Not binge-watching Stranger Things Season 3 makes me savor each episode like a luxurious bath with a glass of perfectly brewed herbal tea with classical music in the background. So, I am savoring every moment, every line, and every character.
After watching Stranger Things The Mall Rats, I wish I had Robin’s little geniuses ears, Erica’s chutzpah, and Eleven’s fashion sense. The Mall Rats is a fun episode if one disregards that the demegorgon is building something and something sinister is going to happen to El and to the whole town of Hawkins. Six episodes from now. Or earlier than that.
My reaction while watching Stranger Things – Season 3 Chapter Two: The Mall Rats:
Billy is so screwed.
OMG. Two Billy’s! El is in trouble.
Mike’s mom does love colors.
While lying to El about his Nana, gosh, Mike is in big trouble. Huge!
The smug look on Hopper’s face after the conversation between Mike and El was precious. The song number in the car was priceless.
Hopper improvising and asking Joyce out for a date was fun to watch.
Those demagnetized fruit magnets are the same as the ones we had at home.
I need Nancy’s hair to add two inches to my diminutive frame.
Hearing “girl problems” always makes men sputter and/or stutter.
Robin perfected the jaded look and attitude.
Dustin and Mike imitating lightsabers clashing is life.
Robin throwing shade at Steve is life-r.
Dustin explaining to Steve how the latter can be an American hero, get all the ladies he wants, and more is life-st. Reversal of roles complete.
El and Max discussing Mike and Lucas versus Mike and Lucas discussing El and Max, with the virtually ignored Will is hilarious.
Max giving El love advice is every teenage girl and her friend going to war armed with weapons of mass destruction.
Mike’s mom in swimsuit and heels is summer meets date night.
Erica bullying Robin is at boss level infinity.
Steve and Dustin letting Robin join them is a stroke of genius.
Hawkins mayor is all corrupt and inept politicians rolled into a creepy figure of human being.
The kids going shopping is the opposite of me going shopping.
That sound of a rabid rat is as disgusting as its appearance when it transforms into a live giant blood vessel or something.
That little teddy bear is hella expensive. $300.00 in 1985 is a billion in today’s money. Okay, maybe not. Haha.
El dumping Mike’s ass is cold as ice (or the melting ice cream El was eating).
Hopper’s cutting-edge shirt gives me anxiety.
Hopper cleans up nicely. El must be so proud of her dad.
Mr. Clarke’s exactamundo and pretty neato give me a lot of OOOOO’s.
Word of the day: apophenia. According to Mr. Clarke, apophenia is “seeing patterns that are not there or coincidence”.
Dustin and Robin teaming up against little Stevie. So cute.
Here are some quotes from Stranger Things – Season 3 Chapter Two: The Mall Rats:
“I said, what do you want?” – Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery)
“It’s 9:32. Where are you? – Eleven or Jane Hopper (Millie Bobby Brown)
Mike: I just think … I need to be alone today. With my … feelings?
Eleven: Do you lie?
Mike: What? No. Friends don’t lie. (Then, he proceeds to lie)
“Emotions have been shared. Boundaries have been set. Order has been restored.” – Jim Hopper (David Harbour), speaking like a cop slash dad.
“This is the first day, in six long, excruciating months, that they will not be seeing each other. Yes, I think it worked! Yes!” – Hopper
“I’m a puppet, you’re the master.” – Hopper
“Hey, before you say no, I’d like to make one thing crystal clear. This is not a date.” – Hopper
“We ask for forgiveness, not permission.” – Famous words from Nancy Wheeler (Natalie Dyer)
“How many children are you friends with?” – Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke)
Steve: No, no way. Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No.
Dustin: Brilliant, too. And she doesn’t even care that my real pearls are still coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth.
Steve: Incredulous look.
“I intercepted a secret Russian communication.” – Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo)
Eleven: But friends don’t lie.
Max: Yeah, well, boyfriends lie. All the time.
“She knows I’m lying. She knows I’m lying.” – Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard)
Max: You’re going to stop calling him. You’re going to ignore his calls. As far as you’re concerned, he doesn’t exist.
Eleven: He doesn’t exist?
Max: He treated you like garbage. You’re gonna treat him like garbage. Give him a taste of his own medicine.
Eleven: Give him the medicine.
Max: And if he doesn’t fix this, if he doesn’t explain himself, dump his ass.
“Max has dumped me five times. But what have I done? Huh? Have I despaired? No. I’ve marched back into battle, and I’ve won her back every single freaking time.” – Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin)
“There’s more to life than stupid boys, you know?” – Maxine Mayfield (Sadie Sink)
“Wait, guys! I’m still here! Guys?” – Will Byers (Noah Schnapp)
“That was Pig Latin, dingus!” – Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke)
“My ears are little, geniuses. Trust me.” – Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke)
Seriously? You have superpowers. What’s the worst that could happen.” – Max and we all know bad things happen when this line is uttered.
“Something pretty and shiny that says, “I’m sorry.” – Lucas
“You just try things on. Until you find something that feels like you.” – Max, best advice ever
“See? What’d tell you. There’s more to life than stupid boys.” – Max
“Can we please play D&D now?” – Will Byers
“You lie. Why do you lie? I dump your ass.” – Eleven
“We cured polio in ’53. Landed on the moon in ’69. As I tell my students, once you open up that curiosity door, anything is possible.” – Mr. Clarke (Randy Havens)
“The week is long, the silver cat feeds when blue meets yellow in the west.” - Dustin, Steve, and Robin
“I can’t believe I’m about to agree with this strange child, but, yeah, totally evil Russians.” – Robin
“This code, it didn’t come from Russia. It came from here.” – Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), so proud of you, Steve!
“I can do anything I want. I’m chief of police.” – Hopper
“Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon. Just stay still.” – Billy
For related entries, please read Suzie, Do You Copy?, The Case of the Missing Lifeguard, The Sauna Test.