This episode was definitely my favorite of the season. Don't normally write reviews but wanted to here because I feel this episodes style needs to be encouraged for the next season.
Rather than doing something too over the top in attempting a horror vibe, this episode goes for a more sci-fi esc plot line centered around a chemical mist having bizarre effects on fruit and vegetables at a nextdoor warehouse, creating a rash on a worker, and ultimately causing several victims (who are actors) to go insane. This is explained as being a mist from another dimension, but given the earlier explanation from one of the main actors that the company the mist was coming from took military contractors they could've gone for "prototype chemical weapon" and if would've worked just as well if not better.
Regardless, all this build up works reasonably well and feels believable, ultimately culminating in the most realistic and entertaining reactions from the victims. One (like most people would probably do) freezes up entirely. Meanwhile the other, a girl named Mercedes, makes herself my favorite "victim" ever on the show by attempting to frantically take command of the situation and rescue one of the actors from his attacker. Watching her rush back and forth around the room yelling at actors to do something or help, trying to get someone to call 911 (her counterpart not having a phone because they were taken away pre-prank as part of the fictious job) and trying alone to rescue someone was entertaining and sold the prank as legitimate. It was also pretty clear the actors didn't really expect any of the victims to act that way and so were lost as to how to respond, leaving Mercedes confused (and frustrated) at the total lack of help from those around her.
This all culminates in one of the reveals that worked the best on the show as Mercedes sees Gaten, takes a moment and recognizes him from Stranger Things, and then realizes she's being pranked and lets out her mix of relief and annoyance on everyone involved.
Wish every episode was like this. Great premise, great conclusion, and really great "victim" and reactions.
Rather than doing something too over the top in attempting a horror vibe, this episode goes for a more sci-fi esc plot line centered around a chemical mist having bizarre effects on fruit and vegetables at a nextdoor warehouse, creating a rash on a worker, and ultimately causing several victims (who are actors) to go insane. This is explained as being a mist from another dimension, but given the earlier explanation from one of the main actors that the company the mist was coming from took military contractors they could've gone for "prototype chemical weapon" and if would've worked just as well if not better.
Regardless, all this build up works reasonably well and feels believable, ultimately culminating in the most realistic and entertaining reactions from the victims. One (like most people would probably do) freezes up entirely. Meanwhile the other, a girl named Mercedes, makes herself my favorite "victim" ever on the show by attempting to frantically take command of the situation and rescue one of the actors from his attacker. Watching her rush back and forth around the room yelling at actors to do something or help, trying to get someone to call 911 (her counterpart not having a phone because they were taken away pre-prank as part of the fictious job) and trying alone to rescue someone was entertaining and sold the prank as legitimate. It was also pretty clear the actors didn't really expect any of the victims to act that way and so were lost as to how to respond, leaving Mercedes confused (and frustrated) at the total lack of help from those around her.
This all culminates in one of the reveals that worked the best on the show as Mercedes sees Gaten, takes a moment and recognizes him from Stranger Things, and then realizes she's being pranked and lets out her mix of relief and annoyance on everyone involved.
Wish every episode was like this. Great premise, great conclusion, and really great "victim" and reactions.