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The Recliner Media Network




Stranger Things | S5 E8 | "The Rightside Up" | Recap & Review
*SPOILERS AHEAD From the opening moments, “The Rightside Up” makes it clear this isn’t just another episode — it’s a farewell. The story drops us straight into the plan as Dr. K pieces together how the group bypassed the military blockade, tracing it back to the radio equipment from the Squawk. The endgame is in motion. Henry still has the upper hand, keeping the kids trapped both physically and mentally. Hopper, Eleven, and Kali reach the deprivation tank, and the tension i

Michael Spillan
Dec 31, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E7 | "The Bridge" | Recap & Review
*SPOILERS AHEAD Episode 7, The Bridge , feels like the calm before the storm — not because things slow down, but because every storyline finally aligns. It’s an episode about connection: between worlds, between people, and between past choices and future consequences. Nearly every character reaches a turning point, and by the end, it’s clear the story is no longer about stopping Vecna… it’s about understanding what he’s trying to build. The episode opens with one of its most

Michael Spillan
Dec 26, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E6 | "Escape From Camazotz: Recap & Review
Episode 5, Escape From Camazotz , is one of the most lore-heavy episodes the series has ever delivered. It pulls back the curtain on the Upside Down in ways that completely reshape what we thought we knew — while emotionally splintering the characters we’ve followed since the beginning. In the aftermath of Nancy shooting the strange “exotic matter” sphere, she and Jonathan find themselves trapped inside a melting chamber of the old lab. The space itself feels unstable — walls

Michael Spillan
Dec 26, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E5 | "Shock Jock" Recap & Review
Episode 5, Shock Jock , leans hard into atmosphere over action, and it works. This is classic Stranger Things storytelling — slow, unsettling, and emotionally loaded. The episode doesn’t rush its horror; it lets it creep in through familiar faces, familiar places… and familiar voices. The Shock Jock immediately feels wrong in the best way. His broadcasts echo the unease of early Hawkins — like the Christmas lights in Season 1 or the ticking clock in Season 4. Sound becomes t

Michael Spillan
Dec 26, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E3 | "The Turnbow Trap" Recap & Review
*SPOILERS AHEAD El’s journey takes center stage as she finally crosses paths with Hopper within the twisted landscape of the Upside Down. Their reunion is emotional but short-lived, as the pair soon confront a massive, looming barrier—something straight out of Game of Thrones , a towering living wall made of some sort of pulsating lifeform. The disturbing structure hints that Holly may be trapped somewhere beyond it, raising the urgency of their mission. But danger escalates

Michael Spillan
Nov 27, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E4 | "Sorcerer" Recap & Review | "Shock Jock" Vol. 2 Preview
*SPOILERS AHEAD Season 5, Episode 4 plunges even deeper into the emotional and supernatural chaos unfolding across Hawkins and the Upside Down. The episode wastes no time, dropping us back into the ongoing struggle of El and Hopper as they continue to battle their way through the Upside Down. Their journey leads them to a massive metal door—one teased since last episode—but the truth behind it is held back for later in the article- keeping tension high and theories flowing. M

Michael Spillan
Nov 27, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E2 | "The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler" Recap & Review
*SPOILERS AHEAD Episode 2 of Stranger Things dives even deeper into the connection between Will and the Upside Down, expanding his long-established sensitivity into something far more powerful. His new “hive mind” sense now allows him to see through the eyes of Vecna’s next target—an eerie, intrusive ability that feels like the final evolution of what began back in Season 1. These visions aren’t just glimpses or feelings anymore; they’re full windows into the experiences of

Michael Spillan
Nov 27, 2025


Stranger Things | S5 E1 | "The Crawl" Recap & Review
*SPOILERS AHEAD Season 5 of Stranger Things opens with “ Crawl, ” an emotional and ominous premiere that sets the tone for a final season already shaping up to be the darkest yet. The episode blends grief, new mysteries, and escalating threats as the characters try to navigate a Hawkins that’s barely holding together. Dustin’s emotional state is one of the earliest and strongest threads in the episode. It’s clear he’s still deeply struggling with life after Eddie’s death. H

Michael Spillan
Nov 26, 2025
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