Episode 5 of Season 4 of "Stranger Things" opens with intense drama unfolding for our California-based heroes. Agent Harmon, bloodied and fading fast, urgently implores the kids to contact Owens and inform him of their dire situation. To accomplish this, they must reach out to someone named 'Nina.'
Eleven, who was mysteriously absent in the previous episode, remains in the custody of Dr. Owens, being led through the desolate ruins of Nevada. This subplot, set 12 hours prior to our current timeline, intermittently threads through the episode, yet for the sake of this recap, we'll integrate Eleven's story here.
Dr. Owens escorts her to an enigmatic doorway that descends deep into the bowels of their hidden lab, tucked away beneath the desert sands. This facility, once a missile silo, has been transformed into a sanctuary for something infinitely more formidable—Eleven.
Recall the whispers about Nina? Well, it transpires that Nina is actually the covert moniker for the project they're secretly working on, encompassing a vast tank similar to those glimpsed in the past, now housed beneath the earth's crust. Suddenly, Dr. Brenner emerges and suggests a collaboration to restore her powers.
Eleven panics and attempts an escape, but without her abilities, her options are severely limited. After being sedated, she's plunged into a torrent of hallucinations. Brenner remains steadfast in his belief that she'll weather the storm, while a concerned Dr. Owens watches helplessly from afar. The visions persist, with Brenner intermittently communicating from the real world, urging El to focus her mind.
Here, we are graced with glimpses of the past, specifically those moments where Eleven harnessed her formidable powers. However, these visions soon morph into something much more sinister as Eleven's nose begins to bleed profusely. She witnesses a grisly sight of bloodied bodies strewn across the hallway, and her grip on reality slips dangerously.
In Alaska, Hopper experiences a nightmarish déjà vu as he is mercilessly tortured and beaten for his efforts. His superior taunts him with promises of unimaginable pain. This time, however, Hopper finds himself imprisoned with Enzo, adding to his already dire situation.
As Hopper's hope wanes, he becomes convinced that his proximity to Joyce only puts her in greater danger. He believes himself to be a curse, haunted by the horrific trauma he has endured. Joyce and El were once his saving grace, the beacon of light that kept him from succumbing to the darkness that consumed his life. Now, he fears that by dragging Joyce into his world of escape, he has unwittingly led her to a similar fate.
Meanwhile, Joyce and Murray manage to knock out Yuri and commandeer his plane, only to crash-land harshly in the unforgiving wilderness. Eddie remains captive at Rick's hideout, desperately trying to reach Dustin for a food delivery. They are all still on high alert, keeping a close watch on Max as she struggles to piece together the disturbing visions she witnessed in the Upside Down.
Max notes that Vecna did not welcome her into his shadowy castle, a clue that may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries surrounding their ordeal. Dustin draws a parallel to the horror franchise "Nightmare on Elm Street," a fitting reference given that Robert Englund, the actor who portrayed Freddy Krueger, appears in this season as the character Victor Creel.
As in the previous season, Max's disjointed drawings turn out to be fragments of a larger puzzle. When pieced together, they reveal a majestic house - none other than Victor Creel's abode. This revelation appears to be the linchpin to everything that has transpired so far.
Our young heroes converge at the location, eager to investigate. As they explore, their flashlights begin to flicker ominously, a sinister sign that Vecna is at work. The camera pans across the Upside Down, revealing Vecna's lair to be hidden within the very heart of Creel's house.
The basketball-playing teens embark on a mission to track down Eddie, whose whereabouts have been a mystery since he was last seen at Reefer Kick's hideout. When they finally locate him, Eddie manages to elude them and flee to the safety of the nearby lake. However, Patrick soon falls under Vecna's spell, his limbs twisting and contorting in a ghastly display. This time, however, there are plenty of witnesses to attest to Eddie's innocence.
Meanwhile, Jonathan, Mike, Argyle, and Will are busy burying the deceased agent. In the process, they discover that the pen he gave Mike before his demise holds a clue to their predicament. Inside is a number that turns out to be a vital clue in their investigation. However, they only manage to retrieve a code, leading them to realize that they need a master hacker to decipher it - none other than Suzie. It seems like another road trip is in the cards!
As the episode draws to a close, we return to Eleven who awakens within the facility and attempts to flee. When guards arrive to apprehend her, Eleven unleashes her powers, knocking them all to the ground with a single sweep of her hand. She's back, albeit with some limitations to her abilities. To fully understand and harness her powers, she will have to trust Brenner and the others. Holding his hand, she walks back into the facility, leaving the viewer with a sense of both hope and foreboding as the episode comes to a tense and thrilling conclusion.
