The Duffer Brothers have consistently said that these episodes are the beginning of the end as we head into the final season. To me, that means the Hawkins gang has to be in a very dark place when the final credits roll on episode nine — even darker than they were at the end of season three, when Eleven lost her powers and Hopper was seemingly dead. I don't think they'll make El lose her powers again, and if she dies I think it's game over for humanity. But if she's trapped in the Upside Down, that feels like an appropriately massive problem to solve in the final instalment of the show. — Victoria Edel, staff writer, movies and TV