Cold open: Kali's crew loses the Pittsburgh police in a tunnel that isn't there
A van chase through downtown Pittsburgh ends when a pursuing cop brakes for a tunnel only he can see, and a radio voice calls out Kali.
S2E1 · Chapter One: MADMAX
20 moments · 26 min of essential viewing in a 48-minute episode.
Moments, in order
Dustin, Lucas and Mike scrape together arcade money
Couch-cushion pennies, a mowed lawn and a raid on Nancy's savings: the boys radio each other to tally quarters before arcade night.
A mystery player called Mad Max beats Dustin's Dig Dug record
Dustin loses at Dragon's Lair, then finds his top score smashed by someone named Mad Max. Keith will only talk in exchange for a date with Nancy.
Will slips into the Upside Down outside the arcade
Will steps out for air and the arcade goes dark and empty around him. Mike finds him shaken and coaxes him back inside.
Murray pitches Hopper a Russian psychic girl in Hawkins
A conspiracy-minded journalist chases Hopper into the station with reports of a shaved-head girl with powers and a theory about Barbara's fate.
Nancy marks up Steve's college essay
Steve's essay ties a basketball game to his granddad's war; Nancy gently tears it apart and Steve admits he may just work for his dad.
Max skateboards into Hawkins Middle and corrects her name
The boys clock a new skater in the schoolyard; in class Mr. Clarke introduces Maxine from California, who insists on Max.
Joyce and Bob sneak a kiss in the stockroom
Bob visits Joyce at work, admits he can't stop thinking about her, and asks that Jonathan skip the scary movies for movie night.
Hopper inspects Merrill's rotten pumpkin field
A farmer blames his feuding neighbor Eugene for poisoning his prize pumpkins overnight; Hopper humors him while eyeing the rot.
Nancy invites Jonathan to the Halloween party
Nancy won't let Jonathan spend Halloween alone with his records and a Vonnegut novel; Steve arrives in sunglasses to break it up.
The boys spy on Max and get caught
Lucas and Dustin debate whether a girl can be Mad Max while watching her through binoculars, until she leaves them a note.
Joyce tells Will to stop apologizing
Driving Will to his appointment, Joyce reminds him there's nothing to be nervous about and that she'll be in the room the whole time.
Will describes the storm and the evil that wants to kill everyone
Dr. Owens warms Will up with candy talk, then Will recounts being frozen in the Upside Down under a storm that felt like it was watching him.
Owens warns of the Anniversary Effect; Hopper tells Joyce to call him first
The doctor predicts more episodes and asks for trust; outside, Joyce bristles and Hopper backs the science but insists she call him if it worsens.
Dustin and Lucas stake out the arcade for Max
Waiting for Max to show, Dustin brags about his new teeth while Lucas watches her argue with her brother, then play like a pro.
Mike's parents bench him: two boxes of toys for the yard sale
Karen lists Mike's year of trouble and Ted delivers the verdict in baseball terms; Mike pleads emotional value for his toys.
The Hollands tell Nancy they've hired a detective to find Barb
Over KFC, Barb's parents reveal they are selling the house to pay Murray Bauman, and say they feel hopeful for the first time. Nancy cannot bear it.
Day 352: Mike calls out to El on the radio
Alone in the basement, Mike keeps his nightly ritual of radioing Eleven, asking only for a sign she's okay. Dustin cuts in on the channel.
Jonathan tells Will being a freak is the best
Will shows Jonathan his Zombie Boy drawing and says everyone treats him like he'll break. Jonathan answers with Bowie versus Kenny Rogers.
Hopper comes home late to the cabin, and someone is waiting
A reproach about signals and lateness, a rule about dinner before dessert: the episode ends on who Hopper has been keeping secret.
Playlists touching this episode
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