S2E9: Chapter Nine: The Gate

Alright, so in the final episode of "Stranger Things" Season 2, things come to a head at Hawkins Lab. Eleven and Hopper head into the Upside Down to close the gate, because of course they do. Eleven uses her telekinetic powers to seal the breach while Hopper fends off the Demodogs. It's a real team effort, with Eleven doing the heavy lifting and Hopper playing defense. Meanwhile, back in Hawkins, Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy have their own hands full. They try to exorcise the Mind Flayer from Will by cranking up the heat — literally. Apparently, turning up the thermostat is the new holy water. It works, and Will is freed from the creature's control after a rather intense struggle. Then there's Steve, Dustin, Lucas, and Max who are busy setting a trap for the Demodogs at the Byers' house. This is Stranger Things, after all; no one gets to sit out on the monster-fighting action. They manage to hold their ground until everything calms down. After all that chaos, we fast forward a month to see everyone at a school dance, because what better way to wind down than with some awkward teenage romance? Mike and Eleven share a dance (and a kiss), Lucas and Max pair up too, and Dustin tries his luck with some of the girls there — with mixed results. Everything seems to be back to normal... except for that pesky Upside Down still lurking around in ominous fashion as the episode wraps up. Because this is Hawkins; normal is just an illusion.