Stranger Things season 4 episode 3 recap: The Monster and The Superhero

This article contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4 episode 3.

Eleven is forced to face the consequences of her actions while her friends in Hawkins connect more dots in the third episode of Stranger Things season 4.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

Rather than Hawkins, Indiana or Lenora Hills, California, the third episode of Stranger Things season 4 begins in Ruth, Nevada. Here, audiences see an unemployed Dr. Sam Owens being visited by the same US military officers who are investigating the latest deaths in Hawkins.

The officers ask the doctor if he recognizes who or what might have done this before pointing the blame at Eleven. After the military accuse Owens of harboring Eleven (who is believed to be dead) a thorough and dramatic search commences throughout the doc’s home taking anything they think is necessary.

Stranger Things season 4 episode 3: The fallout of Eleven’s attack

At the Rink-O-Mania in Lenora Hills, Angela is being treated for her broken nose while everyone stands around and watches. This includes Will, Mike, and Eleven who are getting some stares of their own since El is the one who hit Angela.

When they arrive back home, they are greeted by Murray before they all sit down for dinner. As they are eating, Joyce breaks the news she is going to Alaska tomorrow; but lies and says it is because of her job selling encyclopedias.

Jonathan is a little slow on the upkeep because of his stoned state but the tension rises when they start talking about the roller skate attack. Because he is mad Eleven lied to him, Mike makes a comment about her hitting Angela which leads to his girlfriend storming to her room.

There, she replays the events of the night while having flashbacks to her time under Brenner’s evil thumb. Following this, a swooping shot takes a look at the other world underneath Hawkins before arriving at the mansion where “Vecna” resides.

The beast looks to be preparing for his next attack as he is being connected to tentacle-like figures.

Stranger Things season 4 episode 3: Another body is found

The next morning, Lucas wakes up to find his teammates packing up a car. They are getting everything ready to “hunt” Eddie so they can try and convince the D&D player to admit to his crime of killing Chrissy.

Lucas has to decide to either conform and join his teammates or back up someone he believes is not evil. Unfortunately, he picks his teammates.

At the boathouse Eddie is hiding at, Dustin, Max, Robin, and Steve return with refreshments and groceries for the innocent man. But the gang shares some bad news.

The cops are 100% confident Eddie killed Chrissy. Thankfully the good news is, Eddie’s name is not public yet so there is no official hunt for him.

As they are sharing this information, sirens blare but drive past Eddie’s hideout spot. These sirens are heading to Fred’s lifeless body, laying in the middle of the street.

Nancy is questioned since she was the last one to see Fred alive, but she is of no help. As the questions continue, Nancy is getting more agitated when she sees Steve (and everyone else) pull up to the crime scene.

At the Byers’ home, Will, Jonathan, and Mike are sitting in the kitchen for breakfast with a plate of untouched Eggo waffles. Eventually, Mike takes the plate and goes to talk to Eleven who is in her room remaking her diorama.

Mike asks why she lied. She explains it was because she is different.

Anywhere she goes she wants to appear like she fits in but never does. Mike tries assuring Eleven, but this blows up in his face when he does not say he loves her.

All of this, and more, make El lack confidence in herself.

Downstairs, Jonathan opens the door to find the police. They have a warrant for Eleven’s arrest for attacking Angela.

They cuff and put her in the back of their cruiser. Mike runs along with the car as it pulls out of the driveway promising Eleven he will fix this.

Stranger Things season 4 episode 3: Hopper’s plan gets some depth

As Joyce and Murray are flying to Alaska she wonders if she made the right choice hiding the real reason for their voyage. Murray says it’s best to keep them in the dark so they do not try and get involved like they always have in the past.

At the Russian prison, Enzo and Hopper trade insults, which prompts Enzo to take Hop away from prying eyes. The Russian guard catches him up about his phone call with Joyce and how their plan is going ahead.

Hop is a little skeptical about Enzo’s criminal friend but since he has no other choice, he has to go along with it. Speaking of catching up, Nancy is caught up by her friends as they all continue to piece together what is going on.

They realize Chrissy might have told the school counselor, Ms. Kelly, about her visions so talking to the counselor is their next step. Nancy however has a shot in the dark lead she wants to follow up on.

Robin goes with her while Steve is stuck, once again, with the young ones. In Upside Down, Vecna finds his next victim in Lucas’ teammate, Patrick.

The team pulls up to Eddie’s friends and start fighting them when they are told they do not know where Eddie is. Finally, one of the friends tells Jason that Dustin was calling around for him.

This causes Lucas to freak out even more. At the Lenora Hills Police Station, Mike and the Byers brothers try to see Eleven but since they are not a parent or her legal guardians, the boys are out of luck.

They walk out of the precinct just as El’s transport drives off to put her in juvie.

Stranger Things season 4 episode 3: Max sits down with her counselor

Over in Russia, Hopper makes a deal to trade his much-needed lunch with another inmate so that the man can break Hop’s ankle shackles. Their plan goes off well with Hopper receiving expected pain with a sledgehammer being swung right by his ankles.

Nancy and Robin head to the public library so they can check out the records relating to Victor Creel, a murderer Wayne Munson mentioned to Nancy the day before. This is one of the first times these two have interacted and it looks as though Nancy does not like or trust Robin.

They get the key to the archives room and start searching. At Ms. Kelly’s house, Max goes inside to chat with the school counselor while Dustin and Steve hang out in the car.

Dustin calls out his friend for still having feelings for Nancy, something Steve takes umbrage with. Max gives a half-hearted attempt at her therapy session so she can find out if Chrissy told their counselor anything important.

She strikes out but finds Ms. Kelly’s office keys. She leaves undetected and the trio go to the school.

On their way, Dustin gets a radio call from Lucas who is at Dustin’s house. As he is caught up about Eddie’s innocence and where he is hiding, Lucas explains he has to stay with his teammates because something big is about to go down.

After he gets caught, Lucas lies to the jocks by saying he knows where Eddie is hiding. During Eleven’s transport, the van is stopped by black sedans demanding she comes with them.

El tries running when the doors open but she is quickly restrained before Dr. Sam Owens gets out of a car, pleased to see her. After a long flight, Joyce and Murray arrive in a bitter Alaskan Spring.

Across the ocean, the fallout of Hopper’s bonehead plan plays out just as he expects until he gets back to his cell. At this point, Hopper tries to take his ankle shackles off his messed up and bloody foot which only creates more pain for the former police chief.

Stranger Things season 4 episode 3: Vecna’s next prey

As they are looking at the tabloid and conspiracy records, Robin and Nancy find out Victor Creel claimed a demon was tormenting him and his family, just like Chrissy and Fred. Speaking of both of these victims, when Max and the boys break into the school and their counselor’s office, they find out Fred was seeing Ms. Kelly too.

At a roadside diner, Dr. Owens, the one who helped Eleven and Joyce relocate to California, talks with her. The doctor bluntly states that Hawkins is in danger and a war is coming.

To save Hawkins, her friends, and the whole planet, Owens states that she needs to go with him to stop the incoming threat. While Dr. Owens is saying all of this to El, audiences also see that Lucas made the right choice after all.

He did lead his teammates to a hideout, but it was Eleven and Hopper’s cabin in the woods from last season. Once Lucas can separate from the jocks, he makes a run for it, likely to meet up with his friends.

Max continues to compare both Chrissy’s and Fred’s files when she recognizes similar physiological and psychological symptoms in herself. At this moment, Max begins to hear and see the same grandfather clock before Vecna calls for her.

Do you think Max will survive Vecna’s attack or will she be the first main character to pass away? How much do you trust Dr. Sam Owens and his willingness to help Eleven?

Let us know your answers and opinions in the comments below!

Watch all of Stranger Things season 4, only on Netflix!