Because I was working when the first batch of season five episodes dropped, I had to watch them slowly, savor them and got to really think about them. I also got to write about each one individually. But thanks to Netflix dropping the next three episodes on Christmas Day, my family and I plowed through those suckers in two sittings.
Although this season is not perfect, I continue to thoroughly enjoy it. I really like that they split the cast into teams and every team or duo has a clear mission to accomplish. It makes for very little downtime. Because they are trying to wrap up a ton of loose ends, there is a little extra dialogue, but I am fine with it. I love most of the characters so it's cool that they are each getting the spotlight in their swam song.
Episodes 5,6, and 7 did not have the same action as episodes three and four, but they had plenty. You can tell this is the middle act with a lot of the story, mystery and scheme unfolding. There are also some huge relationship moments that occur in these episodes. I don't want to spoil it, but they are each very important.
These episodes have fully hit the stride of what the show is trying to accomplish... which appears to be to mash together, action, sci-fi, a heist, coming of age, and comedy. That's a tall order, but they had over 3 hours to tackle all of this during these episodes.
I have been pleasantly surprised with Nell Fisher who plays Molly Wheeler. Even though I am still completely confused as to how old she is supposed to be (we met her as a baby) the Duffer Brothers cast someone who can actually act. This has paid dividends as she is a focal point of these episodes.
There is still one very glaring problem with this season. The regular people of Hawkins don't seem to have any clue that anything weird is happening. I lived through the 80s so I can speak as an authority that it was not normal for a city to be taken over by the government. In fact it was never normal and will never be normal despite what certain people might say. It was also not normal for a town to be split into four sections or for holes to the underworld to open up. And yet, when part of our gang tries to explain something supernatural is happening, the regular people look at them like they are batshit crazy.
Because they are trying to speed-run character development and characters' emotional arcs, there have been some parts that are just a bit too cheesy (you'll know what I mean when you see them) but I am OK with that. I have grown to really care about these characters so getting to see them get to be emotional.
Oh and as always, Robin steals every scene she is in. If there is ever a spinoff of Stranger Things, I'd love a sitcom starring Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley.