Your podcast feed didn't deceive you, this is in fact part two of Tessa and Princess' conversation all about Stranger Things 4, Vol 1!
Your podcast feed didn't deceive you, this is in fact part two of Tessa and Princess' conversation all about Stranger Things 4, Vol 1!
!!SPOILER WARNING FOR EPISODE 7!!
In this episode, Tessa and Princess go over all of their WTF moments they had while watching the finale of Stranger Things 4 Vol 1. They get into the nitty gritty of Eleven’s storyline, what the heck is going on in Russia, and their theories for Volume 2 and beyond.
TESSA: [00:00:05] Hello, geeks, this is Tessa. And I just need to tell you right off the bat, your notifications have not deceived you. This is a Geeked Podcast double feature, all for Stranger Things. You know, we love Stranger Things more than any other show on this podcast, so we had to have two episodes dedicated to it. We had to do it. So before you listen to this episode...
PRINCESS: [00:00:28] The episode that was released yesterday, that covers chapters one through six of Stranger Things, it's excellent. So much content.
TESSA: [00:00:35] Do that right now. Go right now. We'll miss you.
PRINCESS: [00:00:38] We'll be here.
TESSA: [00:00:39] We'll be here.
PRINCESS: [00:00:40] We won't leave. We promise.
TESSA: [00:00:47] Welcome back. How'd you like that other episode? So now for this episode, this is chapter seven. This is the big one. This is the big kahuna. The ultimate episode of all episodes.
PRINCESS: [00:00:59] There was so much blood.
TESSA: [00:01:01] So much blood. So hold on to your demogorgons, because this is going to be wild. Princess, how are you feeling after chapter seven?
PRINCESS: [00:01:13] Listen, I loved this episode so much. It is the cream of the crop of Stranger Things. All of the. Yeah, all of the inspirations from anime that they have talked about were in here. It's like the- everything we know about Vecna. And also, I know you don't love her, but Nancy was in her zone. Okay? Just guns on guns on guns. Okay? She was just like, I don't, you know. Erica's also fantastic. This was just like.
TESSA: [00:01:44] Oh. She was amazing.
PRINCESS: [00:01:44] It's just like everything was so amazing. Seeing the upside down that way was just so perfect. Like, I... I loved everything about this episode. This was perfect Stranger Things.
TESSA: [00:01:56] It really was. This was the ultimate Stranger Things episode. They, they brought everything together so beautifully, everything connected, like in this mystery that they were setting up. And this kind of stuff makes my Ravenclaw brain so happy. Like, I live for episodes like this. I live for this stuff. When you're, like, understanding and it's unfolding and everything is like happening and you're like, it's that, oh, shit moment of, Oh, it's because this and this. Oh, forget it. So this was a dream. This episode was a dream.
PRINCESS: [00:02:31] Absolutely. I mean, when we saw Barb's corpse, I was like... Wow, you guys have really brought it back. And in a way that made sense. It didn't feel like blatant fan service. It just felt like, Oh, yeah, this is something that Nancy does still feel guilty about. So, of course, she would see Barb. It was just such an organic moment.
TESSA: [00:02:52] Yes, it was crazy because there was so much of that that happened in this episode where it's like, were you thinking about this from the beginning? Like, was this all connected all along? And if not, it seemed like it and it was brilliant. So it's like the Duffer Brothers. I, I bow down to y'all. This was like Kevin Feige levels of brilliance, of planning it out and thinking of how this connects to that and foreshadowing this and doing this. It was brilliant. Very well done.
PRINCESS: [00:03:20] I'm so glad I learned how to ride a bike. After watching this episode, I'm like, This is why I needed to learn how to ride a bike. Because when I have to escape my parents, it's- you got to do it. I want to be in that big moment.
TESSA: [00:03:31] I know. I feel like we got to start with Grindelwald a.k.a Peter Ballard. Oh, my God. I just think of him as Grindelwald. But I. Where- he's not Grindelwald, he's Peter. His name is Peter. That's his character, Mr. Jamie Campbell Bower, sir. Hello. I was losing my mind. I was absolutely. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed with him. Forget it.
PRINCESS: [00:03:57] As soon as he came on screen, I was like, well, he's going to be evil because I- like he's either playing like a twink cool boy or a bastard. And I was like, just considering everything, I knew it was going to be bastard. He is, you know, the number one. He's number one.
TESSA: [00:04:18] Yes!
PRINCESS: [00:04:18] That he is like this mega super, you know, psychic abilities and he just, like, goes apeshit on everybody. I was like, What? Like, the Duffer Brothers have been really forward about like all the anime inspirations and like when this season, especially with like seeing all this backstory with the kids. And let me tell you, I knew that someone's going to have to beat them little children's asses when they came for Eleven. And I know I'm supposed to be like, Oh, no, but like, honestly, every time Eleven throws hands, I'm like, it was earned. Yeah. Did they deserve to die? No. Were they getting on my nerves? Absolutely. But it was just really interesting for that dynamic. Like, I think it's-.
TESSA: [00:05:01] Right!
PRINCESS: [00:05:02] It gets clear that like once they torture him and not kill him, that he is important. But the way it all came together and connected with the Vecna storyline, I was like, Oh, we're shaking that tables. That was such a good reveal.
TESSA: [00:05:18] So good. It was brilliant. It's like you think that it's one thing and then it keeps going. It's like, Oh, he's number one. Also, this bitch is Vecna and you're like, okay, wow. It all makes sense.
PRINCESS: [00:05:32] Yes, because I was like, why is he calling himself Vec? You know, I was like, how is it gonna tie in?
TESSA: [00:05:37] Right.
PRINCESS: [00:05:37] And it's like, but then you're like, oh, because he's like a kid, you know? Well, it's like, oh, it's so good. And. I love Eleven so much. I think-.
TESSA: [00:05:51] She's great.
PRINCESS: [00:05:51] That this season especially has been such a breath of fresh air for that character because she's so cool and they allow her to have all these big, powerful moments. I love that she can be a hero. She can be a victim. She can be smart, she can be naive, she can be brave. She's the ultimate heroine. I love her so much.
TESSA: [00:06:14] We got to see her vulnerability a lot in this season. Like, at first, she was just this mystery, you know? She was this powerful mystery. And everyone's trying to figure it out, like, where is she from? Who is she? And then she is trying to, like, assimilate into society, into being their friend, into being like, normal. And then for this season, she's like, No, that's not me. She still needs to learn in her brain. It's like, that doesn't mean I'm a monster. So it's just a lot of her, like learning about herself and really accepting that. And I think she's going to still go on that journey. Like in order to get those powers, she had to go through this really crazy, like, relive her traumatic experience. So it's, it's intense. It's really intense.
PRINCESS: [00:07:02] How did you feel about the reveal that she didn't kill the kids, but it was somebody else responsible?
TESSA: [00:07:08] I honestly loved it because I just wasn't expecting it. I just assumed that she killed them. And also it added on to like the evilness of this other guy. So I really liked it because I love just like building onto a villain. Because the thing that I get pissed off a lot about is like, you make these villains, but then you just don't go all the way with them. And I was like, No! Give me an evil Vecna daddy. Like, make this guy so evil. And they, like, went there. So I love that.
PRINCESS: [00:07:41] It was giving and Anakin killing younglings. You know, it was very like. Exactly. It's like, oh, children. Yes, they're they're fair game. Yeah. At first I was disappointed.
TESSA: [00:07:53] Really? Interesting.
PRINCESS: [00:07:55] Because I was like, oh, it's going to be interesting for her to, like, deal with this kind of trauma of her powers. And like, I feel like so much of these last- of this season has been dealing with her being not in control.
TESSA: [00:08:07] Mm hmm.
PRINCESS: [00:08:08] But then once I found the completion of at least this part of the story, because we don't know the last two episodes are going to be like, I actually really liked it because it is very cliche to have like, oh, yeah, she just lost control one time, and, and then she killed a bunch of people that- No! She gained her powers and her strength from trying to avenge people. I think Eleven has really struggled with this idea of is she a monster or is she a hero? And it's like I think ultimately they proved that she's a hero, but she's also a kid. And it's a very unfair burden for her to have to be a hero.
TESSA: [00:08:45] I mean, also, you see that her, her kindness is kind of like is her downfall. And that's a hard thing because that's something that is so incredible about her. But also like that's the reason why he like became Vecna. So she's going to still have a lot of guilt and like put blame on herself for basically bringing him back to life or bringing him into full power. That's still like technically her fault. And I think either way, she's going to put these kids deaths on herself and blame herself. But I prefer that it's like not her powers just being too much. Like, no, like you need to go like, balls to the wall. Like you need to latch on to this thing of yourself and don't hold back. Like, I wouldn't want to see her hold back. Like, in this final boss battle that we're going to have. I don't want to think about, Oh, we got to be careful. Like Eleven's got to hold back or else, like, she's going to kill everybody, you know? So.
PRINCESS: [00:09:44] Yeah.
TESSA: [00:09:46] Oh, my God. Their fight. Oh, my God. Oh, my god. I guess so. It was giving Voldemort, Harry. Kylo, Rey. Like connected. I was so obsessed. Oh, that moment where Vecna was like, Join me. Imagine what you could do together. And it would like reshape the world.
PRINCESS: [00:10:02] This Rey-lo collusion.
TESSA: [00:10:05] Like bitch. I would say yes. And a second. What a Kylo moment. Obsessed with him. I just love evil villians.
PRINCESS: [00:10:15] I love you.
TESSA: [00:10:16] He was just so evil and so hot. I'm just so obsessed with him and. Yeah, but then, like, immediately it was just like, no. And then she's like, Ahh! And then he just, oh, my goodness. Like, gets thrown back and she does her superhero pose. I was like, This is everything. This is what I live for. I was screaming. I was like, literally, it was like two in the morning. I was by myself watching this.
PRINCESS: [00:10:42] Just with headphones on, just like- We've all been there. I think also the ultimate image of her being this tiny little girl, you know, who everyone picked on. And I think it was a great callback to the earlier parts of the season where she's getting bullied by these other kids. And like, honestly, it makes me even more glad that she hit that girl in the face, if I'm being honest I was just like, Yeah, I get it. It's fine. I was like, Princess, you support bullying? And I'm like, I'm not saying that I do. I'm just saying that I understand in this case. It it was good to see that even if a part of Eleven's trauma is that she's someone who has been mistreated, who has been not given love. And I think going back to the previous episodes when her and, you know, Mike are having that fight and she's like not love but like, thanks. I love her so much. She just, she's just like, you don't say you love me anymore. And she needs that, like she has so little love.
TESSA: [00:11:49] Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:11:50] In her life that she's genuinely experienced that. To think of it, going away because she's not perfect is definitely something you see as a result of all of this stuff. And I think it just makes her connection to the group and why she acts the way she does and why she lies in her letters is because she's really trying to recreate a piece of normalcy that doesn't exist for her and never has.
TESSA: [00:12:14] Oh, yeah. I mean, you see this in protagonists like fantasy protagonists all the time. You know, that sort of otherness, that that thing that makes them feel disconnected from their friends, makes them feel disconnected from the people they love. And then they're afraid that they're putting the people they love in danger. And it's- they blame themselves. And the friends or family are always like, no, like, you know, we love you.
PRINCESS: [00:12:35] We love we want to be with you. And we love you, so much. Like and you're like, duh, dummy.
TESSA: [00:12:42] It's like, this is all we want. Everyone just wants to be loved. That's it. And also like to defeat scary monsters. Like that, too. But yeah. Oh, also, at the freaking end of this, she Voldemort papermaches his ass and like, created the Upside Down. Like that was her, right?
PRINCESS: [00:13:00] I mean, I was like, Oh, so you created this entire demonic world to get rid of, like your evil older sibling. Wish it was me. You know, I don't have an evil older sibling, but if I did, I would want to do that to them. Like, she's so powerful. She created this entire alternate reality.
TESSA: [00:13:17] Oh. It makes me scared, though, because a person creates a thing.
PRINCESS: [00:13:23] That's what I was saying. I was like, That's what makes me wonder. Like, with the last two episodes and then the final season, like, I don't want to Vecna to die this season because I think need them to be an end game villain.
TESSA: [00:13:36] Also, we like just found out about him and he's so good and he's so evil. And like Dustin was saying, like, he can tap into the Mind Flayer and really just like, use that. So it's like, I don't want to destroy him now. Like you said, he needs to be... There needs to be that final moment of destroying him and then destroying everything.
PRINCESS: [00:13:56] I know. Besides Eleven fantastic-ness. I just first of all, I'm glad Steve is alive.
TESSA: [00:14:03] Oh, my Gosh, yes.
PRINCESS: [00:14:04] His ass kicking. I was dying and I was like, Steve, baby boo, you are getting Molly-waped. It was very upsetting.
TESSA: [00:14:12] I really thought for a second, like I was like, dang, they just gonna.
PRINCESS: [00:14:16] Listen, Nancy came through. She did what she had to do, and then everyone else came. Even Eddie, who was like, I don't even like y'all like this, but I can't be there by myself. I'm not going to be the only one who doesn't jump into the Upside Down that was hilarious.
TESSA: [00:14:31] I feel that.
PRINCESS: [00:14:32] And then them going with the easy-bright and figuring it out, I'm just like, This is so eighties.
PRINCESS: [00:14:37] Oh my God, I love that. Did you ever have one? It was like like a lite brite.
PRINCESS: [00:14:42] I wanted one so badly But my mom was like, you're not going to use it. And I'm like, now, if I was stuck in the Upside Down, we would be dead now, Mom.
TESSA: [00:14:49] You should show your mom this episode and be like, See, Mom?
PRINCESS: [00:14:53] You see how, how you've denied me my protagonist once again.
TESSA: [00:14:57] My protagonist moment.
PRINCESS: [00:14:59] This could have been us, but you playing games, you know kinda thing.
TESSA: [00:15:03] I, no, I loved that moment because I had a lite-brite and I was obsessed with, like, writing messages- like me and my sister would write messages to each other in that thing. And, so it made sense. I was like, Oh, yeah, oh yes. The whole like light magic. And, the thing that they did with the upside down in this episode, like visually it was so brilliant. And like that shot with the bikes, it was like the most Stranger Things type of scene that like we'll ever see. It was so amazing. I'm like, This is Stranger Things.
PRINCESS: [00:15:32] This is perfection. No, I loved it. Like them going up the rope and then, like, them being like flipping- that looked like, so much fun. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Even though, of course, we love Dustin's regular bae. But Dustin and Erica is also very cute because Dustin and Erica have very similar like, we're smarter than everybody else energy. And they can they have, like, their own little mini language of, like, we're superior. So I'm kind of I kind of love them.
TESSA: [00:16:03] They're amazing.
PRINCESS: [00:16:04] Erica just. Erica at the meeting, she's like, just the facts. Erica is the ride or die of Stranger Things. She is out here in these streets.
TESSA: [00:16:13] Oh, for sure. I mean, she came to the rescue once again, like, you know why the lake, noticing the lights, spiking the police tires. This, this girl is badass. And it's again, like all these stupid boys. It's like you need someone to be like, hello? Look at this obvious stuff that's around here.
PRINCESS: [00:16:30] Yeah, Erica is out here just being like the audience, just like, hello, people. Stop being ridiculous. I think also usually when we had these kind of conflicts, these supernatural issues, when the monster was defeated, it was over. But the way this is going on, like because everyone is all satanic-panicked right now, how is that going to be resolved? Because like, what are you going to tell the police? Oh, no, Eddie didn't kill this girl. It was Vecna. You know? It's like.
TESSA: [00:16:59] Right.
PRINCESS: [00:16:59] It's like those kind of problems are being set up and those are, like, really compelling to me because...
TESSA: [00:17:05] Oh, I think I know what they're going to do.
PRINCESS: [00:17:07] Oh, what do you think?
TESSA: [00:17:08] There has to be, I guess it doesn't have to be, but it would be so interesting if there was just some like crazy reveal where the Upside Down and the real world just started colliding and it just started bleeding over. I picture that being like the scariest thing to happen. I mean, that happened a little bit last season with Billy, you know.
PRINCESS: [00:17:30] Mhmm.
TESSA: [00:17:30] And it happens with like Vecna and these little things. But it's that same thing where the rest of the country is like, what is this Hawkins place like? What happens here? Like what happens in this weird little town? And then stuff does happen! You know what I mean? It's like, what if stuff did happen?
PRINCESS: [00:17:46] Yeah. I almost wonder if it's going to be like an ET thing where the government comes to Hawkins and is like puts them in like a bubble thing and it's like...
TESSA: [00:17:54] Oh. Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:17:55] You guys have these super- and that's when the entire town finds out that this is happening, right? And then the kids have to now be like, All right, it's time to save the day. And everyone is like, you guys are heroes. And then they all have the like side NDAs for the government or something, or like they might even be like, you have to leave, you know, like.
TESSA: [00:18:14] Oh, oh, whoa. What if, like, what if Hawkins, like, doesn't exist anymore? What if it is, like, a ghost town? Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:18:21] Like it's going to be kind of like Derry and, like, in the Stephen King. In It! Yeah, it's like. It becomes like this dead zone where it's like supernatural space, right? And the kids have to leave and come back every couple of years. And that's how you.
TESSA: [00:18:34] Wait. Stop!
PRINCESS: [00:18:36] Hire me for your shows. I'm so smart.
TESSA: [00:18:38] I love that. That is brilliant because then it's like it becomes a ghost town. But then if someone wanders into it, like shit can go down.
PRINCESS: [00:18:45] Yeah,.
TESSA: [00:18:46] You know, I love that.
PRINCESS: [00:18:46] Like, they're the protectors of the Upside Down of keeping it right. And so it's very much like It. Like you'll probably have characters that stay and be like, All right, time to get the team together. Then everyone comes and they all have to come and be like, All right, El do your thing, and she's just like.
TESSA: [00:19:01] Stranger Things reunion in like 20 years. They bring it back for-.
PRINCESS: [00:19:05] It'll be. Like it'll be like the Epiloge episode of, like, Harry Potter, where it's like all of a sudden it's like-.
TESSA: [00:19:10] 19 years later.
PRINCESS: [00:19:12] Nineteeen years later. It's that it's the it's the 00's. And everyone's wearing, like, low rise jeans. Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:20] Stop.
PRINCESS: [00:19:21] Eleven comes in with like, what was it, scene hair? Whereas, like the raccoon print things. Okay.
TESSA: [00:19:27] Oh, my God. I, I actually think that's so funny because- only because, like, Stranger Things is so, like, stylized in the era that if you did that and then stylized it in another era. That's so brilliant. I actually love that. Honestly.
PRINCESS: [00:19:43] I would cry. I just want to see like an image of like older Dustin teaching his, like playing World of Warcraft while Will and his husband are like teaching their kids how to play OD DND. And I'm like, it's while they're playing that, like, he gets a call and like, you get to see Will be, like, happy and queer with his little child. And he's like, finally has people he can play DND with because no one will play with this boy. He just wants to have fun. Like, let him be happy, dammit.
TESSA: [00:20:13] Speaking of Will, they weren't- it was nuts. Will and Mike and Jonathan weren't in this episode at all.
PRINCESS: [00:20:20] I love- so I love this season. I think this is probably like my favorite- I think this is my favorite season of Stranger Things overall.
TESSA: [00:20:27] Mm hmm.
PRINCESS: [00:20:27] That being said, I could not care less about the Hopper stuff.
TESSA: [00:20:36] Oh really?
PRINCESS: [00:20:38] Or anything with, like, the boys doing it. Like, the only thing that the boys did that was interesting was going to go see Suzy and like her Mormon family.
TESSA: [00:20:48] Right.
PRINCESS: [00:20:49] Because that was cute.
TESSA: [00:20:50] No, I know that they're on their own, like. Yes, I get that. But I just why couldn't they have wrapped that up quicker and gotten to Hawkins sooner to be a part of this more? That's really it.
PRINCESS: [00:21:00] It felt like the Canto Bight side story and like The Last Jedi where it's like, okay, like adventure. Yes. But this is like, see, plot material right now.
TESSA: [00:21:13] Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:21:13] Sometimes I sit there and I'm like, man, they need cell phones. And I'm like, man, if only you could just text this person. This is so much energy. Can you can send a text. It's, I'm like this is too much, it's so exhausting.
TESSA: [00:21:25] It's so it's so true. That's hilarious. That's so funny.
PRINCESS: [00:21:30] It's like, literally they like, try to get Susie to hack. It's like, because we can't text this number and I'm just like, oooh.
TESSA: [00:21:39] Oh, man.
PRINCESS: [00:21:40] But I know you loved Hopper, Daddy, so maybe you.
TESSA: [00:21:44] Yes, I want to talk about Hopper a little bit.
PRINCESS: [00:21:45] Yeah. You bring. You talk about it.
TESSA: [00:21:49] Hopper with his, I don't know, flaming rod. Like, what was he holding? [laughs].
PRINCESS: [00:21:58] [laughs] I'm dead.
TESSA: [00:21:59] Javelin or something? I don't know. Anyway.
PRINCESS: [00:22:03] Something very phallic.
TESSA: [00:22:05] Some flaming phallic material weapon. But speaking of flaming rods, I was definitely shipping him and his Russian guard man.
PRINCESS: [00:22:16] Boyfriend. Yeah. I was like, what in the Stockholm syndrome is happening right now? I was just like, I also really liked Joyce. And what's his face? I forgot-.
TESSA: [00:22:27] Yeah! Murray!
PRINCESS: [00:22:28] Yeah. I was like, this is the kind of man that she really does need. Like, Hopper is a little bit too alpha male for me. And I'm, like, Hopper, it's time to get rid of your heterosexuality and realize that you are a man's man and you should get with this man. Cause.
TESSA: [00:22:46] Yes! It was literally. That was the thing. It was really cute the way he was, like, calling him, like, American, and they were, like, sharing their daddy issues in prison. And I'm like, I ship it. I love them. And then, like, when the Demogorgon was freakin being released and started killing off everyone, I was like, screaming. I'm like, Hopper, save your boyfriends! Like,.
PRINCESS: [00:23:05] Save prison bae! Hello. Come on.
TESSA: [00:23:08] And then, like, when he could end light his weapon. I was stressed, like, that whole thing, I was like, okay, I'm feeling stressed. But then he just like, you know, he stabbed the demogorgon right in the bulbasaur. And then when they were like... but then we got that moment where they were like, safe behind the gate?
PRINCESS: [00:23:25] Yeah.
TESSA: [00:23:25] I was like, Kiss, kiss, kiss.
PRINCESS: [00:23:27] Yes.
TESSA: [00:23:28] I was like come on! Cause they're, like, looking at each other. And I thought it was gonna happen for a second. And then it didn't and I was like, ahh, all right. But I love them.
PRINCESS: [00:23:36] I guess. No, I, it was so good, especially because I'm sorry. Right now, Hopper has the same mustache I've seen on all of my gay uncles and stuff when it was the eighties. I'm sitting here like this- you're literally wearing the uniform. You're wearing the uniform. You look like you're ready to be a leather daddy at Pride. I really just need this to stop. The heterosexuality needs to stop.
TESSA: [00:24:03] There is a little too much heterosexual- h- heterosexuality happening in this show. And you're like, Come on. I mean, we have Robin, but guys.
PRINCESS: [00:24:11] And Robin? Okay. She's not talking to no ladies.
TESSA: [00:24:15] I know.
PRINCESS: [00:24:15] Like unless she's going to end up dating Nancy? I'm not really seeing.
TESSA: [00:24:19] See, but I see that the Nancy and Steve thing just I can't see it. It just does not work for me. It's too forced, Princess. It's forced upon me.
PRINCESS: [00:24:30] It's okay. I get it. That's the- I think, like, to me, I loved all of the Robin and Nancy banter playing with each other. Like, it was so like The Odd Couple, and I love that. But the Jonathan, Nancy, Steve and Nancy, it's just very boring.
TESSA: [00:24:51] Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:24:51] And it's boring because the stakes are so low. The emotional stakes, the social stakes. It's just so low. And therefore the queerness isn't it just because, like, I want more queeer representation. I do. But it's because at least this dynamic would lead to more interesting things.
TESSA: [00:25:11] Oh, one hundred percent.
PRINCESS: [00:25:12] It would lead to more interesting discussions of these characters and who they are and finding themselves and coming of age. Because I feel like Jonathan and Nancy was like, Oh, creepy, dude, likes pretty girl got together, done. And it's like, Jock and Babe get together. Oh, they outgrew each other, done. And like, okay, cool. We're over with that.
TESSA: [00:25:31] I mean, Steve can't be with any of these girls because he needs to be with me. With me and children. Not in that way. But like me. And then we could both take care of the children and babysit them together. Like, he just. I he doesn't need a romance. Like Jonathan does, because Jonathan is like nothing. He is so boring. No, offense.
PRINCESS: [00:25:55] Like, I, you know, I'm team Steve and I am not on the Jonathan tree. And like,.
TESSA: [00:25:59] No but that's why Jonathan and Nancy need each other because they're both so boring.
PRINCESS: [00:26:05] Well, here's the thing it's like that's what we disagree, because Nancy is a homie. She's down for it. She got guns and stuff. Even without Jonathan, she has an active storyline.
TESSA: [00:26:15] Wht turned you around on Nancy? Just her, like, really going for it?
PRINCESS: [00:26:19] I think it's because, like, see, I dislike Jonathan. I like Nancy a lot as a character, but I like her agency. I like that she's an active participant in the story. I like that she's building connections. Like to me it says so much that like, Nancy moves the plot forward. And Jonathan kind of just follows her around to the point where, like, when they're not together, he literally is a stoner now who's like, I don't know if I'm going to go to college. And it's just like, have a conversation, my dude. And I think Nancy is proactiveness wants me to see her with somebody who is also like that. And with Steve to roll off of what you were saying. I think the thing is that, Steve was brought up and put into the show to be like a deconstruction of, like, the jock character.
TESSA: [00:27:08] Right. Right.
PRINCESS: [00:27:09] And that character development is done, right? And that's supposed to be played out through his relationship with Nancy. He can't get to the next stage of his character development by still being with Nancy. When he's around the kids, that brings in another side of him and it adds to his complexity, whereas him just dating another attractive woman doesn't add anything to his character that isn't already there.
TESSA: [00:27:32] You know what? I think- I think the reason why I really don't like Steve and Nancy together is because it just takes me back to that first season where they were together and I hated Steve. And I feel like just putting them back together, I was like, No, we're past this. Like, Steve! You're better than thi- you know what I mean? It's like they're both past that. And then even in the show where they're like, Oh, we found the flash cards. It's back to, you know, when this started. And I was like, No. Like.
PRINCESS: [00:27:59] We don't want to go back. But speaking of, why do we think that the Upside Down is stuck in season one?
TESSA: [00:28:04] I don't know. That's so interesting. Like, I have no idea. And it's like they mentioned, like this was the moment that Will went missing when the gate started opening. And I don't know what that means for the characters when they go into the Upside Down. Obviously, that they have memories and stuff from the future and they're older and they are different. But is it connected to Vecna at all? Is it connected to like, does this connect to the first? Like, I kind of want to rewatch the first season now.
PRINCESS: [00:28:33] That's literally what I was thinking because like I want to see the timeline like is it connected to like when Eleven came out? Like not move forward in time without her? So how old was she when this happened?
TESSA: [00:28:45] Right.
PRINCESS: [00:28:45] And so I really want to go back and see that. I'm sure that we'll get some kind of answer. But I want us to kind of figure it out and be right ahead of the curve.
TESSA: [00:28:53] I mean, that's always the most fun.
PRINCESS: [00:28:55] Bragging rights.
TESSA: [00:28:55] Yeah, exactly. That's always the most fun. I mean, you think about, so Eleven in the beginning, like she escapes from the thing. So it's like that could happen right after this like after this moment.
PRINCESS: [00:29:07] Right.
TESSA: [00:29:07] So because she was pretty young when they found her. So it's like the things that she's looking back at could be like the beginning of the season, like when she, you know, did the thing to Vecna and created the Upside Down. That could be the moment where everything started happening.
PRINCESS: [00:29:22] Yeah.
TESSA: [00:29:23] I don't know.
PRINCESS: [00:29:24] We're going to have to do a rewatch and I'll text you.
TESSA: [00:29:26] I know it's like it's so good. I love when this kind of stuff happens. It's so smart. I love it.
PRINCESS: [00:29:32] I'll say my last word on Stranger Things. Please do not have this season end and our babies are not all in the same Scooby Doo van because I will- I will literally cry and I don't want to cry. I want to smile.
TESSA: [00:29:47] I'm worried that they're not going to come together. Like I think they're going to resolve like a little part of their thing all separately. And then I think the last season might be all of them finally coming together and doing the thing. But maybe not. Maybe they'll come together for the last episode.
PRINCESS: [00:30:03] It better be. Don't drag it out.
TESSA: [00:30:06] They've been apart for so long now that it's almost leading up to that final moment. So I don't know how more dramatic it could be. I think they're going to do it in the last season. I don't think they're going to be together until the last season.
PRINCESS: [00:30:22] All right, so.
TESSA: [00:30:23] That's my prediction.
PRINCESS: [00:30:25] Everyone listening. Do you do you agree with Tessa's prediction that the Scooby gang, our lovely party, will not be reunited until the beginning of next season? Let us know before this part B drops. We will know if you lied and cheated, but let us know at Geeked, at Netflix Geeked Podcast, because Tessa and I love validation.
TESSA: [00:30:51] Yes, please. And also tell us what you think about the Steve storyline. Like we want to know all of your Stranger Things thoughts, because this show is so, so good. It does. It deserves all the discussion and all the theories. And I love, love hearing theories. So if you have any weird, crazy theories that you think's going to happen, like is Will still connected to this at all? Is he completely out of it? Like, I don't know. You know, because that was the thing too. Will was so involved in this from the beginning. Was there a reason why they chose Will, like over Mike perhaps? You know? Because if if the Upside Down was connected to Eleven, it's like, I don't know, it's just interesting. So it's like, why? Why Will? Why?
PRINCESS: [00:31:32] I almost wish that we could have another episode because that is an excellent theory. Maybe the reason why it's stuck there is because that's when Will was taken and Will was the was the thing that was helping the Upside Down move.
TESSA: [00:31:42] Exactly.
PRINCESS: [00:31:42] Tessa! You're so smart. Everyone @TessaNetting tell her she's so smart. Because she just blew my mind in the last minute of our recording. And now I'm like, about to go, and.
TESSA: [00:31:52] I'm like, Wait a second.
PRINCESS: [00:31:53] And I'm like, Wait, is Will going to be a secret co-protagonist? And honestly, that to me has also been set up like I think. End game.
TESSA: [00:32:01] Exactly.
PRINCESS: [00:32:01] Final- final battle is going to be Will and Eleven.
TESSA: [00:32:04] Yes.
PRINCESS: [00:32:05] Against Vecna. And Mike has to see his best friend and his true love fight for the safety of Hawkins. Dun dun.
TESSA: [00:32:17] Oh, my gosh. And can you imagine? Just like, if. Okay. I hate to say this. If Eleven dies, RIP. Sadness. Upside Down is gone. But then if Will and Mike are together, then they're like, Oh, we also love each other. We have to be together.
PRINCESS: [00:32:35] If Eleven has to die for gay representation. I don't, I don't know how I feel about that sacrifice.
TESSA: [00:32:40] That's fair. I feel like- I think she has to sacrifice anyway, sadly.
PRINCESS: [00:32:44] Oh, yeah, for sure. But I mean, polyamory is right there.
TESSA: [00:32:48] That is true. That is fair. That is that is a good point.
PRINCESS: [00:32:52] And Fade off. [laughs]
PRINCESS: [00:32:59] The Geeked podcast is hosted by me, Tessa Netting.
PRINCESS: [00:33:03] And me Princess Weekes.
PRINCESS: [00:33:05] Find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, any of the internet places @TessaNetting and you.
PRINCESS: [00:33:10] Can find me on YouTube as Princess Weeks and on Twitter as WeekesPrincess. Next week we are going to gush over our new as obsession Heartstoppers. You don't want to miss it. All of the feels so many squish, squishes. This is a Netflix Geeked and Spoke Media production.
TESSA: [00:33:28] Our executive producers are Keisha TK Dutes has Brigam Mosley, Alia Tavakolian and Keith Reynolds.
PRINCESS: [00:33:35] Kelley Kolff is our amazing producer. Reyes Mendoza is our associate producer. Da'Laura Patton is our coordinating producer. Special thanks to Carson McCain, as always.
TESSA: [00:33:46] Sound Design and Engineering by Evan Arnett, who also composed and performed our original theme.
PRINCESS: [00:33:51] To stay updated on all things Geeked Sure to follow at Netflix Geeked on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
TESSA: [00:33:57] And if you aren't following the Geeked podcast, what are you waiting for? You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts and also if you love us, which I don't know why you're still listening to this. Make sure to leave a five star review. Okay? It really helps other people find the podcast and we love to read them.
PRINCESS: [00:34:13] And we love you back. Thank you so much for listening. Bye.
TESSA: [00:34:18] Buh-bye.