S2E8: Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer

In "Stranger Things" Season 2, Episode 8, the gang is in full crisis mode. With the Mind Flayer's control spreading, Hawkins Lab is basically a horror show of demodogs. The gang splits up to tackle the madness: Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy have Will tied up in Hopper's cabin, trying to force the Mind Flayer out of him by turning up the heat—literally. Meanwhile, Hopper and Eleven head to the lab to close the Gate. Steve ends up babysitting the kids again, though this time it's more like a mission briefing. They hatch a plan to draw away the demodogs by setting fire to the tunnels under Hawkins. As usual, things go sideways; Lucas, Dustin, and Max end up in more danger than they signed up for. Billy shows up at the Byers' house looking for Max and nearly beats Steve into another dimension before Max steps in and knocks her brother out cold. At the lab, Hopper and Eleven face off against a horde of demodogs to get inside. Eleven channels her powers to close the Gate while Hopper plays backup. The episode wraps with Will finally free of the Mind Flayer's control, but not before giving everyone a solid scare. The gang regroups after their separate battles, but there's still that looming feeling that Hawkins isn't out of the woods yet.