On paper, an Eleven bottle episode sounds amazing.
But perhaps the biggest problem with “The Lost Sister” is the placement of the episode.
“Mama,” Eleven can be heard saying.
Credit: Tina Rowden/Netflix
“It’s me, Jane.
I’m home.”
The episode opens inside Eleven’s mother Terry’s “dream circle.”
Suddenly, Eleven snaps out of it; her nose and Mama’s nose are bleeding.
This causes to Eleven to run off.
Meanwhile, Mama’s TV goes from static to the Action 8 News.
And the TV really wants us to notice the 8.
Thanks, we get it.
They aren’t very welcoming of “Shirley Temple.”
Mr. Mohawk, a.k.a.
Axel, is especially threatening, pulling out a knife.
But he’s suddenly spooked by spiders crawling all over his hand.
The thing is, no one else can see them.
“Sister,” they say to each other as they embrace.
The sisters do some catching up on the roof.
Kali is a very supportive long-lost sister.
“What you might do is incredibleit makes you special, Jane,” she tells her.
Kali’s gift is that she can make people see or not see whatever she chooses.
Must be nice not having to worry about shopping for a Halloween costume.
“Are you real?”
asks Eleven, adorably touching Kali to see to it.
After setting her sister up with a bed and blanket, Kali gets sentimental.
“I think this is your home.”
Not sure which is a nicer home: this abandoned warehouse or Hopper’s creepy cabin.
It’s not exactly sweet dreams for Eleven as she goes to sleep.
In her dream circle, she can hear the message Hopper left for her.
“I want you to know I’m not mad at you,” he says.
“I’m just sorry.”
The fellow outcasts consist of spider-hating Axel, Dottie, Mack, and Funshine.
“I’m a fighter,” declares Eleven.
“I’ve killed.”
I’d say Kali’s recruiting efforts are going pretty well so far.
She wants her sister to find her anger and move a train car toward them.
It works, the train moves, and Eleven falls to the ground.
Kali is a hell of a motivator; she’s like the Tony Robbins for kids with superpowers.
She recognizes one of them from her mom’s dream circle.
The bald man is Ray Carroll, and he also hurt Kali.
Fifty bucks says Ray’s about to be the one hurting.
But before they can go eliminate him, it’s time for a classic ’80s makeover montage!
Out is the old Eleven style and in is the slicked-back hair, popped-collar wearing Eleven.
And how does she look?
Also necessary on the journey to murder a bad guy is a pit stop for snacks and Tampons.
Predictably, Eleven stocks up on Eggos.
The worker eventually snaps out of it and pulls a gun.
“Damn, Shirley,” Axel approvingly exclaims.
Watch out, Steve, she may have found a new favorite hair guy.
Once inside, Kali and Eleven take theirs off.
“Do you remember us?”
asks Kali, before making Ray see them as their younger selves.
This changes nothing for Kali, contending, “Did he show your mother mercy?”
With Eleven relenting, Kali points a gun at Ray, only for her sister to knock it away.
No time to argue about it though, since the police are en route.
Later, Eleven is left alone with only her old shirt and fond memories of her friends and Hopper.
When they disappear, she awakens to cops entering the warehouse.
After Kali temporarily makes the crew invisible, they make a run for it.
But as they all hop in the van, Eleven says she isn’t going.
“We belong together,” pleads Kali.
“There’s nothing back therethey cannot save you, Jane.”
Eleven responds, “No, but I can save them.”
She heads off the opposite way, clearly leaving Kali hurt.
Eleven’s back on the bus.
What a short but eventful trip.
A nice old lady checks in on her, asking if she’s headed to see her parents.
“I’m going to my friends,” Eleven proclaims.
“I’m going home.”
CueDiddy and Skylar Grey.
Most ’80s Moment:Everything.
Out were Dungeons & Dragons andGhostbustersand in was the punkest hour yet.
“Bitchin,” Eleven adorably repeats.
“I’m going home,” Eleven declares to the nice old bus lady.
NEXT:“Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer”
