The first set of reviews and recaps is in since Episode 7 (“The Bridge”) came out yesterday. Fans and critics are calling it an emotional rollercoaster with a lot of lore that sets up the series finale next week.

Here is a breakdown of the critical reception and the major plot beats:

The Critical Consensus

The episode has received mixed to positive reviews. While the emotional reunions are being praised as series-highs, some critics feel the episode is bogged down by “science-heavy” exposition as it tries to explain the show’s entire mythology before the end.

• The Highs: Sadie Sink’s performance as Max (waking up from her coma) and Noah Schnapp’s long-awaited “coming out” scene are being hailed as the episode’s emotional anchors.
• The Lows: Some viewers on social media felt the technical explanation of the Upside Down was a bit rushed, and the “Volume 2 syndrome” (setting up a finale without providing its own climax) left some feeling unsatisfied.

Major Plot Points (Spoilers)

If you haven’t watched yet, here are the biggest revelations from “The Bridge”:

• The Truth About the Upside Down: Dustin (using Dr. Brenner’s journals) reveals that the Upside Down isn’t another dimension. It’s a wormhole (a “bridge”) held together by “exotic matter.” It connects Hawkins to a realm of pure chaos called The Abyss, which is the true home of the Mind Flayer and Demogorgons.
• Max Wakes Up: In a tear-jerking opening, Max finally awakens in the hospital. She tells Lucas she could feel him holding her hand the whole time, confirming that his love—not just a song—brought her back.
• Will’s Revelation: In a quiet moment with Joyce and Mike, Will finally speaks his truth, admitting he “doesn’t like girls” and explaining how Vecna used his secrets to haunt him.
• The Final Plan: The group decides on a “suicide mission.” They plan to use a “beanstalk” (the massive rift towers) to climb into the Abyss, rescue Holly and the other kidnapped children, and then bomb the exotic matter to collapse the bridge forever.
• Kali’s Warning: Kali (008) suggests a darker path to Eleven—that the only way to truly stop the cycle of labs and monsters is a permanent sacrifice.

Summary:

1. The Science: What is the Upside Down?

For years, the kids thought the Upside Down was just a dark version of Hawkins. In this episode, Dustin uses old notes from Dr. Brenner to explain the truth:

• The Bridge: The “Upside Down” is actually a thin layer—like a bridge—between our world and a much scarier place called The Abyss.
• The Abyss: This is where the Mind Flayer and the Demogorgons actually live. It is a place of total chaos.
• The Problem: Vecna is trying to make this bridge permanent. If he succeeds, the “bridge” will collapse, and Hawkins (and the whole world) will be swallowed by The Abyss.

2. Max’s Miraculous Return

The episode starts at the hospital. After being in a coma since the end of Season 4, Max finally wakes up. * She can’t see very well yet, but she recognizes Lucas’s voice immediately.

• She tells the group that when she was “gone,” she wasn’t just in the dark; she could hear Lucas reading to her. This proves that the “power of love” and friendship is stronger than Vecna’s psychic powers. This gives the team hope that they can actually win.

3. Will Stands Up to His Past

Will Byers has been quiet for a long time, but in this episode, he finally opens up.

• He tells Mike and Joyce that the reason he felt Vecna’s presence so strongly wasn’t just because he was kidnapped in Season 1—it was because he was keeping secrets about who he truly is.
• By telling Mike that he is his best friend and sharing his true feelings, Will “breaks” the link Vecna had over him. He realizes that secrets give Vecna power, and being honest makes you immune to his tricks.

4. The Mission: “The Great Beanstalk”

The heroes realize they can’t just wait for Vecna to attack. They decide to go on the offensive.

• The Plan: There are massive “vines” (they call them beanstalks) growing out of the ground in Hawkins that lead straight into the heart of the monster world.
• The Teams: * The Adults (Hopper, Joyce, and Murray): They stay in Hawkins to protect the town from the military and the spreading vines.
  • The Teens (Steve, Nancy, Robin, and Jonathan): They gather weapons (including some cool new homemade gear) to fight the monsters.
  • The Kids (Eleven, Mike, Will, and Dustin): They plan to go into the “Bridge” to find the source of Vecna’s power.

5. The Tense Ending (The Cliffhanger)

The episode ends with a race against time. Eleven tries to use her powers to find Holly Wheeler (Mike’s little sister), who was taken by Vecna in an earlier episode.

• Eleven “sees” Holly in the Creel House, but she isn’t alone. Vecna has gathered many children there.
• Vecna looks directly at Eleven through her vision and says, “The bridge is almost complete.”
• The ground in Hawkins begins to shake violently (a massive earthquake), and the sky turns a dark, bruised purple. The episode ends with the team standing at the edge of a giant glowing portal, ready to jump in for the final fight.