Episode 3 of Season 4 of "Stranger Things" kicks off in Nevada with a helicopter hovering overhead. Sullivan arrives to confront Dr. Owens, brandishing haunting images of Chrissy's lifeless body. Sullivan accuses Owens of being culpable for the tragedy, secretly manipulating Eleven as a pawn in his twisted schemes. With a steely gaze, he warns that they've uncovered a clue and will stop at nothing to locate Eleven.
After the harrowing skating incident, El and her compatriots seek refuge at Joyce's for dinner. Joyce reveals that she's embarking on a "business trip" to Alaska, leaving the group with mixed emotions. Jonathan takes up babysitting duties, attempting to lighten the mood with humor, but the atmosphere remains tense. The tension is compounded by Will and Mike's unresolved issues, Eleven's isolation, and her struggle with depression.
Unfortunately, the tranquility is shattered by the arrival of the police, brandishing an arrest warrant for El (Jane). The warrant stems from the incident with Angela. Mike vows to clear her name, but his efforts are fruitless. El is hauled off to the police station, where she's grilled about the attack and specifically whether she intended to harm Angela. Her dazed response, "I don't know," seals her fate, and she's sentenced to juvenile detention. With Joyce absent, bound for Alaska, the situation seems dire.
Meanwhile, Hopper perseveres in his frozen prison, bribing the guards for information. To his surprise, he learns that Joyce is on her way to rescue him. However, Hopper must find a way to reach the plane unaided. This involves bribing another inmate to assist in breaking his leg chains. The ordeal leaves Hopper badly injured, with a severed ankle and a gaping wound on his leg. Yet, the freed ankle allows him to slip the chains from his foot.
Elsewhere, Lucas' basketball crew decides to embark on a trip of their own. Their mission? To track down Eddie and have a "little chat." Unbeknownst to them, Eddie is hunkered down with the motley gang at Rick's place, grappling with an even more ominous mystery. The discovery of another dead body, this time Fred, prompts the police to interrogate Nancy about what she knows.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, it becomes increasingly apparent that whatever sinister forces are brewing in the Upside Down, their origins lie in Hawkins. The ominous figure known as Vecna, a dark wizard of sorts, appears to be wielding a Cerebro-like device (a nod to fellow X-Men fans). He cycles through numerous individuals in the town, presumably searching for his next target - one of the basketball team's boys, Patrick. The stakes are raised, and the race to unravel the mystery of the Upside Down intensifies.
On her journey to juvenile detention, El's path is abruptly intercepted by agents, led by Dr. Owens, who seize Eleven into their custody. Inside a dingy diner, Dr. Owens offers a Faustian bargain: he promises to erase the incident involving roller-skates, but his true intentions are far more profound. Owens's mission is to unveil a startling truth. Hawkins stands perilously on the brink of Vecna's wrath, and Owens warns of an impending war. He further assures that there exists a means to restore Eleven's formidable powers. He has been meticulously plotting for this contingency, establishing a rigorous program designed to render her more formidable than ever before. Failure, however, would mean an eternal farewell to her cherished friends - a daunting prospect indeed.
Meanwhile, Robin and Nancy embark on a fact-finding mission to the library, delving into the sordid past of Victor Creel. This exploration ignites a flurry of jealous emotions, but Robin swiftly tamps down the tension, clarifying that her relationship with Steve is strictly platonic.
It transpires that this investigative odyssey wasn't merely a time-consuming endeavor. Victor's sordid history is unearthed in the archives, revealing that he had been convinced a demon dwelled within his abode. In a futile attempt to purge the evil spirit, he sought an exorcism, but the enraged demon retaliated by slaughtering his entire family, leaving him alive as a grisly reminder of his folly.
Victor's incarceration as a legally insane individual sheds light on the mysterious origins of Vecna. This revelation lends credence to Dustin's earlier hypothesis, pointing to Vecna as the culprit behind the string of unexplained events.
As they inch closer to the truth, Dr. Owens gravely informs El that everyone is in imminent danger, and they are squarely in the eye of the storm. Alas, it seems Vecna has extended his sinister grasp to Max.
The episode reaches its thrilling climax as Max wanders through the school hallways, haunted by the ominous chimes of the same clock that haunted Chrissy. Time is running out, and Vecna is closing in for the kill.
