknowingly return Mike and co.’s favor, as closing the portal causes the monsters to double back and ignore Steve and Dustin. All in all, it’s very cool how despite being separated again, the characters’ storylines are feeding and helping each other build to the climax, and even “The Lost Sister” comes back into it, as Kali’s advice to let El’s anger empower her gives her the strength to force the Mind Flayer back into the Upside Down.

5. A Happy Ending, If You Ignore the Context

One month later, the military police lock up the lab after the audio Nancy and Jonathan leaked to the press is published; Murray Bauman watches the officers in amusement, while the Hollands are able to finally lay Barbara to rest. Owens meets Hopper in a diner, and hands him a birth certificate for “Jane Hopper,” making El officially his daughter. Jim and Joyce finally begin dating, while Bob is immortalized as a superhero in Will’s latest drawing. Billy has learned to avoid Max, while Dustin’s mom has a new cat. The boys attend Hawkins Middle School’s Snow Ball, where Lucas dances with Max; an unnamed girl invites Will to join her; and Nancy (who is serving punch) offers to dance with Dustin, after every other girl his age ignores him.

Mike and Eleven, reunited for good

Finally, Eleven enters the room and locks eyes with Mike: he teaches her to dance, and they sway together as the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” swells, before finally locking lips again. It’s a magical moment, which is ironic, since Sting’s been very clear in every interview that the song is about a jealous ex-lover, but I suppose that’s what happens when you belt these lyrics:

“Since you’ve gone I’ve been lost without a trace
I dream at night, I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying, ‘Baby, baby, please'”

See? It’s perfectly appropriate for Mike and El’s love story. But as the camera turns upside down, and reveals the Mind Flayer is hovering above the school, you realize the Duffer brothers did use the song both ways: yes, the Upside Down’s hive mind is furious, and he is watching every move they make.

Other Things:

– Billy knew exactly what he was doing “mistaking” Karen for Nancy’s sister, when he asked if Max was at her house; it’s pretty ironic then that he insinuates Steve is a predator after seeing him at the Byers’ house (not that his accusation was sincere, of course.)

– Matthew Modine is credited prominently over the end titles, presumably because viewers were likely to have skipped over the credits for the episode he guest starred in.

– Do you know why Eleven has two nosebleeds, and stretches out both arms when she closes the gate? It’s not just because of how much she’s exerting herself; it’s also because it’s the second season of the show.

Eleven probably doesn't appreciate this pun

See you all next week for the first chapter of Stranger Things 3, “Suzie, Do You Copy?”


//TAGS | 2021 Summer TV Binge | Stranger Things

Christopher Chiu-Tabet

Chris is the news manager of Multiversity Comics. A writer from London on the autistic spectrum, he enjoys tweeting and blogging on Medium about his favourite films, TV shows, books, music, and games, plus history and religion. He is Lebanese/Chinese, although he can't speak Cantonese or Arabic.

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  • STRANGER THINGS. Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022 Television
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