Stranger Things 3 finale recap: The Battle of Starcourt

Stranger Things-Credit: Netflix

Some Light Window Shopping

The Party attempts to get as far away as possible. But the ignition wire has been removed from Joyce’s car. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) hears a vroom vroom. She looks left and sees Nilly (Dacre Montgomery) in his car waiting to charge. He summons the Mind Flayer. Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) help rush El back into the mall with Nancy, Jonathan, and a horrified Max (Sadie Sink).

The car that El flipped in “The Bite” should have an ignition wire. She tries to flip it, but her powers seem to be gone. There’s not even a nosebleed from the attempt. The Party has to use physics to flip the car and get the wire. They push it. But, before they can get out of the mall, the Mind Flayer mounts the very top skylights and drops in. Our heroes are trapped.

Steve (Joe Kerry) and Robin (Maya Hawke) can see the electrical anomalies occurring from Cerebro. They take the Todd Father and rush back to evacuate The Party. Dustin and Erica stay to monitor Cerebro. Back in the mall, The Mind Flayer can’t find El. Billy doesn’t have eyes on her and they can’t sense her powers because they seem to be gone. Mike, El, and Max make a run for the back of the Gap. They’re heard. Lucas uses his slingshot to create a diversion.

This is It

Lucas’ diversion gives Mike, El, and Max time to get partially away. The rest of The Party tries to make it to the car. It won’t start right away. Billy hydroplanes and floors it towards Nancy. The car is about to be T-Boned when, out of nowhere, Steve rams the Todd Father into Billy’s car. Steve and Robin are okay. They collect who they can and get into the now fully functional Joyce-mobile. The Mind Flayer is chasing them on foot.

Billy also survives and gets to the remaining group. He knocks out Max and Mike. He subdues El. The Mind Flayer turns around and heads back to the mall. Jonathan instinctively turns the car around and heads back towards the mall.

In the basement, Murray messes with the power and deactivates the key that’s opening the Russian Gate. It’s go time for Jopper, except the code they have is incorrect. It’s supposed to be Planck’s Constant. But something is wrong. In desperation, Dustin radios Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) one last time. She answers! Unimpressed with Dustin’s excuses for disappearing for a week, she won’t help him unless he sings ‘ their song.’

Stranger Things-Credit: Netflix

The next couple of minutes are taken over by Dustin and Suzie singing the theme song to The NeverEnding Story while we get reaction shots from most of the cast. Some are confused. Others are horrified. Audiences will approve. Even though there was no guest appearance by Vincent D’Onofrio, this is the musical episode of Stranger Things that we didn’t know we needed. Suzie gives Dusty Bun the actual Planck Constant. Erica hangs up on Suzie, Jopper gains entrance to the Russian Gate room. So does Terminator Grigori.