Stranger Things 4 Episode 5: The Nina Project: Thoughts & Analysis

Officially passing the halfway point of volume 1. All the gears have been set and are in motion, so let’s get into it.

Eleven has arrived at the laboratory but comes face to face with Brenner. Not only did I wince, or flinch, or something like that, but my heart turned cold. I thought Owen’s was on the good side–what the heck?! El, being smart, attempts to escape, but we all knew it was futile. We then discover Brenner’s plan to get Eleven her powers back, titled the Project Nina, which requires her to relive memories in the original Hawkins lab. Intriguing… When she awakens with her head shaved, wearing the hospital gown, the PTSD effect was definitely accomplished. I especially liked the bit where Eleven kept opening the door to escape but the scene reset each time. I know it’s a movie staple, but it does the job. At the end when Eleven’s powers briefly activated, my thought was: Oh great, it’s working. But then she goes back with Brenner hand-in-hand and I was left disgusted and mortified. I did not like that, even though it parallels back to season one, I still don’t like it.

   

Meanwhile it’s all panic in the Cali Group. The agent man is bleeding to death as he tries to give a number that will lead them to Eleven. Will acts as the resourceful one here and grabs a page of a magazine and pen. But instead the man gets his own pen and gasps “Nina” before passing away. Later, when they’re burying him, Argyle breaks down and shouts that El will be killed and everything. Jonathan encourages him to take weed to calm down. Will, seeing Mike visibly upset, tries to offer words of comfort. Mike is still devastated El didn’t bring him with her; if only he said what she needed to hear. Will then starts saying how it’s scary to open up, especially if someone doesn’t like the truth. But we're interrupted by Argyle, who's making a headstone for the “Unknown Hero Agent Man.” He mentions that the pen he gave has no ink. It then hits Mike to examine the pen, and after unscrewing the top, finds the number rolled inside. Overall, while the Cali Group is quite removed from the main plot, Mike and Will scenes are always appreciated. And Will was definitely going somewhere with that monologue.

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The Hawkins gang ventures into the Creel House this episode. Very much Scooby Doo vibes as they’re going into a haunted house. They all decide to split up, with the groups being Nancy and Robin, Lucas and Max, which leaves Steve and Dustin. Loved the exchange between the last two: Was that a sigh… why did you sigh? That was funny. We see some rebuilding between Lucas and Max, and Lucas is officially in the Kate Bush fandom. Steve and Nancy have another awkward but funny exchange. He basically says they should all go out sometime, her and Jonathan and him and Robin. But then he immediately starts saying that he and Robin are not dating. Platonic with a capital “P” as Robin puts. Steve also questions the grandfather clock, and why Vecna is obsessed with them. Is he like a clockmaker… again, brilliant. Eventually they discover Vecna’s base is in the attic, using the lights as their guide. However, their flashlights end up going berserk and shattering!

On Lover’s Lake, Eddie’s hideout has been uncovered by Jason, who believes he murdered Chrissy. Eddie grabs a boat and rows away, but Jason and his teammate pursue swimming. Just as it looks game over for Eddie, Vecna makes his move and attacks Jason’s team member, who ends up falling and dying in the lake. Oops.

Final Rating: 8.6/10